Editorial Application
Talon Times
Job Description
Being an editor means that you are committed to our school and our newspaper. You are willing to miss
lunches, come after school, or work weekends to help produce the best newspaper possible. Editors are
expected to do the work when others don’t or won’t. The advantage to this is they have the most say in
the overall look, theme, and direction of the newspaper; they learn hands-on, real world leadership
experience that can be included on scholarship and job applications. It is one of the hardest jobs you can
do, but it is completely worth it—if you are willing to take on the challenge.
Editor-in-Chief/President
The editor-in-chief is the highest editorial position on the newspaper staff.
Duties shall include:
o Help develop the overall look and vision of the newspaper
o Do the layout of the newspaper for the web and print version (after school as needed)
o Determine which articles meet the necessary quality standards to get published
o Attend ALL after school and weekend meetings
o Complete articles for staff members who do not
o Help members who struggle with their pages
o Delegate and assign section editors to tasks
o Communicate with the adviser regarding staff issues and page complications
o Hold editor meetings at least once per deadline to keep all editors on the same page
o Attend ALL after school editor meetings
o Help prepare the following year’s editor
Section Editors
News Editor/Vice President
This section editor is responsible for determining which school, community, state, or national issues and
events will be included in the newspaper. They will work with the Editor-in-Chief and other section
editors to help create the most accurate, up-to-date, in-depth news coverage possible within our deadlines.
Duties shall include:
o Monitor all national and state news by reading reputable news sources like AP, New York Post, Wall
Street Journal, Washington Times, New York Times, Newsweek, Chicago Sun Times, Fox News,
MSNBC, on a daily basis (make sure you read from both conservative and liberal to give balance)
o Pull data from daily announcements
o Help assign topics to staffers
o Help students that are having difficulty with their articles
o Complete articles for any staff members who do not
o Edit articles for accuracy and clarity
o Double check that articles, photos, and layout work well together
o Check that each article follows the style guide and layout template for that section
o Ensure that the copy is interesting and well written
o Ensure that there is no duplication of pictures or students from article to article
o Attend ALL after school editor meetings
Sports Editor
This section editor is responsible for determining which school, community, state, or national sporting
events will be included in the newspaper. They will work with the Editor-in-Chief and other section
editors to help create the most accurate, up-to-date, in-depth sports coverage.
Duties shall include:
o Get Fall, Winter, and Spring sports schedules from Athletic Secretary
o Get team rosters from either Athletic Secretary or Coaches
o Pull scores, ranks, and highlights from daily announcements, AIA, or coaches
o Determine if there are local or national sporting events that would connect to our students
o Create interactive polls, charts, graphs, or sidebars that can add interest to the website
o Help assign topics to staffers
o Help students that are having difficulty with their articles
o Complete articles for any staff members who do not
o Edit articles for accuracy and clarity
o Double check that articles, photos, and layout work well together
o Check that each article follows the style guide and layout template for that section
o Ensure that the copy is interesting and well written
o Ensure that there is no duplication of pictures or students from article to article
o Attend ALL after school editor meetings
Special Interests Editor
This section editor is responsible for determining what extra articles/information will best
interest/entertain our student population. This would include features (stories about individual students),
celebrities, crossword puzzles, comics, critiques on movies, music, fashion, hot spots, etc. They will
work with the Editor-in-Chief and other section editors to help create the most accurate, up-to-date, indepth look at entertainment.
Duties shall include:
o Get a list of clubs from the front office; know the sponsors and presidents/members of each
o Creating a year-long calendar of all school club and social events
o Determining which students may have an interesting story to tell
o Working with art or other creative students to create comics, or find a site we can pay for comics
o Finding students willing to act as music, food, movie, fashion “critics.”
o Read magazines, go to the mall, search the Internet for whatever new hot thing is going on.
o Create interactive polls, charts, graphs, or sidebars that can add interest to the website
o Help assign topics to staffers
o Help students that are having difficulty with their articles
o Complete articles for any staff members who do not
o Edit articles for accuracy and clarity
o Double check that articles, photos, and layout work well together
o Check that each article follows the style guide and layout template for that section
o Ensure that the copy is interesting and well written
o Ensure that there is no duplication of pictures or students from article to article
o Attend ALL after school editor meetings
Copy Editors/Secretary (need two)
The copy editors are responsible for editing copy (after the individual and peer edit). These students must
have excellent attention to detail and enjoy spotting errors. (It should seem like a game—let’s see if I can
spot the error everyone else missed.)
Duties shall include:
o Edit articles during and outside of class
o Use editing/proofing marks to highlight convention errors
o Do name checks (spelling and grade level)
o Check for diversity of coverage (no duplicate photos or people from article to article)
o Assist students who are struggling with their copy development
o Attend ALL after school meetings
Photography Editor/Historian
The photography editor is responsible for the up keep of the cameras, the organization of pictures, and the
general management of photography for the staff. This person will not be writing articles; they will only be
dealing with the photos.
Duties shall include:
o This position often requires afterschool and occasional weekend commitment
o Uploading of pictures onto computer
o Keeping photos organized in a logical order
o Help manage which photographers will be assigned to which events
o Help teach newer photographers fundamental photography elements
o Allow young photographers to follow and watch, to learn new techniques
o Strive for unique photos, which are natural (not posed)
o Help section editors ensure that no pixilated, fuzzy, or poor photos end up in the newspaper
o Help section editors ensure that no photo is ever used more than once
o Ensure that the correct photographer is given credit for their photos
o Be willing to go get new photos if another photographer can’t or won’t
o Attend ALL after school meetings (as needed)
Business Manager/Treasurer
The business manager is the accountant and deals mainly with money, ads, and fund raising. This person
will still do occasional articles, but only as time allows.
Duties shall include:
o Design advertising to make student body aware of the newspaper
o Help Editor-in-Chief layout the web and print version of the paper
o Create announcements as needed
o Work with staffers to sell business ads in the paper to generate funds
o Organize, design, and work with clients for the ads
o Create a fundraiser for each semester to help generate funds
o Help create and/or make possible staff T-Shirts
o Create a flyer to send home to parents asking for donations of Tax Credit, paper, pens, etc.
o Help other students complete articles as time allows
Talon Times Editorial Application
Name:
Grade Level (circle): 9
Editorial Position (circle):
10
11
EIC
12
News
Sports
Specials
Copy
Photography
Business
Directions: Answer the below questions (poor grammar, spelling errors, slang, and other informal language
choices will demonstrate that you do not really want this position).
1. Why do you wish to hold this position?
2. Which skills or characteristics do you currently possess that will help you excel in this position?
3. What would you hope to achieve as an editor?
4. What are some challenges you anticipate facing, and how do you intend to address them?
5. Identify some of your own weaknesses and how you intend to work on or compensate for them.
6. How do you think you will deal with staff members with excuses, late work, or poorly done work?
7. What are some ideas you have for making the Talon Times interesting, well-known, and well-liked?
Sample Work: All editors except Business Manager, must submit a copy of their best piece of writing
along with this application (photographer provide copies of your three best photos: action, landscape,
candid). Provide an explanation of why this example is your best work.
Editor Statement of Commitment
I understand that, if appointed editor, I am expected to perform to the best of my abilities while holding
myself to the highest levels of professionalism, courtesy, and respect. I understand that any and all concerns
within my department are my responsibility and I will do whatever it takes to get the job done. I also
understand that with this role, sacrifices in my personal time outside of school may be required to complete
my duties, and I will do all I can to make myself available, especially at deadline time.
Signature: _______________________________________________ Date: ____________________q