Yearbook workshop to focus on technique

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Sep 21, 2006 by Carolyn Kaberline

By Carolyn Kaberline

SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

More than 200 yearbook students and advisers representing 20 high schools and junior high schools will attend Friday's Jostens Fall Workshop at the Ramada.

Those attending will learn about cover selection, theme development, copy writing trends, and layout and design. Students also will have an opportunity to learn more about yearbook photography.

Megan Mammen, Jostens' sales representative for the eastern third of the state, said the Topeka workshop will be the last of 10 offered by the company to familiarize schools with the latest trends in yearbooks. Thane Chastain, a former college instructor who has worked in radio and television, will be Friday's facilitator.

Mammen said workshops are one of the tools used by Jostens to educate clients on yearbook production techniques, which also include summer clinics for advisers, a four-day workshop at Bethany College and in-class training sessions.

"I'm at my schools' disposal," she said, adding that she may be at a school in one of the 22 counties she covers to work with a staff for a single class period or sometimes a half a day.

"Right now, our big focus is the online yearbook process," Mammen said, pointing out that many schools are using a new Jostens' program that allows them to create their annual on the Internet. "Our second big focus is on the yearbook business manager. This is to help staff members sell ads and to work on a marketing plan for the book."

Carolyn Kaberline is a freelance writer in Topeka. She can be reached at ckaberli@aol.com.