SESSION NOTES

Nikki MacDonald

Get Their Attention 

  • An organized layout like a clean room has a focal point. 
  • We need dominance in the yearbook because it directs the reader 
  • Make sure the viewing experience is great for the reader and yourself 
  • Always plan your page with the content in mind 
  • An alternative copy of a page has quick reads, quotes, how to, facts and survey boxes. 
  • A story worth telling has relevance, emotional and newsworthy 
  • Don’t get a quote from somebody, find a story that is interesting. Go out and have a conversation with them.  ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.
  • Make sure that you’re listening to the person you’re interviewing 
  • You can have a spread that features one person
  • Go find stories and meet new people; everybody has a story. 

How to Report on Mental Health and Suicide Safely

  • We should report on mental health because it increases awareness, gives people resources, decreasing stigma and holding institutions accountable for providing services 
  • Logics suicides song may have led to fewer suicides- studies found
  • The potential risks while working on the mental health issues can be, triggering them during the interview, affecting their future/ employment, hurting family and loved ones, invasions of privacy.

Respect and Team Building  

  • Welcoming the staff in a personal way creates a good welcoming community 
  • Creating an atmosphere, like good teaching, can help embrace all learners
  • Reteach to new people and correct individual needs and don’t bore the entire group when only a couple of people need to be pulled aside and get privately taught.
  • Teaching something is a way to force yourself to relearn. 
  • Have people evaluate themselves—people usually grade themselves lower.
  • PRAISE IN PUBLIC, CORRECT IN PRIVATE
  • Make applications and tryouts to be on staff even if you don’t make it- it builds excitement.
  • Post on social media- introduce the staff to the school community
  • HAVE SPECIAL STAFF PRIVILEGES- HAVE A YEARBOOK ONLY SIGNING DAY FOR STAFF.
  • DESIGN CUTE PRESS PASSES
  • Make t-shirts for the staff to distinguish them
  • Pass along positive deadline wishes, like a candy bag and a reason behind each of the candy
  • Using social media as a reward; post group activities and not just be based on photographs.
  • MAKE YOUR NAME KNOWN
  • Regarding staff with stuff like cards or small prizes from small businesses- black-owned businesses
  • Have a recognition night for the photographers
  • Remind everybody that they are awesome- if you’re winning or working; show off your program
  • Make a group chat for the staff to have communication with each other. The group chat can only be for business only and not chitchat and stupid stuff.
  • Give words of praise