Why are yearbook sales diving?
May 30, 2010 by Jacob HawleyPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Student Life
More college yearbooks are ceasing publication – but student editors and book publishers have differing ideas on what’s to blame.
The University of Virginia’s yearbook, Corks and Curls, is shutting down after 120 years of publication, one more example of the shrinking market for college yearbooks.
One theory: Yearbooks cost too much money for not enough student interest, especially when competing with Facebook and other social networking sites that are both more accessible and more personal.
But some publishers disagree, arguing that yearbooks serve a different function from social networks – a permanent record that will last through the years.
With that in mind, some yearbooks are angling their marketing to students’ parents, who may be more likely to want a “time capsule” of their children’s college years.
How are yearbooks faring on your campus? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
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Tags: college yearbooks, social networking, University of Virginia
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April 7th, 2010 at 10:47 am
I served on one high school yearbook staff, one college yearbook staff for 5 years (2 as editor), and as yearbook advisor at one university for 9 years. I also served as a judge of large-university yearbooks for Columbia and for high school yearbooks for a state scholastic association. Both college yearbooks ceased publication “forever” during the 1970′s when it was deemed they were irrelevant. Unfortunately, it seems that cycle has continued in one form or another. Since that time many yearbook staffs have attempted to design the definitive yearbook which would transcend all or any of the pressures leading to the cessation of publicaiton. Generally speaking, the success of any publication, especially a college yearbook is tied to the traditons and values of each particular environment. In today’s world of Facebook, Twitter, IPods, Wii, internet, et al, not only is society not rubbiing shoulders but we are drawing apart. Our university campuses especially reflect these changes in the way we teach, conduct day-to-day business, provde activities, and maintain school spirit if you will.