Volunteer Editors

We have volunteer opportunities for the following editor positions (the minimum number of hours per week for each is in parenthesis):

Layout editor (12 hours)

Chooses all items for the front page including stories, editorials, columns, photos and videos. Works with story editors and photography editors to find the best content possible. Lays out the page, edits the headlines and summaries to meet our style guidelines, and makes sure the layout meets all our criteria. Makes sure the site looks great. This requires layout experience, copy editing experience, basic knowledge of AP style and grammar, attention to detail, communication skills, and strong understanding and judgment of the news. It does not require any computer software experience or knowledge of code. Our software is very easy to use, though you must have a solid visual aesthetic sense.

Copy editor/proofreader (6 hours)

Spends about forty minutes at different times during the week copy editing the front page for corrections of all types - content, layout, etc. Submits them to layout editors to fix. Proofs take place every two and a half hours from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. E.T. This position requires attention to detail, knowledge of grammar etc. If you do not already know AP style, a commitment to learn AP style is required. New copy editors must demonstrate knowledge of our site, our guidelines and our approach to news by passing a short test before starting.

Special projects editor (6 hours)

Helps with various projects related to the site including adding potential articles to our In Case You Missed It section, finding items for our quote of the day section, and various projects to improve the behind-the-scenes running of the site.

Story editor (10 hours)

Scans the Internet for high quality articles, columns, editorials and videos, adds them to our system, and ranks them by quality. The layout editors pick from these to publish on the front page. Usually we have one content editor per shift in tandem with a layout editor. The person also might research facts if any facts are in question in a story we're running. This requires Internet surfing skills, strong understanding and judgment of the news, and attention to detail. Does not require knowledge of AP style or experience with layout.

Photography editor (10 hours)

Must have an eye for photography to choose potential photos, crop them and add them to our content repository. This includes finding photos for possible use in the World in Photos section in the middle of the page, the main photo, the masthead photo and the Photo of the Day. You will also draft captions for the photos. You do not need photography experience and you do not need to know how to use photo cropping software. We have a super-easy online photography tool that anyone can learn to use in five minutes. You must have a strong visual aesthetic sense and pay attention to detail.

We are happy to provide references from our past and present happy volunteers, some of whom work at full-time news jobs for places like NPR and IDG Publishing. You will be doing real stuff that directly impacts our front page. This is an excellent resume builder and we are happy to give strong references to volunteers/interns who perform at a strong level.

You are welcome to apply to do two different positions at the same time, as long as you meet the minimum hours for each one. For example, you can potentially be both a layout editor and special projects editor if you do at least 18 hours total (12 for layout editor and 6 for special projects editor).

All volunteering is via the computer - you can be anywhere in the world.

To apply

If you are interested in applying, please email the following information to info (at) dailysource.org:

- If you have a resume, please include it. If not, please describe your current work and your last two positions. If you have volunteered or interned before and have references for your work, please include those.

- How many hours per week you can volunteer, the date you can start and what period of time (i.e. number of months) can you commit to. Also include what times between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. Eastern Time on different days (Monday through Sunday) you would be available. We tend to favor candidates who are able to volunteer a strong number of hours.

- What areas you are interested in volunteering for and why you think you would be talented at them. It is helpful if you are interested in more than one area, because it makes it more likely we can bring you on board even if one area is full. If you have a preference, let us know which one you are most interested in, which is your second choice, etc. Also, if you are applying to do more than one position at the same time (see note above), please indicate that.

- Why are you interested in volunteering?

- Please broadly describe your computer skills and Internet surfing ability, including what computer programs you’re familiar with (e.g. Word).

Thanks for your interest.

More information

On this site, you will find further information on:

The Daily Source
25 Stearns Rd. Suite 2
Watertown, MA 02472
617-393-1997