The University Times, Ireland’s largest and pre-eminent student newspaper, is seeking to build a digital strategy team to help plan and implement changes and improvements to its website.
In 2015, under the editorship of Edmund Heaphy, The University Times launched a completely reimagined and fully mobile responsive website, which, in April 2016, won Best Overall Newspaper Website in the College News Design Contest at the Society for News Design’s Annual Conference in San Francisco.
Candidates for this position will be capable in one, some or all of the following areas: responsive HTML & CSS development, PHP development, WordPress template design, WordPress plugin development, Javascript/jQuery and D3.js development and graphic design.
What You’ll Do
• On the “product” side, you’ll help plan, improve, design and develop the newspaper’s existing digital suite, namely its responsive website and custom WordPress publishing tools
• On the journalism or “newsroom” side, you’ll engage with the newspaper’s award-winning editors and journalists in ambitious data journalism and visual journalism projects
What We’re Looking For
• Above all else, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn and develop your own skills, even if you think you might not be qualified enough
• You should have moderate experience in at least one of the areas above and be willing to build skills in the rest
• No journalism experience is necessary, but you should be interested in the impact that journalism can have, and should have favourite newspapers and newspaper websites
• Be curious, inquisitive, sharp, and aware, whilst not being afraid to ask questions regularly and often
What You’ll Get
• The opportunity to build skills in an ever-expanding field, one where iconic media outlets like the New York Times, the Guardian and the Washington Post are increasingly looking for talented developers with prior experience
• The opportunity to work alongside talented and dedicated journalists and editors who are truly passionate about what they do
How to Get Involved
• Send a short expression of interest, outlining your enthusiasm, experience and skillset to Edmund Heaphy, the incoming Director of Digital Strategy of The University Times at [email protected]
Please note: Positions in The University Times are almost always awarded to current students, very recent graduates and staff members of Trinity College Dublin.