How to Apply

If you want to add to your resume, build your portfolio, meet other students with similar interests and earn money in the process, then this is the opportunity for you. Whether you have no journalism experience or a lot, the Fortnightly welcomes you to apply.

We are the only official college newspaper of NOVA, and these are paid positions.

Applicants must be currently enrolled at NOVA.

IF YOU HAVE APPLIED BEFORE AND DID NOT GET THE JOB, YOU MUST APPLY AGAIN.

We have more applicants than positions. And sometimes people get turned down for a job simply because it has been filled. If you are still interested in working here and are still a student, please apply again. You must apply again in order to be considered. Remember, our application process is different now than it was previously.

If you worked for us before but left and wish to return to that staff, you will have to apply again. However, it is not guaranteed that you will be rehired.

Be sure to FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

To apply, e-mail a resume to apply@novafortnightly.com. Attach any writing, photography, graphic design or layout samples that you have done, depending on the job you seek. (This does not pertain to the HR/Ops Manager positions.)

VERY IMPORTANT: Your FULL NAME must be a part of the file name of everything you e-mail. (For example, name it JohnDoe_Portfolio.zip, instead of just Portfolio.zip; SarahJonesResume.doc and not SarahResume.doc or Resume.doc. The same goes for photos, layouts, artwork — every single file.)

If you are applying to be a photographer, list your photography equipment on your resume and submit 3 to 7 varied photos. Please include both indoor and outdoor shots. We want candid action shots.

Writing samples must be articles, essays or prose. No poetry. Please include 1 to 3 samples.

We accept the following formats: .jpg, .tif, .pdf, .doc and .docx.

ALL SAMPLES MUST BE ON YOUR OWN WORK.

Be sure to include what your main campus is and what campuses you are willing to cover if applying for a writing or photography position.

Your contact information must include: your full name, address, phone number and main e-mail address (not just the school e-mail address). Too often we have received e-mails from a VCCS account, replied back and not received a response in a timely manner because the applicant did not use that e-mail as their main, personal e-mail account. We would like to avoid this from happening again.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we regret that we cannot respond to everyone who applies.

If you are taking or have recently taken any journalism, photography, graphic design or writing classes, please mention which classes in your e-mail. It is not necessary to have formally studied journalism, graphic design or photography for this job, but it helps.

Any false or misleading statements made on materials presented by a job applicant will result in that applicant being turned down and banned from working for the newspaper. Any false or misleading statements made on materials presented by a job applicant are grounds for termination if that applicant is hired. If you present someone else’s work as your work, the college will be notified and disciplinary action may be taken.

Thank you for considering NOVA Fortnightly, the only official college-wide newspaper of Northern Virginia Community College.

Staff Reporter

Reports to: Editor and Newspaper Training Director

The Staff Reporter is a general assignment writer responsible for finding and reporting the news. They are the backbone of any news organization. The reporter will collaborate with editors to identify newsworthy events, then conduct interviews and research in order to give a complete, fair and accurate account.

Specific duties include:

• Generating story ideas and submitting them to the editor(s)
• Attending campus events as assigned
• Conducting interviews with campus officials and students
• Seeking out and identifying sources
• Confirming all facts
• Writing stories according to AP and house style
• Providing factual information and accurate quotations

Staff Photographer

Reports to: Photography Director

Staff Photographers are responsible for presenting the news in pictures. Photographers will attend campus events as well as photo shoots for feature stories and the photo archive. Staff photographers will need to provide their own digital camera equipment and may be required to spend a few hours a week on call.

Specific duties include:

• Capturing quality images to enhance news stories
• Attending events and photo shoots as assigned
• Collaborating with reporters to compose shots that will convey the news visually
• Writing stories as needed or desired to accompany their photos
• Writing accurate cutlines (captions) that include the who, what, when and where.
• Maintaining complete records of the details of the photo shoot or event

Copy Editor

Reports to: Newspaper Training Director

Copy editors are entrusted with making sure no errors are published. They also make sure that stories are structured, written and presented in a way that is easy for the reader to follow. They are the last people to see copy before it is sent into the layout process.

Copy editors may edit copy from home and do not need to be in the office.

Specific duties include:

• Editing stories including
  • Ensuring accuracy and eliminating libelous statements
  • Correcting spelling and grammatical errors
  • Protecting and polishing the language
  • Correcting inconsistencies
  • Formatting to fit AP and NFN house style
  • Eliminating passages in poor taste
  • Making certain the story is readable, eliminating wordiness while maintaining the original tone of the story
  • Making certain the story is complete and ensuring fairness
• Proofreading and correcting finished pages
• Editing wire copy and press releases to be sure they conform to house style and other standards already listed for local stories
• Coordinating with editors and reporters on rewrites as necessary
• Other tasks as assigned by Training Director or Editor-in-Chief

Page Designer

Reports to: Production/Design Director

*MUST BE ABLE TO USE ADOBE INDESIGN and PHOTOSHOP WELL. NO EXCEPTIONS.

The page designer is the last step in the production process, assembling all the articles, charts, photographs and advertisements secured by other departments into a print issue of NOVA Fortnightly.

Designers who own Adobe InDesign and Photoshop can participate in layout design remotely. Designers who do not have the necessary software may use the newspaper office computers in Alexandria.

Specific duties include:

• Designing and completing production of pages
• Coordinating with editors to ensure that production is completed in a systematic way
• Working with photographers and graphics artists to ensure best possible design
• Communicating as needed with the printing company
• Maintaining a file of all original materials developed for NOVA Fortnightly
• Other tasks as assigned by the Design/Production Director or Editor

Technical skills:

• Good graphic design skills required
• Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign and desktop publishing software
• Ability to learn updates and explore new programs that become readily available
• Experience with Macintosh and/or Windows computers

Human Resources/Operations Manager

Reports to: Editor

This person is generally responsible for administrative and non-editorial duties, including human resources, to ensure the efficient operation of NOVA Fortnightly.

Specific duties include:

• Attending staff meetings and administrating conference call and meeting notes/recordings
• Maintaining office supply inventory and grouping supply requests
• Maintaining the general organization of the main office
• In cooperation with Editor-In-Chief, maintaining a contact information database for staff members
• In cooperation with Campus Administration, maintaining a contact information database for local sources
• Reserving meeting rooms, food services and equipment as necessary
• Sorting and screening of incoming mail
• Preparation of human resource files
• Sorting and filtering job applications; interviewing prospects
• Assisting with payroll at the end of each semester
• Compiling expenses & revenues; drawing up budgets
• Researching & Proposing national press & media awards
• Researching & Proposing current media business models
• Coordinating group activities designed to build synergy
• Other duties as assigned by Editor-in-Chief

This person will also be responsible for coordinating various activities outside of the day-to-day operations but within the core business of NOVA Fortnightly. Such projects will be determined by the Editor and may include readership surveys and coordination of travel to journalism workshops or awards ceremonies.

Thoughts Editor

The Thoughts Editor is responsible for editing Op-Ed pieces and letters to the editor to ensure that published submissions are well organized and supported. The Thoughts Editor should have a strong background in current affairs, both on a local and national level. Specific duties include:

• Reading all letters to the editor and submitting the best ones to the editorial board for review
• Soliciting & producing Op-Ed pieces from experts, faculty & students on a given topic
• Coordinating regular opinion columns
• Writing a regular Op-Ed column
• Ensuring that all assertions have a factual basis
• Preventing libel in Op-Ed pieces, unsigned editorials and letters to the editor

Sales Manager/Multimedia Sales Rep

Reports to: Editor-in-Chief

The Sales Manager is responsible for increasing advertising revenue (sales).

Specific duties include:

Sales

• Preparing sales plans
• Selling advertising to local and national clients
• Developing new accounts
• Coordinating design services for advertising clients
• Preparing monthly and biannual revenue reports
• Consulting with clients
• Preparing invoices
• Forwarding all ads secured to production by deadline
• Advising on ways to improve sales: keeping abreast of current trends & innovations in advertising

Illustrators/Cartoonists

Reports to: Editor or Assignment Editor

Draw a comic strip for the newspaper and get known. Show us your creative or funny side.

We also use illustrations to compliment articles.

You must submit original artwork to be considered. The art must not be a character created by someone else. So please, no drawings of Spiderman or Pikachu.

If you want to create comic strips for us, you need to submit a complete strip with original characters and storyline.

Webmaster

Reports to: Editor-in-Chief

The Webmaster is responsible for updating and maintaining the official NOVA Fortnightly website, the Facebook page, Twitter and other social networking sites. Maintaining the website also includes inserting ads of specific sizes and locations to run for designated timeframes.