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Applications to join The Crimson White as a contributor during the summer are open on a rolling basis.

The deadline for fall semester priority consideration is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 15, 2023. Applicants will be notified of their status no later than September 27, 2023.

Applications submitted after September 15, 2023 will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Contributors are expected to regularly produce content for their respective desk(s). Contributing positions begin unpaid, with the opportunity to move into a paid position.

There are a limited number of available paid staff positions. Open staff position job descriptions can be found here.

Questions? Contact Managing Editor Carson Lott at [email protected]

Having problems with the form below? Try accessing the form here.

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Job Description: The multimedia editor oversees all videography and podcasts for The Crimson White. The multimedia editor is responsible for producing engaging multimedia content for The Crimson White’s growing social media presence, and is expected to be highly aware of current trends. The multimedia editor works with the newsroom to create a range of visual and audio features for The Crimson White. We’re looking for someone who is passionate about multimedia and is willing to collaborate with reporters, as well as other campus media outlets, to create content. ($250/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Recruit and train student videographers and audio reporters to capture high quality video and audio content.
Help increase reader engagement by planning weekly social media content with the engagement editor. Produce Tik Toks, Instagram reels, YouTube videos and more.
Work with each desk editor to come up with innovative and creative ways to tell enterprising stories. This could include videos, animations, or podcast series. For example, a weekly news podcast highlighting important stories, or opinions video essays to compliment online columns.
Make sure all transitions, graphics and fonts used are in CW style.
Work twice weekly on the newsletter. Redesign and reinvent the newsletter to include more engaging multimedia content.

Keywords: Video content, podcasts, engagement, newsletter

STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

Job Description: Some may think cartoons are a thing of the past, but art is timeless. The CW is looking for a talented digital artist with strong wit and a penchant for storytelling. In this digital age, we’re looking for someone who can develop an online audience – whether it be through consistent characters or through exciting depictions of important athletic events. ($180/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Create weekly cartoon posters for all Crimson Tide Football home games for the sports newsletter and social media
Create humorous, satirical or critical cartoons for monthly print editions
Work with the chief graphics editor on any other assignments

Keywords: Cartoons, illustrations, design, digital

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Job Description: Pictures are worth 1,000 words. You’ve heard that cliche a thousand times, right? At The CW, the photo desk is a crucial part of our operation. We’re looking for enthusiastic and committed photographers willing to scramble across campus to photograph breaking news, cover important events and attend sports games. We welcome students from all backgrounds, and recognize the need for increased visual coverage of underrepresented student populations. Experience is preferred, but not required. ($150/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Attend assigned sporting events to capture original photos
Shoot action shots of campus
Build a portfolio of stock images taken around campus and the Tuscaloosa community
Work with desk editors and photo editors to ensure all photo needs are being met
Provide the social media and engagement teams with photograph options
Be able to fill in for any minimal videography needs

Keywords: Photography, photojournalism, engagement, event coverage

STAFF VIDEOGRAPHER

Job Description: We are looking for a passionate and creative videographer to join our multimedia team. The staff videographer will plan, develop and shoot various video segments, from sports games to news events in collaboration with the multimedia editor. The staff videographer is responsible for basic editing and developing footage as per industry standards. Experience is preferred, but not required. ($150/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Conduct in-depth research on trendy and current topics before every video
Plan and develop various video segments with the multimedia editor
Shoot and select the best shots
Determine the location for video interviews
Maintain quality sound and image quality of recorded footage
Organize a collection of stock video footage
Be able to fill in for any minimal photography needs

Keywords: Videography, video journalism, coverage, multimedia

STAFF PAGE DESIGNER

Job Description: The CW is looking for creative thinkers who can tell a story through digital art and infographics. The staff designer will dedicate themselves to page layout for our print editions and should also field requests for online publication. Ideally, this person will be comfortable using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. Graphic designers must be flexible for online needs. An added bonus if this individual has some coding and/or Adobe Premiere experience, as it relates to data visualizations, animations or interactive graphics. It is critical that designers are open to new practices that promote accessibility and inclusive storytelling. ($150/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Assist the Chief Page Editor in the monthly creation of print editions
Present new page designs and visualizations to make print editions more engaging and accessible
Work with the Chief Page Editor to create a print edition guidebook
Be available for any digital and online needs as well, including graphic design

Keywords: page design, visualizations, print, engagement

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

Job Description: The Crimson White has one of the highest Twitter followings of any college newspaper, and we’re looking for a team of savvy, creative people to keep us in the lead and grow our presence on other platforms. The social media team will work under the guidance of the engagement editor and multimedia editor to develop a social media plan for the school year. The team should work amongst themselves to split up posting responsibilities among desks, mediums, or days of the week. We want applicants who are passionate about our content, who want to engage with our audience and are willing to expand our reach in new, inclusive and creative ways. ($150/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Posts should be varied and represent a diverse student body.
Promote user-generated content through crowdsourcing tools.
Create and post at least two social media callouts each week to generate reader feedback on specific stories or issues facing campus.
Different platforms should have different captions to suit audience needs. Make sure content is being represented appropriately on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the story feature for Instagram and Facebook.
Work with the photo editor and chief graphics editor to identify high-quality photos and to post graphics suited for each platform.
When appropriate, offer guidance to reporters on best practices for live-tweeting, posting photos or broadcasting. Often, The CW will retweet reporters who are covering events live. The social media team should work with the desk editors to ensure things are being shared in a timely manner.

Keywords: social media, strategy, engagement, content management

DATA JOURNALIST

Job Description: Are you an Excel pro, a computer whiz or just love numbers? This position is created to provide more robust reporting to our newsstands. This applicant should be comfortable with scraping websites, parsing institutional data and requesting information. The data journalist will work with all four desk editors and designers for any data-related needs. This position begins unpaid.

Goals and Expectations:

Plan and execute quantitative analyses and interpret results in support of investigation stories and visualizations
Work with reporters and editors on collecting important data
Assist reporters with data brainstorming, acquisition, cleaning, integrity-checking and analysis
Spot-check data work done by other journalists in the newsroom
Collect data through Strategic Communications, OIRA, and FOIA and preparing it for publication
Teach and encourage best practices and newsroom data policies

Keywords: data management, charts and graphs, data visualization, interdisciplinary

STAFF OPINIONS COLUMNIST

Job Description: Opinion columnists will write biweekly columns about a diversity of topics. Columnists are expected to hone their voice as unique authorities on particular campus issues. These writers should be open to nuanced debate, have a passion for persuasion and should use their platform to spark conversation – and action – around inequities on campus and in the world. It is critically important that these columnists represent diverse corners of campus and can shine light on issues that might fly under the radar of larger, more dominant dialogues. ($180/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Write engaging columns three to four times per month
Explore a variety of topics; from campus politics to national commentary; be flexible and write outside of your box
Utilize interviews and in-depth research to support your claims
Regularly read other collegiate and national opinion columns and news outlets to have a clear understanding of happenings across the country and world
Work within strict deadlines
Perform fact-checking
Compose columns that are enjoyable and complies with journalism ethics and laws
Compose columns which are captivating and appeal to a large group of readers

Keywords: opinion, research, commentary, argumentative

STAFF NEWS REPORTER

Job Description: It is imperative that news writers represent a diverse student population and have a critical eye for policies and procedures that affect the campus community in disparate ways. This desk is the hub of breaking news on campus, and its writers are primarily responsible for providing timely and critical context about University happenings. Each news writer will cover a specific beat, ranging anywhere from financial affairs to SGA to environmental justice. News writers should have flexible schedules and should be dedicated to developing strong relationships with a diversity of sources. Reporters will work closely with the news editors to produce at least one daily, breaking or enterprise story per week. We’re looking for enthusiastic, inquisitive and committed students from a variety of backgrounds who are open to learning new skills. ($180/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Write and report on one story per week
Research and write informational news articles and stories about real events using a fair and unbiased perspective
Interview students, staff, faculty, community members and experts to gather first-hand accounts of events and organize an outline into a cohesive and interesting story.
Regularly read other collegiate and national news outlets to have a clear understanding of happenings across the country and world
Work within strict deadlines
Perform fact-checking
Compose articles that are enjoyable and complies with journalism ethics and laws
Compose articles which are captivating and appeal to a large group of readers

Keywords: news, reporting, investigative, informational

STAFF SPORTS WRITER

Job Description: Sports writers will cover a specific beat – whether it be adapted athletics or women’s soccer or anything in between – and develop strong relationships with coaches, players and fans. In this time of uncertainty in the sports world, these writers are needed more than ever to think of creative ways to cover a key facet of campus life. Sports writers should feel comfortable approaching sports with a news and culture mindset, meaning that they’re committed to telling the larger story of athletics on campus – be it by spending breakdowns or player profiles. ($180/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Write engaging and exciting coverage of Alabama Athletics events once a week
Research and write informational sports articles and stories about real events using a fair and unbiased perspective
Interview student athletes, coaches and other athletic staff members and experts to gather first-hand accounts of events and organize an outline into a cohesive and interesting story
Regularly read other collegiate and national sports coverage to have a clear understanding of sports happening across the country
Work within strict deadlines
Perform fact-checking
Compose articles that are enjoyable and complies with journalism ethics and laws
Compose articles which are captivating and appeal to a large group of readers

Keywords: sports, coverage, entertainment, informational

STAFF CULTURE WRITER

Job Description: The culture desk is the home of key commentary on art, music and other intimate facets of student life – whether it be sharp, timely coverage of a play or an in-depth profile of a student’s struggles and triumphs. These writers will work closely with the culture editors to produce at least one event coverage or feature story per week. We’re looking for creative and intuitive students from a variety of backgrounds who are open to honing their writing. Culture writers should represent a diverse student population and can approach a variety of topics, sources, and events with depth, nuance and a desire to tell underreported stories. ($180/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Write engaging and entertaining stories on cultural happenings at the University and in Tuscaloosa once a week
Cover the booming arts, music, and performance scene using a fair and unbiased perspective
Interview performers, artists, musicians and experts to gather first-hand accounts of events and organize an outline into a cohesive and interesting story
Regularly engage in the arts and read other collegiate and national culture coverage to have a clear understanding of culture and arts across the country and world
Work within strict deadlines
Perform fact-checking
Compose articles that are enjoyable and complies with journalism ethics and laws
Compose articles that are captivating and appeal to a large group of readers

Keywords: culture, arts, reporting, coverage

RACE AND IDENTITY REPORTER (NEWS)

Job Description: The Race and Identity News Writer will assist the news desk with reporting on issues pertaining to race, identity and social change. Having a reporter devoted to these stories will enhance our newsroom’s investigative efforts and provide incredibly important insights into how – and where – the University can be more equitable. ($180/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Write engaging short/in-depth articles about issues affecting underrepresented communities on campus and in the Tuscaloosa community.
Write features on underrepresented organizations on campus and in the community, along with event coverage.
Interview diverse students, staff, faculty, community members and experts to gather first-hand accounts of events and organize an outline into a cohesive and exciting story.
Create a network of diverse sources to add to the Crimson White’s database.
Understand how diverse voices can enrich reporting.
Look for spaces in coverage where more diversity is needed.
Regularly read other collegiate and national news outlets to understand happenings across the country and the world clearly.
Work within strict deadlines
Perform fact-checking
Compose articles that are enjoyable and comply with journalism ethics and laws.
Compose articles that are captivating and appeal to a large group of readers.

Keywords: news, investigative, reporting, information

RACE AND IDENTITY REPORTER (CULTURE)

Job Description: The Race and Identity Culture Writer will help spark wider conversations about race, identity and social change. This reporter might also scope out human interest stories that celebrate the accomplishments of students who are underrepresented on campus, or they might embrace their creative side by multimedia projects for students who belong to specific cultural or affinity groups. ($180/month)

Goals and Expectations:

Write engaging short/in-depth articles about issues affecting underrepresented communities on campus and in the Tuscaloosa community.
Write features on underrepresented organizations on campus and in the community, along with event coverage.
Interview diverse students, staff, faculty, community members and experts to gather first-hand accounts of events and organize an outline into a cohesive and exciting story.
Create a network of diverse sources to add to the Crimson White’s database.
Understand how diverse voices can enrich reporting.
Look for spaces in coverage where more diversity is needed.
Regularly read other collegiate and national news outlets to understand happenings across the country and the world clearly.
Work within strict deadlines
Perform fact-checking
Compose articles that are enjoyable and comply with journalism ethics and laws.
Compose articles that are captivating and appeal to a large group of readers.

Keywords: culture, coverage, reporting, features