Opinions Editor

Term: September 1 - April 30

Reports to: Silhouette Editor-In-Chief

Rate: C4

Hours: 10-12 hours per week

This posting closes Tuesday, February 24th at 11:59pm

The Silhouette is McMaster University’s student-run newspaper. The Sil has been in publication for over 80 years, first hitting the newsstands in the fall of 1930. To see more on the MSU site, click here. 

Overview 

Whether it’s a breaking news story or an ongoing investigation,
Silhouette
reporters will be there and are committed to informing the student body of the issues and concerns that affect their lives. The Sil’s sports section is your best way to keep up with the exploits of the many Mac varsity teams, while Arts & Culture provides useful and insightful profiles, features, and tips to help you get the most out of student life. The Sil’s opinions section is your own forum through which you can speak to the masses. Got something to say? Submit an OpEd piece by two days prior to that week’s publication. 

Please note this posting closes Friday March 14th at 12pm - noon. 

The Opinions Editor assigns stories and columns to volunteers, writes stories and columns, makes photo requests, recruits volunteers, maintains amicable contact with community representatives, MSU services and campus clubs, and edits content for the Opinions section of the Silhouette without altering opinions of writers.
The Editor is also responsible for supervising the section’s weekly Morningfile
show on 93.3 CFMU.  

Supervisory Function  

• Supervise Staff Writers, Silhouette Contributors, and CFMU Morningfile volunteers 


• Ensure frequent submissions to paper and that submissions remain within set guidelines 

Editing Function 

• Ensure stories are accurate, coherent, balanced, grammatical, and otherwise well written 


• Communicate with production staff to ensure submissions are laid out properly on the page 


• Counsel volunteer writers on their submissions 

Layout Function 

• Layout Opinion contributor pieces
  on the Silhouette website 

Writing Function 

• Writing a weekly column for the Opinions section, and producing additional content to fill section when necessary 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Able to write grammatically correct sentences and coherent stories in accordance with Canadian Press style 


• Assertive and clear communication ability to reach contacts and ascertain correct facts 


• Personal skills  to work with colleagues, volunteers, and the public 


• Able to use Adobe InDesign, Word, Wordpress (training provided) 


• Organizational and time management skills  


• Editing ability 


• Public relations skills with pleasant disposition 


• Knowledge of Media Law 

Effort and Responsibility 

• Attention to detail to maintain accuracy and balance 


• Persistence to get the right information from contacts 


• Approach subjects as layperson in order to get the appropriate information from contacts and provide an objective and clear account 


• Responsible adherence to MSU Operating Policy – The Silhouette 


• Effort required to maintain thought during long hours 

Working Conditions 

• Silhouette office (open office with many computer terminals and a lounge) 


• Time demands may exceed stated hours of work 

Training and Experience 

• Journalism experience (previous experience with The Silhouette an asset) 


• Computer training needed before September 


• Rudimentary knowledge of media 

Equipment 

• Computer equipment to perform layout and writing responsibilities 


• Recording devices for interviewing and transcribing