How to Contribute

The Editor is responsible for the overall operations of the newspaper. All tasks, from planning to distribution, are the Editor's responsibility. Approximately 15 staff members are required for each semester, including writers, photographers, editors, etc. The Editor does not receive additional compensation for articles written for the paper. Pay for the Editor is $425 per issue.

Qualifications:

• Know or be willing to learn AP style
• Be familiar with Adobe InDesign
• Have some experience working with newspapers or other publications, or having completed relevant coursework

Primary Responsibilities:

• Recruit, interview, hire, and train new staff members
• Assign stories/illustrations to staff
• Schedule and hold weekly staff meetings
• Create meeting agenda
• Edit each story for grammar, content, and AP style
• Encourage Journalists and assist in developing their journalistic skills
• Use Adobe InDesign to create the layout of the newspaper
• Solicit input from Journalists on final edits prior to print
• Send edited layout file to printer
• Attend recruiting opportunities on campus, including classroom visits
• Assist with paper distribution

The responsibilities of the Assistant Editor overlap somewhat with those of the Editor. Pay for the Assistant Editor shall be $200 per issue.

Qualifications:

• Be familiar with or willing to learn AP style
• Be familiar with or willing to learn Adobe InDesign
• Some experience working with newspapers or other publications desired, or having completed or are currently enrolled in relevant course(s)

Responsibilities:

• Assist Editor as necessary
• Communicate with Section Editors on article progress
• Assist Editor in training Section Editors in Associated Press style and on other editorial matters
• Work with Staff Reporters on edits on assigned articles and encourage the development of their journalistic skills
• Edit articles for grammar and punctuation prior to submission to the Editor
• Attend all staff meetings
• Attend recruiting opportunities on campus
• Assist with paper distribution

The Section Editor is responsible for editing all articles for their assigned section of the paper by the deadline. The Section Editor is paid $50 per issue and can get paid additionally for their articles published in the paper.

Qualifications:

• Be familiar with or willing to learn Associated Press style
• Work with the Staff Reports and the Editor and Assistant Editor to ensure articles are completed in a timely manner and in a style consistent with professional journalism
• Some experience working with newspapers or other publications desired, or having completed or are currently enrolled in relevant course(s)

Responsibilities:

• Edit articles and return to Staff Reporter in a timely manner by deadline
• Report to the Assistant Editor or Editor potential problems or concerns
• Communicate with Journalists concerning article topics, article edits, deadlines, and deadline extensions.
• Attend all staff meetings
• Attend recruiting opportunities on campus
• Assist with paper distribution

Use Editing Manual for guidance

The Business Manager is responsible for managing all of The Dateline’s business and financial matters in cooperation with the Editor and Faculty Adviser. Pay for the Business Manager is $800 per month.

Qualifications:

• Possess a strong orientation toward selling and developing advertising revenue
• Have effective budgeting and management skills
• Be organized and willing to take the initiative to assist with the paper as needed

Primary Responsibilities:

• Expand sales of advertising space in paper, including to businesses in neighborhoods near campus
• Attend all staff meetings
• Submit payment vouchers and PDFs to the Faculty Adviser for signature
• Email staff with meeting agenda before weekly meeting
• Write up and distribute minutes immediately after weekly staff meetings
• Manage distribution of paper; keep count of how many papers are distributed and how many are left after two weeks when the next issue is put on the stands; reposition stands as necessary
• Recruit and train team of student advertising representatives
• Collect new Journalist information for payment
• Assist Editor with onboarding new staff members
• Create and update new staff member welcome packet
• Create and distribute advertising materials to be posted around campus or handed to local businesses
• Update media kit with current ad prices, sizes, and due dates
• Upkeep the general appearance of the Dateline office
• Order office supplies as necessary
• Attend recruiting opportunities on campus

The Social Media Manager is responsible for maintaining The Dateline’s social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Social Media Managers are expected to devote between five and ten hours per week to posting and maintaining all social media accounts. Social Media Managers are paid $125 per issue.

Qualifications:

• Be familiar with how newspapers and other publications use social media
• Some experience working with newspapers and other publications is desired
• Completed or enrolled in relevant course(s) is desired

Responsibilities:

• Post a minimum of 5 updates to social media accounts weekly
• Create, update, and follow Dateline social media style guide
• Create a content calendar
• Use social media to engage directly with interested or potential stakeholders
• Attend recruiting opportunities on campus

Submit original articles of at least 200 words for editing by assigned deadline. All writers must be familiar with or willing to learn the AP style. Writers spend about an average of two hours on each article and are paid $30 per published article.

Use Writing Manual for guidance