Clerical / section editor will manage the skills, time and talent of their various writers, giving story ideas and contact information weekly. The section editors are responsible for connecting writers with the sources (department heads, deans and others) assisting the writers in completing their weekly assignments by being available by email and personal meetings. The section editors are also responsible for editing the story within their section and rewriting material on occasion prior to sending the stories around to other staff members for editing — this also includes sending inadequate stories back to the writer for further editing. The section editors are also responsible for completing the simple design edits and verifying all information is correct within their section before submitting their pages to the copy editors. Section editors must write weekly for their section. Section editors will gain experience in leading their team of reporters in producing their section of the weekly paper.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Produce content on deadline for their section of the 16-page newspaper every week.

• Responsible for gathering story ideas by working with sources, including deans, department heads and other sources.
• Assign those ideas to the appropriate student writer, giving them story objectives, content specifics, due date and editing suggestions. Must be available to the writers via email or text for questions as they arise.
• Write stories for their section each week, taking on the needed or difficult topics.
• Edit the stories as they are submitted and when needed either rewrite the story themselves or return to the student to rewrite. Section editors are the first phase of maintaining the quality of the content in the paper.
• Responsible or completing simple design corrections using Adobe InDesign.
• Must verify all information from spelling of names to correct dates and data.
• Strictly adheres to Liberty University policies, representing the University in an exemplary manner.
• Works effectively as a team member, embracing and fostering LU’s mission.

Additional information regarding the Federal Work Study program may be found here.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES  

Because the staff cannot produce the content of the paper alone, they must depend on over 40 volunteers to assist in writing content. The section editors are responsible for training, directing, encouraging and giving feed back to those volunteers.  

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Education and Experience

A journalism student would be preferred for the position but a student from another major who is talented in writing and can learn the technology needed to execute the position could do well.

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE JOB

Communication and Comprehension

• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing to convey clear, well articulated information.

• Ability to understand, speak, and write English in order to convey messages and correspond in an articulate and professional manner.

• Possess public communication skills that allow professional representation of Liberty University to a variety of business, government and community customers and associates.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Computer and scheduling skills Word and Adobe Suite.

Problem Solving

• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature.
• Be able to evaluate story ideas and judge when and if they should be pursued.
• Understand that the deadline is a fixed element and figure out how to coordinate content – words, photos and art – to meet that deadline.  

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• Required to travel to local and campus locations.
• May be required to sit to perform deskwork or type on a keyboard.
• Regularly required to hear and speak in order to effectively communicate orally.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, and climb stairs to move about the campus.
• Regularly lift 10 or fewer pounds.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Environment

The working environment in which one will typically perform the essential functions of this position is a climate-controlled setting.  It is well lighted and the noise level is moderate.  Working environment also includes facilitation of events outdoors occasionally.    

Driving Requirements

Use of one’s personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) may be required for travel in the performance of the essential functions of this position.  Proof of a valid Virginia driver’s license, an acceptable DMV record, and liability insurance is required.

Time Type

Part time

Location

Onsite

The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe it is our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility of ensuring that all management practices regarding employees are conducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal and state statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including state of employment protected classes. It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate all employees and prospective employees strictly according to the requirements of the job. All personnel related activities such as compensation, benefits, transfers, job classification, assignments, working conditions, educational assistance, terminations, layoffs, and return from layoffs, and all other terms, conditions and privileges of employment will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including all applicable state of employment protected classes. The University is a Christian religious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject to religious discrimination requirements. The University’s hiring practices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliance with both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exception to the “religion” component of the employment discrimination laws for religious organizations (including educational institutions), and permits them to give employment practice preference to members of their own religious beliefs.