Reporters
The Job
Reporters are the lifeblood of the Observer. You will be exposed to the full breadth of investigative journalism as the frontline of the premier hard news organisation on campus.
A regular week may consist of:
- Attending events and being first on scene
- Thoroughly researching a subject for an article
- Contacting and speaking with sources
- Coordinating an article with your team and with the visual and digital teams
- Writing and editing an article
We value reporters who can work well under deadline pressure, no matter the background. Writing, communication and researching skills are all equally valued. Prior knowledge of journalistic and writing conventions will be viewed favourably.
What’s in it for you
Some might say bringing the truth to the masses is its own reward. Indeed, the knowledge that you are the vanguard against ignorance and un-truth should be all the motivation you need.
However, we will also provide you employable and desirable skills. You will be able to demonstrate that you work well under pressure, that you can work within a team and that you can produce high quality work consistently. You will have your writing, editing and researching skills sharpened and honed. You will have the opportunity to cross-train into all the different disciplines that make up the Observer, including web/graphic design, photography and videography. You will be one of the privileged few who are trusted with being the first to know and deliver the truth on campus.
Most importantly, you have a body of work that can show all of the above. No matter the profession or life direction you are aiming for, the skills and experiences we will give you will be extremely valuable.
Expectations
Observer is a small organisation, and we expect all team members to pull their weight. Please understand that this is not a small commitment in both time and effort. This position is functionally a volunteer position – we award honoraria at the end of the term to members who go above and beyond the call of duty, but this is by no means guaranteed.
We expect roughly one investigative piece or two shorter pieces a week from reporters. We will assign you to various events and meetings that you will need to attend and report on. During certain periods of the year, you may be “on-call” as breaking news develops. You will be expected to attend a weekly news meeting as well. Other duties may include researching, proofing articles, transcribing interviews, live-streaming events and other tasks.
In total, we estimate a workload of around 8 to 10 hours a week for reporters, liable to fluctuate based on the busyness of the period.
Again, this is no small task. However, if you think that you are up to the challenge then go ahead and click the “APPLY” button below to get started!
Visual Team (Photographers/Videographers/Graphic Designer)
The Job
The visual team provides the pizzazz to the Observer. The organisation needs both photographers, videographers and graphic designers to produce the various forms of media that will inform and entertain the student body.
A regular week may consist of:
- Taking and editing photos and videos of breaking news events
- Taking photos and videos of things around campus to keep as stock or to upload to our Instagram and Facebook pages
- Live-streaming events and meetings
- Coordinating longer form projects like documentaries and interviews
- Investigating and reporting on events and people around campus
- Creating graphics to complement news articles in collaboration with the news team
No formal qualifications are required, but some prior experience or knowledge of photography, videography and editing are preferable. Having your own equipment is a plus, however we will provide both all necessary tools (software and hardware) for you to accomplish your tasks. All students (not just the Arts students) are invited to apply for the visual team.
What’s in it for you
You will be exposed to and trained in multiple fields of visual production. You will have access to top-notch equipment. You will be given access to subjects that few are given the opportunity to portray. If photography, videography or graphic design are your passions, this is an excellent bridge to making your hobbies into professions. You will also be given the opportunity to be involved in journalism in both the regular and photojournalistic senses.
However, we will also provide you employable and desirable skills. You will be able to demonstrate that you work well under pressure, that you can work within a team and that you can produce high quality work consistently. You will have the opportunity to cross-train into all the different disciplines that make up the Observer, including web/graphic design, writing, editing, photography and videography.
Most importantly, you have a body of work that can show all of the above. No matter the profession or life direction you are aiming for, the skills and experiences we will give you will be extremely valuable.
Expectations
The Observer is a small organisation, and we expect all team members to be all hands on deck. We have no room for team members who do not pull their weight. Please understand that this is not a small commitment in both time and effort. This position is functionally a volunteer position – we award honoraria at the end of the term to members who go above and beyond the call of duty.
We expect you to be available during the week to attend assigned events and meetings. During certain periods of the year, you may be “on-call” as breaking news develops and we require footage or photos. You will be expected to meet with your team leader regularly. You will be expected to take and edit stock photos and videos. You will also be taking photos regularly to publish to our Instagram and Facebook pages. Other duties may include helping out the news team, live-streaming events and other tasks.
In total, we estimate a workload of around 4 to 8 hours a week for visual team members, liable to fluctuate based on the busyness of the period.
Again, this is no small task. However, if you think that you are up to the challenge then go ahead and click the “APPLY” button below to get started!