Join Varsity’s visual team this Michaelmas

Now is the ideal time to have your talents published in Cambridge’s only independent student newspaper

Now is the ideal time to join Varsityvarsity archives

by Grace Cobb & Alice Mainwood

This article is 2 years old

Monday July 15 2024, 1:07pm

Applications to join Varsity’s visual team in Michaelmas 2024 are now open. Apply to be a photographer or illustrator in order to make your mark on the paper.

Varsity is the oldest and only independent student newspaper in Cambridge, and one of only three in the UK. We hold institutions to account, representing the interests of students with integrity, ambition, and a creative edge.

The Michaelmas team’s primary responsibility will be to produce fortnightly printed newspapers. The team will produce high-quality and regular online content throughout term, and afterwards in the Christmas vacation.

Therefore, visuals will have a huge role in Varsity this coming term. We are looking for a large team of photographers and illustrators who are keen to make the paper more aesthetically engaging, who are willing to make their mark on how the website and print will look and feel.

The Editors-in-Chief of Varsity in Michaelmas term will be Alice Mainwood (aem224) and Grace Cobb (gc670). Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about the application process or what it’s like to contribute to the paper.

Now is the ideal time to join Varsity.

How to apply

All applications must include:

Your full name, subject, year, and college.
The role (s) for which you would like to apply.
Any other extracurricular commitments in Michaelmas term

Please see the information below for specific details on how to apply for each role. Applications must be submitted to applications@varsity.co.uk by midday Friday 26th July.

Photographers

Our photography team keeps the newspaper looking vibrant with new visual content. As a staff photographer, you will have the chance to pursue creative projects, work on fashion photoshoots, or cover Cambridge events as part of the News team. To apply, please send us an email detailing any skills and experience you have for the role. If available, please also attach a short portfolio of your previous work. If you don’t have experience or a portfolio, that’s fine too — just let us know why you’re interested in the role! Please note that you must have access to a DSLR camera or equivalent. Please indicate whether you would be willing to be assigned specifically to news photography.

Illustrators and Cartoonists

Varsity relies on a strong, dynamic visual presence. As a staff illustrator, you’ll have the chance to be at the forefront this, joining a creative space where you’ll be encouraged to experiment, and creating art that speaks to student perspectives. Whether you are an artist, graphic designer or cartoonist, we’d love to hear from you. To apply, please send us an email detailing any skills and experience you have for the role. If available, please also attach a short portfolio of your previous work. If you don’t have experience or a portfolio, that’s fine too — just let us know why you’re interested in the role!

Please note that applications to be a writer are also open. Please find more information here.

Puzzle Maker

Enjoy a crossword? Good with wordplay? Fancy a sudoku? We're looking for individuals to design them. This is a fun, low-commitment role. To apply, please send us a short application explaining why you're interested in the role. Please also provide three examples of prompts you would include in a Varsity crossword.

Support Varsity

Varsity is the independent newspaper for the University of Cambridge, established in its current form in 1947. In order to maintain our editorial independence, our print newspaper and news website receives no funding from the University of Cambridge or its constituent Colleges.

We are therefore almost entirely reliant on advertising for funding and we expect to have a tough few months and years ahead.

In spite of this situation, we are going to look at inventive ways to look at serving our readership with digital content and of course in print too!

Therefore we are asking our readers, if they wish, to make a donation from as little as £1, to help with our running costs. Many thanks, we hope you can help!