Editor-in-Chief, The Prairie News
Job Description
The editor-in-chief leads all aspects of The Prairie News, the student digital newspaper at WTAMU, from content to staff and newsroom management. The person in this role serves as the audience’s primary liaison to The Prairie News; recruits, trains, and motivates staff; and delegates responsibilities. In consultation with the adviser, the editor-in-chief has the final authority regarding staff hiring, job duties, evaluations, firing, and payroll, as well as stories, copy editing, photo, opinion pieces, design, and production. The ideal candidate should be reliable, organized, and have strong critical thinking and interpersonal skills.
Weekly Commitment
The weekly commitment for the editor-in-chief is 20 hours (12-15 hours in the newsroom, with 5-8 hours of remote work or fieldwork). The wage for the editor-in-chief is $12/hour.
Responsibilities
- Produce content for the Ask the Professor weekly series.
- Maintain an organized and efficient newsroom.
- Build skills in listening, communication, organization, leadership, and troubleshooting.
- Supervise a staff of student editors, reporters, photographers/videographers, and contributors.
- Work constructively with the associate editor.
- Lead the weekly staff meeting.
- Provide meaningful feedback, edit rough drafts, and enforce deadlines.
- Set a professional tone for the newsroom and the staff.
- Hire and, when necessary, issue warnings and fire staff.
- Attend one-on-one meetings with the adviser regularly.
Necessary Qualifications
- Proficiency in AP style, journalistic convention, and English composition
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with students, faculty, and administration professionally.
- Familiarity with the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.
- Completed MCOM 1336 (Basic Video Production), MCOM 2311 (Media Writing), and MCOM 2345 (Principles of Journalism) or basic video/audio production knowledge/experience or experience working for a news publication.
Preferred Qualifications
- Digital journalism or media-related major.
- Familiarity with the NAHJ Cultural Competence Handbook.
Applicant Instructions
To apply, you will need a 1) resume, 2) a statement describing what would make you a good editor-in-chief, and 3) a statement where you describe your vision for The Prairie News if you were to be selected as the editor-in-chief. Submit the documents to ngarcia@wtamu.edu and include contact information for three references who can speak about your work.