The Yearbooking Report Podcast

As another school year winds down (YAY!,) things have a habit of just slowing down or stopping. That includes yearbook work, and it really includes doing some preparing for next year's effort and looking to improve. For our final podcast of the 2025-26 school year we talked to Tina Cleavelin, a Creative Accounts Manager for Jostens Yearbooks. A 37-year yearbook veteran, Tina gave us great advice o...

What are some concerning topics in the yearbook world today? A lot, right? We had a great chat with yearbooking veteran Jim Jordan, Special Consultant for Walsworth Yearbooks and formerly a 35-year adviser in California. Listen to a terrific back and forth on issues like adviser stress today, why design is so difficult (and how to solve that,) how will AI figure in the yearbook future, and much mo...

Let's be honest, most yearbooks at all levels are just picture books. When it comes to yearbook writing - well, not interested. Yet yearbook writing is a crucial part of any good yearbook. Words fill in the blanks that the pictures don't tell us, and that's a LOT. We talk with award winning adviser Justin Daigle of Brighton HS in Colorado about the need for writing, why kids seem to hate it so, wh...

When we look at good yearbooking we see a 50-50 proposition: 50% creating the book and 50% marketing and sales. Yet for most yearbook advisers it's probably more like 90-10...or less. Yet if you make an awesome yearbook but few people buy one - you've failed. What is good yearbook marketing? Why is it so important? And how can any staff really get attention for their efforts (that's marketing) tha...

Pictures will always be the #1 element of any yearbook - but what KINDS of pictures? Just random snapshots, or those that tell a story just by looking at them? From our TYR archives we went back to a great interview with Mike McLean, a professional freelance photographer and trainer from Texas who has been helping yearbook staffs for many years.  Listen as Mike goes through some basic steps to imp...

Advisers and staffs can't just do anything with their yearbook - some legal issues come into play. We run down the legal world and student journalism with Mike Hiestand, Sr. Legal Counsel for the Student Press Law Center in Washington, DC. What can be used from other sources? What is prior review and prior restraint? And a school got nailed for a $10,000 penalty? Yes, watch this rundown for things...

Every yearbooking effort has a staff, even solo acts. Especially for student staffs, how to organize them to produce a great book every year? How to establish student leaders so advisers lower their stress without making every decision? We talked to Mike Simons of Corning-Painted Post HS in NY, one of the top advisers in the country, who shared great ideas and advice from his 20+ years at the helm...

We start a new school year by looking at the state of yearbooking and student journalism in general today with a conversation with Gary Lundgren, associate director of the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and a longtime student journalism pro. How are things right now around the country? What makes a great yearbook, any level? How to use AI as part of a modern effort? Enjoy a great con...

We discuss the future of yearbooking with one of the best, former award winning adviser Ava Butzu. Now a Jostens education specialist, Ava discusses some top yearbook issues as well as what to do in the final months of the school year. And then we pull out the crystal ball to think about yearbook in the future - no book? Using Social Media. What about AI and how to use it right now and later. We d...

It's an issue that plagues too many schools today - poor climate and culture, which then leads to problems like low morale, bullying, lack of relationships and poor performance. What is climate and culture anyway? We talked with a Jostens Renaissance legend, Stand Tall Steve Bollar, who has been a leader on climate and culture for over two decades. A Renaissance Hall of Famer, Steve gets clinical...

What's it like to start using Jostens Renaissance ideas at a school? How to get that ball rolling? What's the impact on both students and staffulty (faculty and staff) to improve a school? What are ideas to use? We talked with Principal Eric Underhill of Carl Sandburg Middle School in Alexandria, VA - his school just began using Renaissance ideas in the 2024-25 school year and it immediately made...

Teachers and students are interested in using Jostens Renaissance ideas - but what does this look like from the superintendent level, the top office? We talked to superintendent Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder of Central Regional School District in New Jersey about that view. She's also a Jostens Renaissance Hall of Famer and the Renaissance Champion for the northeastern corner of the U.S. She's been...

For any school looking to improve their climate, culture and morale, the Jostens Renaissance School of Distinction Award offers a template of activities to help meet that goal. And the Platinum School of Distinction Award is the ultimate. State College High School in State College, PA decided to make that their target for 2023-24. They nailed it and it's made a real impact on the life of their bui...

Student leadership is often overlooked at many schools. And even more at middle schools. Teaching good student leadership is something that our guest this episode has excelled at. Listen as we talk to veteran educator Christina Onuskanich from Mill Hall, PA. Christina was a 2023 Jostens Renaissance National Educator of the Year and a national leader in using the Renaissance student leadership curr...

You can't discuss education today without talking about mental health, for both students and adults. It's a real issue - and Jostens Renaissance ideas can help any school to improve the situation for all involved.   We talked with educator and administrator Mark Brown from Newburg HS in Oregon about mental health in schools and how to change the game for the future. Mark is a Renaissance Champion...

How's the adult leadership in your school building? Stresses on administrators and teachers have never been higher. How to really LEAD your group to success this year? Listen for insights and ideas from former administrator Dr. Darrin Peppard, also a Jostens Renaissance Hall of Famer, on how to positively affect the climate, culture and morale of any school. Also check out his website at roadtoawe...

Renaissance ideas are for any school at any level - so what about elementary school? Listen to the story of Robb Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA, a school that went all in for Renaissance and it's made a huge difference for their students and staff. School facilitator Brad McCloskey gave us the full story, from getting started to the acclaim they've received from parents, the media and even th...

Can a large school succeed with Jostens Renaissance ideas? YES and in this episode we talk to Laura Tobias, principal at State College High School in State College, PA. Her large school began using Renaissance ideas in the summer and fall 2023 and it's already made a HUGE difference in their building while also achieving the Renaissance Platinum School of Distinction award in just one year. Listen...

It's roughly halfway through another school year - and for many schools ROUGH is a good term to use again this year. That goes with another key word, CULTURE. Schools everywhere - and many yearbook staffs - are struggling through another year. One man who knows all about good yearbook and school culture is veteran adviser Mitch Eden. Now retired after 25+ years of teaching and advising, Mitch is a...

We're back and talking about one subject that many yearbook staffs avoid - writing. Photos will always be the #1 element of the book, but writing is a close #2, filling in the information that the photos miss. And that's a LOT of information. Listen for great ideas and advice from veteran adviser Sharon Kubicek from Texas as she shares the importance of writing in the yearbook, the different ways...

It's a new school year, new energy, but eventually one same struggle will rise again. That's page designing - GOOD designing, never random or haphazard. Is your staff designing or just decorating? Listen to a great conversation with veteran adviser Brenda Field, a former JEA National Yearbook Adviser of the Year from Illinois, with ideas and advice on good page design. It's one of her favorite top...

As we go into a much needed summer break, what about yearbook and next year's effort? Those who plan early often have a smoother time of it - but a lot of yearbook advisers and staffs had a struggle this year. It's time for a TRANSFORMATION.   Listen for tips and ideas from former top middle school adviser and current Jostens Education Specialist Kristen Scott. If you want or need to reset the tab...

For yearbookers it's time...for the BIG FINISH. The end of the school year is approaching and there's plenty to do, for both now and looking to the future. Distribution, organization, student leadership, planning for next year, etc.    New Jostens Ambassador Marci Pieper, a recent JEA Lifetime Achievement Award winner, goes over many ideas and strategies she used during her decades long tenure in...

Continuing our theme episodes this season we'll call this The Motivation Report. Many advisers report kids just not working hard this year, and in some cases it may be the adviser! What to do to get your group doing their best work? Listen to a conversation with yearbooking legend Margaret Sorrows, now a Jostens Ambassador and the former 36-year multi award winning adviser at Bryant HS in Arkansas...

Your yearbook staff is probably very busy with page designing right now. But WHAT designing? HOW are you designing? and WHY those choices? Listen to a fact filled interview with Rick Brooks of Jostens, a nationally known design concept expert. Be ready to take notes as Rick offers ideas, advice, trends and inspiration on the FEEL of a yearbook theme and look, not just on the cover but throughout y...