Job Opportunities and Internships Reporter
NEWSPAPER TREE is looking for a talented and enterprising reporter to join our staff. The position is paid commensurate with experience.
NEWSPAPER TREE is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public service digital news and culture publication covering the El Paso/Juárez borderlands.
THE JOB
The Reporter position is a full-time investigative reporter responsible for enterprising, in-depth, and policy-oriented news and information exclusively for Newspaper Tree. The Reporter works on individual news projects, as well as in a team environment with community contributors, freelance journalists, student interns, and professional journalists from partnering news organizations.
The Reporter is responsible for research and writing, interviewing sources, and preparing digital content in various formats. The Reporter should possess excellent writing skills, as well as be comfortable working with equipment and computer applications related to various media formats (e.g. videography, photography, audio recording, etc.).
The Reporter’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Working directly with editors to develop news content and ideas for news coverage. Generating ideas for news pieces and strategies for coverage of issues within the El Paso/Juárez region;
• Conducting and coordinating research, interviews, managing sources and contacts and obtaining public documents for the purpose of presenting factual news and information;
• Working with editors to present news in a compelling and professional manner, and observing and maintaining the highest ethical standards in the process;
• Working on “team coverage” with other professional journalists, community journalists, student interns, policy experts, and other partners as needed;
• Working to facilitating a learning and mentoring environment for community journalists and student interns; and
• Representing Newspaper Tree in a professional and ethical manner in the media and with the community.
THE CANDIDATE
• You hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in journalism, or a related field such as economics, sociology, political science, public policy or public administration.
• You have 3 or more years of journalism experience;
• You have multimedia and social media experience, preferably with some broadcast and/or news radio experience;
• You are fluent in English and Spanish;
• You possess excellent writing and communication skills;
• You are comfortable speaking on camera and in front of groups;
• You are passionate about news, public policy, and the US/México borderlands;
• You have a strong background in economics, business, law, accounting, languages or computer science;
• You have good mathematics skills; and
• You are a quick learner.
To apply, please e-mail a cover letter, resume, three professional references, and a sample of your work (including multimedia, if applicable) to Anthony Martinez at anthony@newspapertree.com. Please write “Reporter” in the subject line.
Applications open May 15, 2013
Applications due June 7, 2013
Interviews from June 10-14, 2013
Position begins June 17, 2013 (negotiable)
Summer Internship Program 2013
NEWSPAPER TREE is looking for smart, diligent and enthusiastic interns for the summer of 2013, beginning in early June. This internship is unpaid. You may apply to obtain course credit from your academic institution.
NEWSPAPER TREE is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public service digital news and culture publication covering the El Paso/Juárez borderlands.
THE JOB
An internship at Newspaper Tree is a unique opportunity for students and others to work with professionals dedicated to the traditional principles of community journalism and the journalism tools of the future.
Internships are 8 weeks, from June 10 – August 2, 2013. Interns are required to work 20 hours a week.
Every intern will report to an editor and be assigned a journalist mentor to provide advice and guidance during the summer.
Responsibilities will include fact-checking, policy research, writing news stories, social media and assisting editors with miscellaneous projects as needed.
THE CANDIDATE
• You have journalism experience.
• You are passionate about news, the US/México borderlands and are a quick learner.
• You have a strong background in journalism, economics, business, law, accounting, languages or computer science.
• You are fluent in English and possess excellent writing and communication skills.
• You have good mathematics skills.
To apply, please e-mail a cover letter, resume, three references, and a sample of your work (including multimedia, if applicable) to Anthony Martinez at anthony@newspapertree.com. Please write “Internship” in the subject line.
Applications open April 29, 2013
Applications due May 24, 2013
Interviews in late May and early June 2013
Internships start June 10, 2013
Internship ends August 2, 2013
April 26, 2013
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: E. Anthony Martinez
(915) 532-0905
anthony@newspapertree.com
IRS Awards 501(c)(3) Status to Newspaper Tree
After almost 24-month wait, borderland independent news organization receives nonprofit status
EL PASO, TEXAS — After almost a two-year wait, the IRS has awarded 501(c)(3) nonprofit status to Newspaper Tree (www.newspapertree.com). “This nonprofit designation marks a new era for Newspaper Tree,” said publisher Anthony Martinez. “We will spend these next weeks in transition to an independent nonprofit, while building a strong foundation and putting together a great team.”
“Patience and diligent work by all parties involved has paid off. The board and El Pasoans alike are excited about the next steps. I am very proud to say I am part of this journey,” said Robin Montoya, president of the board of Newspaper Tree.
In December 2009, the El Paso Community Foundation acquired Newspaper Tree with the goal of fostering independent public service journalism with an emphasis on community news and transparency in government. The nonprofit designation allows Newspaper Tree to become an independent nonprofit news organization and to directly accept tax-deductible donations from the community.
“We are very excited that Newspaper Tree has finally secured their nonprofit designation, especially as a former for-profit publication that has converted to nonprofit status in order to serve the public interest,” said INN’s CEO Kevin Davis. INN (www.investigativenewsnetwork.org) is a network of 82 nonprofit news organizations across North America that produce nonpartisan investigative and public service journalism. Newspaper Tree is a member.
Newspaper Tree is supported by members of the public and a Knight Community Information Challenge (KCIC) grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Newspaper Tree anticipates a Summer 2013 launch.
Donations to Newspaper Tree can be made online at https://epcf.org/give/donate (specify “Newspaper Tree Fund”), or by mail (please make checks out to “Newspaper Tree”) at P.O. Box 15, El Paso, Texas 79940.
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