All Staff

All staff members must understand the goals and mission of the Technician, and uphold a sense of responsibility to their readers. In general, all staff members must:

• Have an interest in journalism and the ideals of the journalist endeavor, to seek to report the truth honestly and fairly;
• Have strong sense of honesty and ethical integrity;
• Constantly comply with Student Media’s “Code of Ethics” and other pertinent ethical standards;
• Attend regular, monthly training.

Qualifications

• A thorough understanding of the mission and policies of the newspaper and N.C. State Student Media
• Strong organizational, leadership and teamwork abilities

Editor

The editor is the highest-ranking member of the newspaper staff. He is ultimately responsible for all content in the Technician. He is also the face to the outside world and must focus on the vision and future of the paper. One of the most important responsibilities of the editor is to set measurable long-term and short-term goals for the staff.

Daily duties:

1. Supervises and manages all staff members
2. Attends daily editorial board meetings, where he critiques or supervises a critique of the prior day’s paper
3. Enforces goals and deadlines
4. Serves as the official spokesperson for the staff
5. Gives final approval of all pages before they are sent to the printer, with a focus on the constancy and appearance of the whole paper
6. Responsible for all content in the paper
7. Responsible for publishing written correction of all paper errors
8. Approves all expenditures and employee payments
9. Assists section editors in all aspects concerning content and appearance, including design and production
10. Maintains constant communication with managing editor

General duties:

1. Oversees the publication calendar
2. Establishes realistic and measurable goals for the paper
3. Works with adviser to set journalism standards for staff
4. Meets weekly with adviser and managing editor for critiques, training and problem solving
5. Plans in advance for crisis-management situations
6. Represents staff publicly by attending monthly Chancellor Liaison Meetings, Student Media Board and Student Body President Roundtable meetings
7. Assigns duties and creates positions not covered in job descriptions
8. Approves all hires and is primarily responsible for recruiting new staff members, advertising all editorial position openings
9. Creates the annual budget
10. Builds and adheres to a strong sense of ethics in writing and reporting
11. Holds regular office hours during business hours several days per week
12. Attends and helps plan annual retreat and monthly training exercises

Qualifications:

1. Served as section editor of the Technician for at least one semester
2. Demonstrated excellence in editing through knowledge of AP style and understands different styles of newspaper writing
3. Understands political forces within and outside the University
4. Extensive knowledge of desktop publishing, modular design, typography, graphics and photography
5. Proven abilities in leadership, organization and management
6. Demonstrated and promised long-term commitment to the Technician
7. Effective approach to crisis management
8. Proven, strong and highly evolved sense of ethical and moral integrity
9. Patience and ability to help redirect ideas
10. Understanding of Student Media’s “Code of Ethics”
11. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for working with people in and outside the N.C. State community
12. Meets minimum requirements as mandated by the Student Media Board

Managing Editor

The managing editor is second-in-command, working under the editor. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the paper and must manage the staff accordingly.

Daily duties:

1. Serves as liaison between the editor and other staff members
2. Chairs daily editorial board meetings and keeps them on schedule
3. Is responsible for presenting next issue’s layout at daily editorial board meetings
4. Creates nightly production schedule — unique to each issue — then communicates and enforces the schedule to the editor, section editors and copy editors
5. Focuses on editing the details of the page, including photos, graphics, articles and columns
6. Evaluates staff progress on goals and deadlines set by editor
7. Observes constantly and strengthens the staff’s morale
8. Archives daily folders on the server and creates new daily folder templates
9. Works with writers and editors to make sure stories are covered with accuracy, fairness and clarity and helps with additional story ideas and follow ups
10. Maintains constant communication with the editor
11. Has direct managerial control over copy editors
12. Is primarily responsible for making sure staff time sheets are completed and paycheck disputes are resolved
13. Meets weekly with adviser and the editor for critiques, training and problem solving
14. Aids in the training of new reporters, designers and photographers
15. Assists editor and takes over in his absence
16. Builds and adheres to a strong sense of ethics in writing and reporting
17. Attends annual retreat and holds regular office hours.

Qualifications:

1. Has served as section editor of Technician for at least one semester
2. Has demonstrated excellence in editing through knowledge of AP style and understands different styles of newspaper writing
3. Understands political forces within and outside the University
4. Has extensive knowledge of desktop publishing, modular design, typography, graphics and photography
5. Has proven abilities in leadership, organization and management
6. Has demonstrated and promised long-term commitment to Technician
7. Has effective approach to crisis management
8. Has proven, strong and highly evolved sense of ethical and moral integrity
9. Has patience and ability to help redirect ideas
10. Has understanding of Student Media’s “Code of Ethics”
11. Has excellent interpersonal and communication skills for working with people in and outside the N.C. State community
12. Meets minimum requirements as mandated by the Student Media Board

IV. Section Editors (news, sports, features, opinion and photo)

Each section in the Technician has one section editors. Section editors are responsible for generating, assigning and editing content for their assigned pages. They assist in the training of staff members in their section.

Daily duties:

1. Edits all assignments
2. Sends a daily running order and an hourly production schedule to the managing editor by 4 p.m. on the day of production.
3. Takes responsibility for checking the pages in his section and waits for the editor or managing editor to approve the page before leaving
4. Works with writers and reporters to verify information such as names, numbers and accuracy of details and make sure work is complete before deadline
5. Edits headlines and/or captions
6. Maintains constant communication with managing editorº
7. Assumes final responsibility for the content and readability of his respective section
8. Works with writer and/or photographer to edit work and explain changes if work is turned in by deadline
9. Attends daily editorial board meetings, prepared with a run list at least four nights a week
10. Determines hierarchy of stories on the page

General duties:

1. Assumes responsibility for all content in the section
2. Plans weekly assignment budgets and keeps status board up-to-date
3. Assigns stories, columns, briefs or photos to staff members with instructions about content possibilities and, if applicable, length
4. Follows up with reporters about the status of individual assignments before deadline
5. Attends annual retreat and holds regular office hours
6. Trains staff and works to improve its reporting and writing
7. Strives to expand coverage to reflect the diversity of N.C. State and appeal to a broad base of readers
8. Is responsible for writing stories unclaimed by writers
9. Communicates with photographers and designers to plan visual elements of the page
10. Strives to maintain a consistently high quality of content
11. Maintains contact list of staff members
12. Develops and maintains contact with sources appropriate to respective sections

Section-specific duties:

News Editor:

1. Responsible for ensuring coverage of late-breaking news stories

Sports Editor:

1. Responsible for ensuring coverage of late-breaking sports stories

Features Editor:

1. Strives to develop imaginative, challenging and interesting articles on issues relevant to students’ lives including in-depth features, personality profiles and explorations of non-timely events of interest to the campus community.

Opinion Editor:

1. Generates each day’s editorial topic for presentation at daily editorial board meeting
2. Writes four of the weekly editorials, accurately portraying staff views
3. Actively solicits, edits and organizes letters to the editor
4. Actively solicits guest columns

Photography Editor:

1. Ensures all photos are submitted with the necessary caption information
2. Primarily responsible for late-breaking photo assignments
3. Checks out and maintains camera equipment

Qualifications

1. Has strong organizational, leadership and teamwork abilities
2. Has thorough understanding of the mission of respective section
3. Has ability to track simultaneous projects and meet deadlines
4. Has demonstrated and promised long-term commitment to the Technician
5. Has effective approach to crisis management
6. Has strong interviewing and researching skills
7. Is able to write and edit quickly
8. Understands the editing process from brainstorming to evaluation
9. Has patience and ability to help redirect weak ideas and to teach new reporters
10. Has strong sense of ethical and moral integrity
11. Has knowledge of the laws of libel, privacy, obscenity and copyright

Section-specific qualifications:

News Editor:

1. Has knowledge of political forces within and outside the University
2. Has thorough understanding of news values, where a story lies and what angle to take with a story
3. Has outstanding knowledge of straight news writing and layout procedures

Sports Editor

1. Has an in-depth knowledge of N.C. State athletics, including varsity, intramural and club sports
2. Understands and respects the distinction between news and editorializing

Features Editor:

1. Has outstanding knowledge of feature writing
2. Has abilities with graphics
3. Has an outstanding knowledge of and interest in all forms of popular culture

Opinion Editor:

1. Has knowledge of political forces within and outside the University
2. Understands and respects the distinction between news and editorializing

Photography Editor

1. Has in-depth knowledge of camera equipment and digital processing
2. Is a talented and reliable photographer

Deputy Section Editors (news, sports, features, opinion and photo)

Deputy section editors assist and supplement their respective section editors. They do not assume final responsibility for the section. On the days they are scheduled to work, they follow the production schedule set by the section editor.

Daily duties:

1. Maintains close contact with the section editor
2. Edits assignments as needed
3. Works with writers and reporters to verify information such as names, numbers and accuracy of details and makes sure work is complete before deadline
4. Writes headlines for each story
5. Works with writer and/or photographer to edit work and explain changes if work is turned in by deadline
6. Attends daily editorial board meetings, prepared with a run list, and holds office hours

Qualifications:

1. Has strong organizational, leadership and teamwork abilities
2. Has thorough understanding of the mission of respective section
3. Has ability to track simultaneous projects and meet deadlines
4. Has demonstrated and promised long-term commitment to the Technician
5. Has effective approach to crisis management
6. Has strong interviewing and researching skills
7. Is able to write and edit quickly
8. Is a talented writer and strong reader
9. Has strong imagination
10. Has patience and ability to help redirect weak ideas and to teach new reporters
11. Has an outstanding knowledge of the paper’s policies and the laws of libel, privacy, obscenity and copyright

Section-specific qualifications:

Deputy News Editor:

1. Has knowledge of political forces within and outside the University
2. Has thorough understanding of news values, where a story lies and what angle to take with a story
3. Has outstanding knowledge of straight news writing and layout procedures

Deputy Sports Editor:

1. Has an outstanding knowledge of N.C. State athletics
2. Understands and respects the distinction between news and editorializing

Deputy Features Editor:

1. Has outstanding knowledge of feature writing
2. Has abilities with graphics
3. Has an outstanding knowledge of and interest in all forms of popular culture

Deputy Opinion Editor:

1. Has knowledge of political forces within and outside the University
2. Understands and respects the distinction between news and editorializing

Copy Editors

Copy editors are necessary to ensure the writing of successful copy. Under the guidance of the managing editor, copy editors ensure that any errors are corrected.

Daily duties:

1. Reads and thoroughly edits all copy
2. Edits all copy, including captions and headline, for clarity, grammar, spelling, punctuation, style and accuracy of names and identifications
3. Revises any copy, including headlines and captions, as necessary in conjunction with the writer and section editor

Qualifications

1. Is accurate, efficient and swift in analyzing the writing of others
2. Has a mastery of both the AP and Technician style
3. Understands and respects the distinction between news and editorializing
4. Demonstrates excellence in attention to detail

Design Editor

The design editor is charged with the responsibility of layout for the newspaper. One of his most important roles is to create visually stimulating ways to present information to the reader. He also plans long-term for major feature stories or displays.

Daily duties:

1. Responsible for laying out and designing pages
2. Attends the daily editorial board meeting and receives run list
3. Acts as liaison between newspaper staff and the advertising department
4. Proofs pages for design consistency
5. Has pages checked by editor or managing editor before leaving
6. Emphasizes design and the use of dummies before layout
7. Maintains constant communication with managing editor
8. Works with designers to edit work and explain changes
9. Communicates with section editors to plan visual elements of the page
10. Strives to maintain a consistently high quality of content
11. Approaches section editors to discuss cropping photographs or artwork and editing, chopping or killing stories

General duties

1. Manages staff of designers/graphic artists and schedules sufficient staff for production time
2. Communicates with section editors for future plans
3. Attends annual retreat
4. Works with staff to help familiarize it with workings of computers and software
5. Trains designers and work to improve their work
6. Maintains contact list for designers

Qualifications:

1. Has excellent knowledge of modular design, typography and graphics
2. Is knowledgeable about mini-column grids, design trends and points of entry
3. Has experience with Macintosh computers including in-depth experience with Adobe InDesign and some experience with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
4. Has imagination and ability to present information to the reader visually
5. Has strong organizational, leadership and teamwork abilities
6. Has ability to track simultaneous projects and meet deadlines
7. Has demonstrated and promised long-term commitment to the Technician
8. Has effective approach to crisis management
9. Has strong sense of ethical and moral integrity

Page Designer

This is an entry-level position for people hoping to get involved with designing the layout of the paper. Managed by the design editor, designers work nights to layout small sections of the paper.

Daily duties:

1. Responsible for laying out and designing pages assigned by design editor and have pages checked by design editor before leaving
2. Communicates with section editors of current page
3. Attends meeting and training session scheduled by design editor
4. Accepts suggestions for success from members of the editorial leadership

Qualifications:

1. Has an understanding of journalistic ethics and practice
2. Has imagination and ability to present information to the reader visually

Cartoonists/Graphic Artists

The person in this position is responsible for the creation either of editorial cartoons, cartoon strips or graphic art for multiple sections of the paper.

Duties:

1. Works closely with design/features/opinion editor to generate content consistent with the mission of assigned section
2. Accepts suggestions for success from members of the editorial leadership

Qualifications:

1. Has artistic and graphic design abilities
2. Is proficient in creating computer generated art
3. Is quick and creative with ideas
4. Has a firm understanding of journalistic ethics and practice
5. Completes work by deadline specified by section editor

Senior Staff Writer

Senior staff writers are the upper echelon of reporters at the newspaper, marked by the quantity, quality and consistency of their work. Chosen by their respective section editors, these writers have shown excellence, dedication and reliability and are depended upon to take late-breaking stories or those of great importance.

Daily duties:

1. Contacts section editor on daily basis to see if he needs any help
2. Is responsible for late-breaking news stories

General duties:

1. Comes to office on night story is submitted
2. Receives first pick of story assignments
3. Completes a specified number of stories per week, as specified by the section editor when the individual is promoted
4. Accepts assignments in writing from section editors with the full intentions of completing work to the best of his ability — which includes researching, interviewing, writing, editing, rewriting and formatting
5. Works in the office during production time copy editing and assisting respective section editors
6. Works closely with the editorial staff to generate content consistent with the mission of assigned section. Consultation with an editor is required before researching any story
7. Completes work by deadline specified by section editor
8. Maintains complete responsibility for the fairness, accuracy and clarity of all work accepted and submitted for approval
9. Accepts suggestions for success from members of the editorial leadership
10. Notifies the editor on call in case of a writing problem as soon as possible
11. Attends scheduled staff meetings

Qualifications:

1. Has submitted multiple stories as a staff writer.
2. Has shown devotion, commitment and excellence in his work
3. Has good understanding of the mission of respective section
4. Has good interviewing and researching skills
5. Has a firm understanding of journalistic ethics and practice

Staff Writers

Writers are responsible for producing content pertinent to the readers of the Technician. This is an entry-level position for people who either wish to move up to the position of senior staff or section editor or continue to contribute to the paper on a regular basis. Writers must strive to improve their writing and continue to uphold the ethics of journalism through fairness, accuracy and clarity.

Duties:

1. Comes to office on night story is submitted
2. Works closely with the editorial staff to generate content consistent with the mission of assigned section. Consultation with an editor is required before researching any story
3. Accepts assignments in writing from section editors with the full intentions of completing work to the best of their ability — which includes researching, interviewing, writing, editing, rewriting and formatting
4. Completes work by deadline specified by section editor
5. Maintains complete responsibility for the fairness, accuracy and clarity of all work accepted and submitted for approval
6. Accepts suggestions for success from members of the editorial board
7. Writes a specified amount of stories every week
8. Attends scheduled staff meetings
9. Notifies the editor of any problems or potential problems

Qualifications:

1. Has submitted at least one story as a correspondent
2. Has an understanding of journalistic ethics and practice

Correspondents

Correspondents are contributors to the newspaper who wish to learn the basics of writing for a newspaper. This is a training-level position for people who either want to move up to a position of staff writer or continue to contribute to the paper on a periodic basis. Correspondents are responsible for producing content pertinent to the readers of the Technician.

Duties:

1. Works closely with the editorial staff to generate content consistent with the mission of assigned section. Consultation with an editor is required before researching any story
2. Accepts assignments in writing from section editors with the full intentions of completing work to the best of their ability — which includes researching, interviewing, writing, editing, rewriting and formatting
3. Completes work by deadline specified by section editor
4. Maintains complete responsibility for the fairness, accuracy and clarity of all work accepted and submitted for approval
5. Accepts suggestions for success from members of the editorial leadership

Qualifications:

1. Has an understanding of journalistic ethics and practice