Your ladder includes Homecoming, the fall play, football, newspaper, English classes. (Pssst! So did last year’s ladder.) Are you doing the same book with a different cover?
No!
Every year is different and every book offers a unique perspective on the year’s classes, activities, sports and events. Hopefully, the plays are different, the sport seasons have different outcomes, the classes feature different activities, etc. Expand on the ladder’s simple labels by adding an angle to each area of coverage. At times, the differences will be obvious before an event even occurs. For example, maybe the tennis team doubled in size. Other coverage will unfold in the moment. If the regional soccer title was decided by a double OT, penalty kick shoot-out, win or lose, there’s an angle in that moment.
Capturing special moments in classrooms involves talking to teachers, department heads and students. Keep up with the classroom moments by assigning a beat to staff members. Each spread will feature a primary story with an angle that is reinforced by the dominant image and further supported in the primary and secondary headlines.
There are many stories to tell. That’s why secondary coverage packages add another dimension to coverage.
Think in Threes:
One – field commander
Some – the drum line
All – contest performance
Before – team dinners
During – game highlights
After – bus rides home
Leaders – president, captain, etc.
Support – officers, committee chairs
General membership
Decide on the dominant angle, then plan secondary stories to expand coverage. Because your theme is based on the moments that make up your 2014-15 school experience, spin-offs of the theme phrase or concept are a perfect way to identify secondary coverage.
