Category Archives: Media

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ottawa via Asif A. Ali on Flickr

The Shebeen Club Opens in Ottawa

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Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ottawa via Asif A. Ali on Flickr

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ottawa via Asif A. Ali on Flickr

Well, kittens, we’ve up and moved to Ottawa for the next few wintery months, a place where we have literally two connections to whom we are not related by blood, so we’re dusting off the Shebeen Club and looking for a new monthly home in the freezing-rainyest city on the planet.

We have also given the Facebook group a bit of a tune-up, with a fancy custom URL https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheShebeenClub/ and a call for new members and suggested venues. Our needs are simple.

For a Shebeen Club meeting, we need a room that won’t charge us for the space, but will supply waitstaff, foods and beverages, and be okay if everyone wants separate bills (everyone will). To start with, seating for a dozen should be adequate, and if it’s not, we’ll learn fast. Hopefully we can get to critical mass fairly quickly. We need this once a month, from about 6 to 9pm. We don’t need this for September, and probably not for October either, but for November, for sure.

We also need you to invite your literary friends who live in Ottawa, since right now our Ottawa membership consists of: me.

Job Opportunity in Yankistan: Mediaite is Hiring!

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Always bet on Ros

Always bet on Ros

Any politically-aware media addict Americans out there looking for a high-profile gig in journalism? This is it, my friends. Expect to work like a dog, and party like one too, when you drop the name Mediaite.

Mediaite is looking for an ambitious, energetic, newshound to cover the names, the brands, the gossip, the digerati of news, politics, and entertainment. This person will be one of our reporters and opinion writers.

You’ll be responsible for writing news stories using any and all of the tools of digital storytelling: Words, video, pictures, social interactions, book excerpts, you name it. In addition, for this position, you will be responsible for tapping into conservative media to see what is trending among right-leaning thinkers, and add your own thoughts via regular opinion pieces.

If you think you have what it takes and want to impact the news cycle then we want to talk to you.

Requirements:

 

  • For this specific position, a conservative or right-leaning political bent is a major plus. We are looking for someone to be the counterpoint for our liberal opinion columnist.
  • You should have a clear, concise, and in-depth knowledge of the world of news, politics and media, including online personalities, major cable and broadcast networks, leading columnists, and general thought-leaders.
  • You should thrive under pressure, and excel when stress levels are at their highest.
  • You should want to break news.
  • You should have a clear understanding of how Twitter, user-generated content, and viral videos are shaping the news cycle.
  • You should have strong news judgment and an eye for underreported content. Can you find the nugget of interest that no one else has discovered?
  • You should have the ability to write an “objective” news article at one moment, and transition into writing an opinionated column the next.

 

Location:

The ability to work out of our New York offices is preferable, though a Washington, D.C. location would not be terrible (or would it?).

To apply:

Send us an email (jobs@mediaite.com) with your resume and cover letter explaining why you’re suited for the position. Please include links to articles you’ve written and edited.

About Mediaite:

Mediaite is the site for news, information and smart opinions about online, broadcast and print media and entertainment, offering original and immediate assessments of the latest news as it breaks.

Job: Paid Internship at I Fucking Love Science

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I fucking love science!

I fucking love science!

Do you, too, fucking love science? Do you fucking love writing and editing too? If so, you’re gonna fucking love this job opportunity: a paid internship at I Fucking Love Science, one of the internet’s top science sites.

Compensation: 2,000 USD per month for the duration of the internship.

Internship duration: 3 months. Possibility of permanent position for the right candidate.

Desirable skills: Strong interest in science, social media and writing. Excellent writing skills and basic image manipulation/editing skills a bonus.

Qualifications and experience: Degree required, ideally in science or writing. Professional experience not necessary but any experience in writing, blogging or social media would be beneficial.

Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible. Must be able to work some weekend and evenings.

Location: This position is remote. International applicants welcome.

Start date: Flexible throughout June.

How to apply: Please send a cover letter, resume, names of three references and two writing samples in PDF format to jobs@iflscience.com

Closing date: Monday June 2nd 2014. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

Description:

Experience what it’s like to be part of an editorial team that cover the scientific and technological issues that shape our world.

IFLScience.com is one of the fastest growing science websites on the Internet. We cover all fields of science for a general readership and we are now accepting applications for a science writer intern.

This is a paid Internship and you are expected to work full-time from your home office (minimum of 37 hours per week) under the guidance of IFLScience editors and writers.  The IFLScience writers showcase the most unique, interesting and fascinating science related content and photos from the world’s leading universities and research organizations in a fresh, humorous, and informative way.

As an intern you will be responsible for editing and proof reading articles, monitoring social media channels, basic image manipulation/editing and assisting the writers in other ways.  You will be given the opportunity to write for the website and generate your own story ideas.

The internship is intended for people planning careers in science writing with the opportunity of moving into a staff writing position on IFLScience.

Preference is given to people completing an advanced degree in journalism or science.

– See more at: http://www.iflscience.com/paid-internship-opportunity-iflscience#sthash.VsqANZgD.8LzP3ApL.dpuf

SELAH.

Job: Children’s and Family Literacy Librarian in Victoria

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Librarians are cool. Are YOU gonna tell her different?

Librarians are cool. Are YOU gonna tell her different?

Got this from a friend via Facebook. Temporary (to cover mat leave) full time:

Children’s and Family Literacy Librarian

The Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) is an innovative library system with one of the highest per capita usage rates in Canada.  Our Vision is to inspire literacy, lifelong learning and community enrichment for all. Serving 315,000 residents in the Greater Victoria area, we provide library service to 10 municipalities. We are currently seeking a temporary, full-time Children’s and Family Literacy Librarian to fill a maternity leave position which we anticipate will conclude in April 2015.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic, enthusiastic, creative and flexible individual with exemplary leadership, programming/outreach and customer service skills. The main duties will be related to service to children, families and teens. GVPL is currently undergoing extensive restructuring and review of service delivery. The successful candidate will be flexible about how their duties will evolve as a result of ongoing improvements and role adjustments.

Highlights of requirements:

•    Proven programming and outreach skills;
•    Proven ability to develop and maintain community partnerships;
•    Project management skills;
•    Proven leadership and advocacy skills;
•    Strong commitment to customer service;
•    Knowledge of current trends and best practices in public library services;
•    Superior time management and organizational skills;
•    Superior written and verbal communication;
•    Innovative and flexible;
•    Technologically nimble;
•    Fosters enthusiasm and teamwork among staff and colleagues.

Required Education and Experience:

•    MLS or MLIS from an accredited academic institution;
•    Previous library experience in a public services capacity.

For more details: Children’s and Family Literacy Librarian Job Description (PDF)

This is a Union position, with an hourly pay rate of $33.15 – $36.49 plus 13% in lieu of benefits.

Applicants will be required to prepare a written and/or oral assignment.

To apply: Send your résumé and cover letter via e-mail to applications@gvpl.ca outlining how your qualifications, skills, abilities and professional goals match the requirements of the position and GVPL values.

Review of applications begins Monday, May 26, 2014. Potentially start date is early June, 2014; however the competition will remain open until we find the right candidate.

Selah.

Persistence is a Virtue: a case study

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In which I am shown to possess a virtue, which would be news to a lot of people.

Persistence pays off. About six months ago I heard about a media startup, backed by a billionaire, with a social justice mandate and a partiality for investigative journalism. I, along with everyone else in the news media, applied. I heard nothing back. Two months later I see an article saying they’re hiring for pre-launch, it has a different email address, I send my application in there, I hear nothing back. Two months after that, I hear that an editor I know very slightly (from commenting on his website for ten years) has been hired as editor in chief, so I dig up his personal email and send him my resume and clips. I hear nothing back, so I dig up his email at the NEW site, which is now live. I email him there. Nothing for a week and a half, then “Hey, I didn’t know you were a reporter! Can you send me some more clips and some pitches” so I do. Then, nothing for weeks. I read another article about how they’re actively looking for freelancers, so I take our email conversation, forward it to the email address in that article and ask, “So, are we approaching the point of a formal No, or are we still in play here?” and I get back an email with an apology, his cellphone number, and the request to “Dial relentlessly until I pick up the phone.” So I do. 12 hours later I have an agreement to freelance for a very, very high-profile startup with serious financial backing.

 

EDITED TO NOTE: I would have skipped sending things in that One Last Time, except two good friends nagged me on Facebook even in the face of my “oh, I already tried a million times” so there’s two people who just skipped to the head of the line of People I Owe Dinner To.