Production of a Section Manual

Have you ever had frustrated staff members? The section editor is absent again or late to an after-school meeting. No one can remember the caption style or where the spot color may be used. Here is a possible solution.

This assignment can be part of an editor’s grade in photojournalism class or part of an editor’s responsibility to keep an organized staff. The requirements can certainly be varied to reflect your content organization and expectations of editors.

The finished section manual should be kept in a three-ring notebook , one for every section. Advisers might wish to collect all sections into a reference book for that year’s specifications.

Assignment: You are to produce a manual for your section of the yearbook. This manual must contain 15 sections. Determine a graphic that you will use in your section. Use it on each of the manual pages to tie your manual together visually.

1. Statement of policy and purpose
2. Staff organization chart
3. Positions and job descriptions
4. Members of section, including phone numbers and birthdays
5. Definitions of publishing terms. You may illustrate if you wish.
6. Ladder, including color and spot color information
7. Deadline schedule
8. Section specifications
9. Sample layout
10. Sample headline, caption and folio
11. Sample article which is annotated
12. Sample sidebar and list of sidebar spinoff possibilities
13. List of possible features (25 minimum)
14. List of significant sources
15. Select one of the following based on your section:

SPORTS prepare a scoreboard update page for each team

STUDENT LIFE prepare a plan to get students from all cliques, grades, areas of interest featured or pictured in your coverage

ACADEMICS prepare a letter to all department chairs. Explain your section policy and how you wish them to assist you.

CLUBS and ORGANIZATIONS prepare a letter to all advisers/sponsors and officers of clubs explaining your policy of coverage, including how you will get copy and photographs

PEOPLE prepare a letter to seniors to get senior directory information. Include the form that they are to use to simplify compiling data. Can this be gathered electronically?

COMMUNITY/BUSINESS/INDEX prepare a list of possible advertisers, then write a letter which could be sent to each business. Include ad sizes and prices.

— Carol Lange
LangeJour@aol.com