As Michaelmas approaches, Varsity’s hiring again, and this time we’re looking to fill a number of varied roles: Senior News Correspondents, Sports Reporters, Photographers, Video Journalists, Social Media Editors, Production Editors and Sub-Editors. These roles are a great way to start getting involved in Varsity – you don’t need to have any prior experience. They tend to be less time-consuming than section editor roles, with more flexibility, but will allow you to be closely involved with what’s being reported, and how we convey that to our readers.

Please send your application via email to applications@varsity.co.uk, including which role you are applying for, your name, college, what year of your course you are going into and details of any academic or extra-curricular commitments you already have for Michaelmas 2017.

The deadline for applications is 6pm on 23rd August 2017. If you have any questions about applying, please contact editor@varsity.co.uk.

The Roles

Senior News Correspondent

A great way to get stuck straight in with the busy News section, this role involves attending weekly news meetings, as well as keeping your eyes peeled throughout the week for emerging stories. You will learn how to write a news report, sending requests for comment and fact-checking information, and your stories can appear on the Varsity website, in the printed edition, or even make it to the national papers. You’ll need to be curious (read: a good gossip) and able to stick to deadlines.

To apply:

• Detail any relevant experience.
• Explain why you think you would be suitable for the role and why you want to do it.
• Critique a recent article of your choice from the News section. (300 words max)

Sports Reporter

Sports reporters attend matches and write-up reports. A willingness to embrace all kinds of sport is needed, as well as strong writing skills which enable you to deliver entertaining and informative commentary on matches.

To apply:

• Detail any relevant experience.
• Critique a recent article of your choice from the Sports section. (300 words max)

Photographer

Photographers respond to commissions to take photos for sections throughout the paper. This is a varied role: one week you might be needed to take photos of a dress rehearsal for a theatre preview, the next you might be going with reporters to capture events taking place out and about in Cambridge, eg protests. Having your own camera is an advantage, although the main requirement is that you are skilled, enthusiastic and able to go to shoots at relatively short notice.

To apply:

• Detail any relevant experience.
• Send links to a portfolio or examples of photographs you have taken, if you have any. Please note that this is not compulsory.
• Let us know any specific area of interest or preference, eg theatre, fashion, news, etc. Again, this is not compulsory.

Video Journalist

As with Photographers, this role involves carrying out assignments and producing videos, which may include documentaries, vox pop, news summaries, interviews and promotional videos featuring clips from the radio shows. You need to be capable of, and have the software for, editing your own videos.

To apply:

• Detail any relevant experience.
• Links to a portfolio or examples of videos you have made, if you have any. Please note that this is not compulsory.

Head of Video

The Head of Video oversees all of Varsity’s video and photographic output. Your job would involve liaising with the Editors to establish what needs to be commissioned, assigning jobs to Video Journalists and Photographers, as well as facilitating their own ideas for content. Although you will also inevitably be contributing content, much of this role involves people management and organisation, as well as having a strong vision for what Varsity should achieve in this area and how best to make that happen.

To apply:

• Detail any relevant experience.
• Explain why you think you would be suitable for the role and why you want to do it.
• Write a critique of Varsity’s current use of video, photography and any other media. You should discuss the potential of different social media platforms. (500 words max)

Social Media Editor

An area in which most Cambridge students are experts, Social Media Editors are responsible for Varsity’s output on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Besides scheduling posts to deliver our stellar journalism to the masses, you’ll also be expected to think about the brand’s online presence more generally and how we might use new platforms in the future. As the workplace becomes increasingly reliant on social media, this is a fantastic opportunity to get some formal experience.

To apply:

• Detail any relevant experience.
• Choose five different articles from five different sections and write sample Facebook posts and Tweets for each.
• Give three ideas for Instagram.

Production Editor

We print 9,000 copies of the paper each week and want to consistently deliver high-quality, professional-looking spreads. Production Editors use their experience with Adobe InDesign and Photoshop to help section editors with their page layouts and features. This role is great for anyone interested in design and graphics. You need to have a keen eye for detail and a creative approach to fitting seemingly unwieldy content into an attractive spread.

To apply:

• Detail any relevant experience, in particular previous use of Adobe InDesign and Photoshop.
• Give previous examples of your work on either InDesign or Photoshop, if you have any.
• Write a critique of Varsity’s current page-layout and design aspects, choosing at least two elements you think work well, and two which don’t. Previous issues of Varsity for you to consult can be found here. (400 words max)

Sub-Editor

Know your less from your fewer? Have an eye for commas, apostrophes, capital letters and spelling? Our team of Sub-Editors is key to ensuring that Varsity maintains its reputation for clear and professional journalism, conforming to the Varsity style guide as well as correcting last-minute errors in titles, subtitles, picture-captions, and making judgements on matters of style and quality. This role requires flexible commitment but it would be a great advantage to be available on Thursday afternoons, before we go to print.

To apply:

• Detail any relevant experience.
• Explain why you think you would be suitable for the role and why you want to do it.
• Choose three articles from three different sections, and provide three alternative headlines and sub-headings

Good luck with your application - we look forward to hearing from you