RAISING THE BAR Archives - Page 2 of 2

The Yearbook Cover is a First Impression

A yearbook cover is the staff’s initial opportunity to make a great first impression. It introduces the voice of the book, provides essential details for the reader and defines the book’s personality. Covers can employ strong verbal statements and simple graphics to introduce a classic concept. While silkscreened covers offer the most traditional look, litho covers allow staffs options galore, including the inclusion of photographs.

Before you and your staff begin mind-melding for your next book’s cover, take some tidbits of inspiration from some examples taken straight from Ideas That Fly! While we plan to showcase more ITF inclusions on the blog this summer, we chose to kick it off with a variety of black and white examples.

WHITE YEARBOOK COVERS

Choosing an all white cover can allow for simplicity, yet boldness at the same time. You could include thin type and simple graphics, bold, large type and even employ a single color to deliver an intended impact.

This simple cover doesn’t prepare readers for the unexpected: almost 200 full-color photos of students that line the front endsheet. The triangular shape suggested on the cover becomes a predominant design element within the book.

NORTH FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL
Carpe Diem, Cumming, GA

The Ingenium chose the stark contrast of black and white to illustrate the two parts of their theme statement. Throughout the book, they use vertical headlines and the split 20 to enclose mods as they did on the cover.

GREENFIELD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Ingenium, Gilbert , AZ

Alluding to the idea that the four years of high school fly by, the theme statement sits on a background of matte white litho. Bold modern type is accented by sky blue, and the statement is embossed to add emphasis.

BRENTWOOD SCHOOL
Aerie, Los Angeles, CA

BLACK YEARBOOK COVERS

Black covers are a bold move, too. Include geometric patterns, an array of photos or keep it plain and simple with thin type and simplistic graphics.

A geometric pattern of tessellated triangles, randomly embossed, debossed and UV coated, creates the visual introduction to the theme. The pattern continues through the book in lines on photos and as backgrounds.

Lawton Chiles High School
Wolfpack, Tallahassee, FL

To celebrate their 75th yearbook, the staff chose to fill the numbers with student photos, gloss laminated to provide contrast. The actual theme, “From 7 to 5,” seeks to show the lives of the students throughout the school day.

Mark Keppel High School
Teocalli, Alhambra, CA

Circles connected by lines with UV coating on the black matte litho cover form the graphic element that carries into the book. The theme phrase becomes an opening to the numerous quotes used in the copy on the theme spreads.

De Smet Jesuit High School
Olympiad, Creve Couer, MO

Save

June 23, 2016/0 Comments/by HERFF JONES YEARBOOKS

Congratulations to 2015 NSPA HJ Award Winners!

RAISING THE BAR

Lots of Herff Jones staffs celebrated recognition for their 2015 yearbooks at the recent JEA/NSPA National Spring Journalism Convention in Los Angeles. The National Scholastic Press Association honored 88 middle school and high school yearbooks in its Pacemaker competition at an awards ceremony on Saturday, April 16. Of the 50 books winning national Pacemakers, 26 were printed by Herff Jones.

Herff Jones Yearbooks presented with 2015 Pacemaker honors included the following:

Equus, Dobson HS, Mesa, AZ

La Vista, Mountain View HS, Mesa, AZ

Titanium, Antelope (CA) HS

Nugget, Cupertino (CA) HS

Jamboree, Toby Johnson MS, Elk Grove, CA

Rampages, Casa Roble HS, Orangevale, CA

Summit, Smoky Hill HS, Aurora, CO

The Prowl, Powell MS, Littleton, CO

Eagle Eye View, Sierra MS, Parker, CO

Paragon, Munster (IN) HS

Le Flambeau, Notre Dame de Sion, Kansas City, MO

Westwind, West Henderson HS, Hendersonville, NC

Daedalus, Northeastern HS, Manchester, PA

The Hawk, Pleasant Grove HS, Texarkana, TX

The Quest, John Champe HS, Aldie, VA

Techniques, TJHSST, Alexandria, VA

Nuntius, Altavista (VA) Combined School

Crag, Turner Ashby HS, Bridgewater, VA

Odyssey, Chantilly (VA) HS

The Guardian, Westfield HS, Chantilly, VA

The Cavalier, Geo. Washington HS, Danville, VA

Sentry, Robinson MS, Fairfax, VA

Above & Beyond, Robinson Secondary, Fairfax, VA

The Buzzer, Brookville HS, Lynchburg, VA

The Clan, McLean (VA) HS

Theogony, Hidden Valley HS, Roanoke, VA

An additional 21 Herff Jones-printed books were recognized as Pacemaker Finalists at the convention:

Ingenium, Greenfield Jr HS, Gilbert, AZ; Mesquite Roots, Mesquite HS, Gilbert, AZ; Farrier, The Mirman School, Los Angeles, CA; Wingspan, James C. Enochs HS, Modesto, CA; OIS Scenario, Orinda (CA) Intermediate; El Cazador, Huntington MS, San Marino, CA; Titanian, San Marino (CA) HS; The Crusader, Castle Rock (CO) MS; Golden Images, Chaparral HS, Parker, CO; Epic, Legend HS, Parker, CO; The Cobra, Coleman MS, Tampa, FL; Pinnacle, Carmel (IN) HS; Log, Columbus (IN) North HS; Dragon, Johnston (IA) HS; The Legend, Lafayette HS, Wildwood, MO; Nai’a, Greenspun Jr HS, Henderson, NV; Tesserae, Corning-Painted Post HS, Corning, NY; Pelican, Pelham (NY) Memorial HS; Lair, Lake Braddock HS, Burke, VA; Cavalier Classic, Carroll County HS, Hillsville, VA; and Accolade, Cave Spring HS, Roanoke, VA.

The Pacemaker, NSPA’s highest honor for publications, is unofficially known as the “Pulitzer Prize of student journalism.” A panel of judges considers coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership, design, photography and graphics in naming Pacemaker Finalists and Pacemakers.

The other major yearbook competition at the convention was NSPA’s Best of Show, where Herff Jones schools took home trophy honors in two of five categories and garnered 27 of the 49 places awarded.

Herff Jones awarded schools are listed below in green:

Junior High Yearbook

Jamboree, Toby Johnson Middle School, Elk Grove, CA
The Scrapbook, Westfield (IN) Middle School
Eagle Eye View, Sierra Middle School, Parker, CO
The Prowl, Powell Middle School, Littleton, CO
Sentry, Robinson Middle School, Fairfax, VA
The Crusader, Castle Rock (CO) Middle School
Ingenium, Greenfield Junior High School, Gilbert, AZ
El Cazador, Huntington Middle School, San Marino, CA
Specifics, Seven Lakes Junior High School, Katy, TX

Yearbook 232 or Fewer Pages

Rampages, Casa Roble High School, Orangevale, CA
Historian, McClintock High School, Tempe, AZ
Crag, Turner Ashby High School, Bridgewater, VA
Wings, Arrowhead Christian Academy, Redlands, CA
Daedalus, Northeastern High School, Manchester, PA
Surfer, Coronado Middle School, Coronado, CA
Chronicle, Classical Academy High School, Escondido, CA
Excalibur, Higley High School, Gilbert, AZ
Mesquite Roots, Mesquite High School, Gilbert, AZ
Spud Annual, Idaho Falls (ID) High School

Yearbook 233-288 Pages

Details, Whitney High School, Rocklin, CA
Decamhian, Del Campo High School, Fair Oaks, CA
The Miller, Yukon (OK) High School
Sunset, Corona del Sol High School, Tempe, AZ
Log, Columbus (IN) North High School
Lion’s Roar, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, TN
Westwind, Lewis-Palmer High School, Monument, CO
Titanium, Antelope (CA) High School
Tonitrus, Rocklin (CA) High School
The JAG, Mill Valley High School, Shawnee, KS

Yearbook 289-336 Pages

The Arena, Legacy High School, Mansfield, TX
Wingspan, James C. Enochs High School, Modesto, CA
Indian, Shawnee Mission North High School, Overland Park, KS
Titanian, San Marino (CA) High School
Vox Populi, Harvard-Westlake School, North Hollywood, CA
Howelltonian, Francis Howell High School, St. Charles, MO
Aquila, Etiwanda (CA) High School
Re-Wa-Ne, Reno (NV) High School
Above & Beyond, Robinson Secondary School, Fairfax, VA
Epic, Legend High School, Parker, CO

Yearbook 337 or More Pages

Legend, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, FL
Hauberk, Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, KS
Tesserae, Corning-Painted Post High School, Corning, NY
Etruscan, Glenbrook South High School, Glenview, IL
Lair, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Shawnee, KS
El Paisano, Westlake High School, Austin, TX
Pinnacle, Carmel (IN) High School
Ursus, Granite Bay (CA) High School
Odyssey, Chantilly (VA) High School
Legend, Coronado High School, El Paso, TX

More than 3,875 student journalists and their advisers from more than 500 schools in 41 states, plus Canada attended the JEA/NSPA Spring National HS Journalism convention where the awards were presented.

A BIG congratulations to all winners!

April 20, 2016/0 Comments/by ANN AKERS, MJE

Editors — How to Choose the Next One or Be a Contender

It’s second semester and half the workload (if not more) still remains on your staff’s to-do list — monitoring coverage, planning how to capture spring events and sports, preparing for distribution day — one of the most rewarding parts of creating the masterpiece that is your yearbook. But at the same time, current Editors-in-Chief (along with their advisers) have the next possible editors on their radar.

So what are some things to look for in new EICs or to do if you hope to be in that top leadership role? Here are five traits that advisers can look for and hopeful staffers can strive for to attain that often coveted position.

1) Organization

The ringleader of the yearbook staff needs to be organized in all areas, all year long. Who can handle the structuring of the ladder? Who can allocate photography and spread assignments so that coverage is not only thorough, but also amazing? Whose workspace and minds are clear enough to answer fellow staffers’, parents’ and teachers’ questions?

2) Dedication

It’s not hard to really get attached to a theme concept when it’s first developed, but the real trick is maintaining that commitment throughout the year, even when things aren’t pretty. Notice who is still giving the book their all, day in and day out.

3) Ability to Keep Staff Stress and Drama to a Minimum

It’s especially important to choose or be the leader who can effectively rein in the whole staff when deadlines get super stressful. An editor who can maintain composure when things are a little crazy is a very valuable asset to a successful yearbook program.

4) A Teacher

If your staff currently has an amazing Editor-in-Chief, chances are he or she is an excellent teacher — patient, understanding and willing to pass along knowledge and skills to those on staff who need it. After all, when each new EIC is named, the current leaders pass on their yearbook skillset and advice on leading the team into battle… or at least into deadlines.

5) Strong Work Ethic

This one should be a no-brainer, but the EIC is the one who will work early mornings, between classes and through lunch to complete a deadline. They are the ones who will encourage other members and heighten morale. They will pick up slack where it’s needed and will do it with a smile because this is their book, and their team and they are 100% in, 100% of the time.

There are all sorts of traits that make up an awesome EIC, but these few can certainly help narrow down your options for choosing your next fearless leader. Or, if you’re a current hopeful staffer, focus on staying the course — amidst deadlines, finals and second semester activities — to prove that you are editor material.

What are some traits you look for in choosing your next Editor-in-Chief?

January 28, 2016/1 Comment/by HERFF JONES YEARBOOKS

New Yerd Resolutions for 2016

RAISING THE BAR

As we bid farewell to 2015, reflection is a key part in preparing for and improving in 2016. Looking back, determining what worked and what didn’t, noting which goals were met and which ones are still on the to-do list… these are all important in evaluating and self-assessing to make 2016 the best year ever!

Complete the downloadable “New Yerd’s Resolution” sheet below for yourself, or as a staff to set the right tone for an amazing year.

DOWNLOAD

Let’s make 2016 the best yet.

January 12, 2016/0 Comments/by HERFF JONES YEARBOOKS

The Yearbook Cover is a First Impression

WHITE YEARBOOK COVERS

NORTH FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL
Carpe Diem, Cumming, GA

GREENFIELD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Ingenium, Gilbert , AZ

BRENTWOOD SCHOOL
Aerie, Los Angeles, CA

BLACK YEARBOOK COVERS

Lawton Chiles High School
Wolfpack, Tallahassee, FL

Mark Keppel High School
Teocalli, Alhambra, CA

De Smet Jesuit High School
Olympiad, Creve Couer, MO

Congratulations to 2015 NSPA HJ Award Winners!

Editors — How to Choose the Next One or Be a Contender

New Yerd Resolutions for 2016

WHERE IT ALL BEGINS

LATEST BLOG POSTS

CUSTOMER LINKS

REP LINKS

SEARCH OUR SITE

NEED HELP?