Responses
Andrea Waterfield, 11/29/2005, 9:23:48 AM
In our publication, we have an editorial policy regarding the handling of deaths in the school. Last year alone we had four deaths to include in the newspaper and yearbook. What we do is include a 1.5 x 1.5 mug shot of the deceased student and a 200 word story about the student telling about their life and or involvement in school, touching the cause of death in the first paragraph. We interview the friends and occasionally the family. If you need any more help, or want to see an example, email me at oh.so.andi@gmail.com.
Myra Trimble, 12/22/2005, 2:56:08 PM
This year's graduating class has had two deaths to deal with. The way we are handling it is we give each family a memorial book, as well as a black and white collage page, with poetry and commetaries about that student. We are also honoring them in a two-page colored spread (paid for by the senior class).
Robin Sims, 1/3/2006, 2:56:47 PM
I recently attended my sisters college graduation and they lost one of their Seniors to an Aneurism. She was an Art major so one of the backdrops that they used to take photos against was one of the deceased students portraits. It was a way for her to be there with them on that day as well as when they looked backed in the yearbook. I though that was very appropriate.
Alex, 1/19/2006, 10:02:34 PM
dedicate the yearbook in their memory and give them their own page in memorial, if i died i think i wouldnt care what kind of memorial i was given, so think about what the family of the student and friends would probably want, or even better, ask their friends what they would want.
rscott , 2/1/2006, 4:51:33 PM
Our policy, sadly put into effect several times over the years is to start with the parents. Everyone elses' pain, however great, is secondary to theirs. Some parents have been stongly against any memorial pages. One parent who lost two daughters in a car wreck said "We don't want the yearbook to highlight them dying! Just show them in life in your pages, like you would anyone else." How could we argue with that?
Start by finding out what they want. Even deeply motivated yearbook staff friends of the deceased students yielded to parent wishes when we have faced a potential conflict.
joe, 2/15/2006, 8:33:57 AM
I know how to cover a student death, because I am the editorial staff for my newspaper, but I am also the ed-in-chief of the yearbook. I had a plan on how to cover the death of a student. This one was a suicide. I figure I shall cover it the same as a regular student death. But, the problem is, there was already a spread planned for one of our senior classmates that had died his freshman year. I want to find a balanced way to cover both. The student who committed suicide was a sophomore. I need help!
