Thanks to a generous grant from the McCormick Tribune Foundation, the
Student Press Law Center is seeking applicants for a 13-month fellowship
position for a recent college graduate with experience in editing, news writing
and design for both print and Web-based publications. The position will
begin in July 15, 2008 and run through Aug. 15, 2009. (Precise start and
end dates can be adjusted to accommodate minor scheduling conflicts.)
The full-time position will include health and dental insurance and public
transportation benefits and will pay a salary equivalent to $37,000 for the
13-month fellowship.
Applicants with a journalism degree will be given preference, but those
with extensive writing and editing experience with student or commercial news
media will be considered as well. The position may be especially appropriate for
someone who is considering entering graduate or law school in fall 2009.
Duties of the McCormick Tribune Publications Fellow at the SPLC will
include:
- Serving as managing editor of the SPLC's thrice-yearly magazine, the
SPLC Report, and the News Flash section of the SPLC's Web site. The
McCormick Tribune Publications Fellow will help develop the editorial focus of
our publications, including writing news stories and coordinating and editing
stories written by SPLC journalism interns. Applicants should have significant
experience both in reporting/news writing and in editing and directing the work
of other reporters.
- Assisting the executive director in selecting SPLC
journalism interns. The McCormick Tribune Publications Fellow will perform
initial reviews of intern applications, interview top candidates and make hiring
recommendations to the executive director.
- Soliciting illustrations and
laying out the SPLC Report and other SPLC publications. Applicants should
have design/layout experience and should have experience using a desktop
publishing program (InDesign preferred) and other design programs such as
Photoshop.
- Maintaining and updating the SPLC Web site. The McCormick
Tribune Publications Fellow will be responsible for assisting the SPLC in
updating the news content for the site and helping us come up with ideas for new
and relevant content. Must be comfortable with online technology. Experience
with Web-based publications and basic working knowledge of HTML a must.
- Assisting permanent SPLC staff in providing information to other working
journalists regarding student press law issues. Experience in drafting news
releases a plus.
The ideal candidate will have a degree in journalism or mass communications
(or extensive news writing and editing experience with student or professional
media if the degree is in another area); will be well-organized,
detail-oriented, hard working and efficient, with a strong sense of
responsibility and commitment to the principles of press freedom; and will have
a sense of humor and be comfortable working in an informal but professional
environment. Applicants must be willing to commit to serving the full 13-month
fellowship. The McCormick Tribune Publications Fellow will work closely with all
of the SPLC staff members but will be directly supervised by the Center's
executive director.
The Student Press Law Center is a 34-year-old nonprofit organization
devoted to protecting the free press rights of high school and college
journalists. The SPLC is run on a day-to-day basis by its executive director (an
attorney) with the assistance of two attorneys, a development director, an
outreach coordinator and college student interns. Long-term planning is made by
a corporate board of directors composed primarily of attorneys, journalism
educators and professional journalists. The SPLC resides in a suite of
smoke-free offices near the Rosslyn Metrorail station in Arlington, Va., across
the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., with a view of the U.S. Capitol.
To be considered for the position, an applicant should send the following
materials to the address below: 1) a letter describing your qualifications and
interest in the position based on the above job description, 2) a complete
resume, 3) the names and phone numbers of two references familiar with your work
as a journalist, 4) two to three samples of your news writing (NOT opinion
pieces or editorials), 5) two to three samples of pages or publications you have
designed or produced layouts for (if available). Applications will be considered
until the position has been filled, but applicants are encouraged to send in
their materials by April 15, 2008.
Send application to:
McCormick Tribune Publications Fellow Search
Frank LoMonte, Executive Director
Student Press Law Center
1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100
Arlington, VA 22209-2275
The Student Press Law Center is committed to equal opportunity in employment regardless of race, color, creed, religion,
sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age or disability.
<< Back to Positions Available Page
