Creating a yearbook is a bit like putting together a puzzle, except that the pieces are constantly moving and some of them are wearing jerseys or starring in the school play. That's why tracking your coverage is so important! It helps you stay organized, ensures that every student gets their moment, and keeps your book balanced.

START WITH A COVERAGE CHECKLIST

Before you even open your design software, build a master checklist of everything you plan to cover. This should include your core categories, major events, portrait sections, and theme-specific spreads.

USE A COVERAGE TRACKER

A coverage tracker is your team's best friend. Whether it's a spreadsheet, a whiteboard, or a digital tool like Google Sheets, it should include:

• The name of each spread
• Assigned staff member(s)
• Deadline
• Event date (if applicable)
• Who's featured (students, staff, teams, etc.)
• Status (not started, in progress, submitted, etc.)
  
  
  

Bonus points if you colour code it…it makes it easier to spot what's done, what's late, and what still needs attention.

TRACK WHO'S IN THE BOOK

One of the biggest goals of any yearbook is to include as many students as possible. To do that, keep a running list of who’s been featured and where. This can be as simple as a spreadsheet with student names and checkmarks for each time they appear in a photo, quote, or story. You can request a list from the office three weeks into the school year, and then get an updated list every six weeks of new or dropped students.

You want to aim to include every student at least three times...once in their portrait, once in a candid or group photo, and once in a quote, sidebar, or story. Again, colour-coding is your friend! For example, use red for "do not publish", yellow for students who have some coverage, green for no more coverage needed.