--- title: Why we tell stories in the yearbook description: Yearbook staff members need to become visual and verbal storytellers image: https://blog.balfour.com/hubfs/Tuesday%20Tips/2015/11.19.2015.png --- ** [![balfour](https://blog.balfour.com/hubfs/balfour.png) ](https://www.balfour.com/) ** - ** - [** ](https://www.balfour.com/shop/customer/account/login/referer/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmFsZm91ci5jb20vc2hvcC9tYXN0ZXItdGVtcGxhdGU%2C/) - # Why we tell stories in the yearbook Nov 19, 2015 [Back to Blogs](https://blog.balfour.com) [ Photography ](https://blog.balfour.com/topic/photography) , [ Coverage & Design ](https://blog.balfour.com/topic/coverage-design) **![Video](https://blog.balfour.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tuesday%20Tips/2015/Video.jpg?width=760&name=Video.jpg)** ***Scott Rensberger**, a freelance visual story teller and award-winning international journalist, said, “I live by the saying, ‘A good story is **everything**.’ If you don’t have a great story, then everything you do to help a bad story is equivalent to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.”* Yearbook staff members need to become visual and verbal storytellers. To model this, have them visit local television stations’ websites or the CBS “Sunday Morning” website to find compelling stories. Each student will examine one story in depth and write the answers to the following questions: 1. What made the story interesting and worth watching? 2. Identify the strongest central character in the video and explain his/her story. 3. Describe the beginning, middle and end of the story. Include descriptions of specific, memorable visual moments in the video. 4. What techniques did the reporters and videographer use in this story that you might want to use in a story you write & photograph? 5. Cite the URL, station, and reporter/videographer who produced the story. Every student in your school has a story. Your staff members’ challenge is to get people talking, relating their unique experiences, situations, histories, challenges and triumphs. **[![Visual Storytelling_Telling the Visual Story 860](https://blog.balfour.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tuesday%20Tips/2015/2015_NOV/Visual%20Storytelling_Telling%20the%20Visual%20Story%20860.jpg?width=860&name=Visual%20Storytelling_Telling%20the%20Visual%20Story%20860.jpg)](https://www.balfour.com/bal4tv//stjusp4e) Did you know? **Balfour has a 23-lesson video curriculum, that’s adaptable for any teaching situation. See a sample lesson **[here](http://files.ctctcdn.com/fe021684201/21437fa4-6619-4fdf-8650-ebdc9d06c19e.pdf)**. ### Sign up to get yearbook tips and best practices straight to your inbox! ![Balfour horizontal with tag White-01](https://blog.balfour.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Balfour%20horizontal%20with%20tag%20White-01.png?width=247&height=191&name=Balfour%20horizontal%20with%20tag%20White-01.png)   Get News and Discounts on Balfour Products! ### Get News and Discounts on Balfour Products! 2024 Commemorative Brands, Inc. Balfour is a Registered Trademark of Commemorative Brands, Inc. [Privacy](https://www.balfour.com/HelpCenter/Legal/Privacy%20Security) | [Terms Of Use](https://www.balfour.com/HelpCenter/Legal/Terms%20of%20Use) | [Legal Notice](https://www.balfour.com/HelpCenter/Legal/Terms%20of%20Use)