yearbook staff organization

YEARBOOK STAFF POSITIONS

Editor In Chief:  2

This may be done by two people, dividing the duties. The editor in chief is responsible for working with the entire staff and for creating a plan to produce a quality yearbook on deadline. The editor in chief will be personally responsible for the cover, end sheets and all theme pages as well as for working with all section editors to make sure their jobs are getting done and that they are providing leadership to those working for them. The leader is also responsible for teaching where needed, reading all copy and captions before they are placed on spreads, editing all spreads before they are sent to the printer, reading and correcting all proofs and getting them returned to the printer on deadline. The editor is responsible for keeping the adviser informed and for asking for help to get the yearbook done well and with staff morale high.

Managing Editor: 1

The managing editor, who works directly under the editor in chief, handles the jobs assigned by the editor in chief. The managing editor will help with the theme pages, read all copy and proofs, help with corrections, manage deadlines, work directly with section editors and writers, teach desktop publishing as necessary and help set up design concepts for each section, including style sheets and libraries. The managing editor may be responsible for photographers or be a liaison with the photo editor to make sure that photography requests are being handled. 

Senior Editor: 1

The senior editor makes sure that all seniors are in the yearbook.  The senior makes sure that all names are spelled correctly and that the senior names match the pictures throughout the book.

Photo Editor: 1

The photo editor makes sure that all assignments are shot and on deadline. The photo editor is responsible for teaching photographers and advising them about how to shoot various assignments. The photo editor must keep an assignment calendar and constantly reminds others about upcoming shoots. Being imaginative, this individual encourages enterprise shooting and shooting of unassigned happenings that would make good visuals of the year.

Section Editors: 6

These editors are responsible for the development of every aspect of their section. The sections are student life, organizations/clubs, sports, people, academics and ads/community. All editors are responsible for creating design concept, a coverage plan, sidebar and alternative copy plans. All editors are also responsible for checking the work of those working for them to make sure quality and deadlines are adhered to. Section editors will be responsible for putting dates work is completed in the deadline folder so that editors in chief/managing editors/adviser can see progress. Section editors may be responsible for the indexing of their section if there is no index editor. Section editors will work as part of the leadership team to do whatever is required to get the yearbook done on time and with the quality required.

Staff Writers:

These members are responsible for individual spreads each deadline. They are responsible for interviewing, reporting, writing, rewriting, designing spreads according to design specifications, ordering photos, writing captions, getting photos cropped, getting story on spread, writing headlines and having spreads approved on deadline.

Photographers:

Photographers will shoot and upload photos for the book. They will need to have an understanding of how to use a 20 mm camera as well as a digital cameras.  In addition, they should recognize what makes a good picture and practice good photo composition. They will have to record names of people in photos and the date and the place they shot the photo as well as additional information not obvious in the photo.

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Editor-in-Chief
The student ultimately responsible for overall development and content of the book. Among the duties:

• Delegates staff assignments
• Recruits staff and assigns jobs with adviser
• Sets and enforces a production schedule
• Edits every page and proof
• Leads staff meetings
• Trains and coaches staff
• Decides theme, design and coverage with adviser and other editors
• Plans ladder with adviser and section editors
• Reports to adviser

Managing Editor
An assistant who keeps the staff operating efficiently. Among the duties:

• Maintains supplies
• Fills out production forms
• Checks individual deadlines
• Reports to editor-in-chief and adviser

Co-editors
Sometimes used instead of Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor. There can be more than two co-editors; section editors and business managers can be at this level. Among the duties:

• Same as editor-in-chief and managing editor but are split among co-editors
• Report to adviser

Copy Editor
The proofreader of all copy before pages are due, checking for style and accuracy. Among the duties:

• Provides constructive feedback to improve writers’ work
• Establishes copywriting styles with editor-in-chief
• Compares copy on all pages to prevent repetitiveness
• Suggests coverage ideas to designers and photographers
• Reports to editor-in-chief

Photo Editor
The person who assigns photographers to cover all events and stories. Among the duties:

• Edits photos and cutlines
• Ensures no photo runs twice and the same people are not photographed too often
• Runs the club/sports team Picture Days
• Works with professional photographer to coordinate senior and underclass portraits
• Orders supplies
• Manages the darkroom, organizes negatives, contact sheets and finished prints
• Reports to editor-in-chief

Business or Advertising Manager
The leader of the book and ad sales campaigns. Larger staffs may have a team that includes a bookkeeper, sales manager, promotions manager and ad designer who report to this position. Smaller staffs may use the advertising/index editor in this position. Among the duties:

• Balances the budget
• Provides a monthly report of income and expenses
• Organizes additional fundraising efforts if necessary
• Prepares billing statements
• Writes receipts
• Makes daily deposits into the yearbook account
• Reports to editor-in-chief and adviser

Design Editor
Creator of the layouts and page templates. Among the duties:

• Organizes computer folders for templates
• Trains staff on design software
• Creates the style guide for design consistency

Section Editor
The person responsible for completion of all pages within his section. Among the duties:

• Assigns spreads to other staff members if needed
• Edits and proofreads every spread in his section
• Section editors can include academics, sports, clubs/organizations, student life or people, and ads/index
• Designs spreads if there is no design editor
• Reports to copy editor, design editor and photo editor

Technology Director
Knows how to operate all hardware and software. Among the duties:

• Ensures staff is saving text and photos in the correct format
• Keeps desktops and hard drives organized
• Sometimes creates, scans and manipulates all the graphics, freeing up the designers
• Reports to editor-in-chief and adviser

Photographers
Take all requested photos. Among the duties:

• Shoot assigned event before, during or after school
• Develop and print photos
• Write appropriate cutlines
• Reports to photo editor

Reporters
Cover and submit stories on events. Among the duties:

• Conduct interviews
• Cover assigned event before, during or after school
• Write and submit stories by deadline
• Reports to section editor or copy editor