<p>You really will get a lot of writing experience with both of the options. Sometimes it sounds like yearbook is less of a writing-intensive course, but I’ve gained a lot of journalistic writing skills from being on my yearbook staff.
Also, yearbook will help you to become better at design and photography, where newspaper may be lacking.
However, I think you need to look at your school’s programs and decide that way. Ask your yearbook adviser if your yearbook has ever won any awards, and make sure that people actually read the school newspaper. Either way, I bet you’ll learn a lot!</p>
<p>Do the newspaper. I joined my school’s paper as a junior, and despite the drama involved, it’s been a great experience. I’ve grown as both a writer and a human being (I was kind of forced to be less shy when I started having to do interviews), and as for college, I was able to get leadership experience (I managed to get the position of editor-in-chief this year) and awards (both locally and statewide). If your school has a decent paper, you’ll have a really great experience. Then again, I’ve heard great things about being on the yearbook staff, too.</p>
<p>It depends on your school at the very least. It seems that from the other posts in this thread, the majority of yearbook staffs are a joke at their schools. If this is the case with yours, join the newspaper. However, if your yearbook staff is anything like the one at my school, then do it. Yearbook at my school is easily the most work-intensive and broad skill-set expansive business/organization in the school (we need to sign 5 page contracts and everything), with our books picking up multiple awards every year (and two national ones!). </p>
<p>But really, it comes down to the intensity/seriousness of newspaper vs. yearbook and your personal preference.</p>