Join the Catalyst Team in 2019!

It’s that time of year again – we’re on the hunt for keen and committed students to form a dream team to create next year’s issues.

Check out the roles outlined below and send through your application by Friday 14 December. You can apply for as many positions as you like, however you can only be successful in one role (except for Editorial Committee, Photography and News Reporters, which can be joined in addition to another role).

How to apply:

Shoot an email through to [email protected] and tell us:

  • All about you (what you study / what year)
  • Relevant experience (don’t worry if you don’t have much – as long as there’s enthusiasm, the practical skills can be gained along the way!
  • Why you think you’d make a good candidate
  • Interests and ideas for the role

We’re super keen to build a stellar Catalyst team for 2019, and aim for it to be an enjoyable and rewarding position for everyone involved!  Volunteering on the team is a fantastic way to gain experience, but make sure to keep your study and work load in mind when applying as it does require a degree of commitment. :–)

DESIGN

Design Team (2-3 members)

We’re looking for Communication Design or Graphic design students who are eager to gain real-world experience designing for a publication. Catalyst is a fabulous platform to showcase your skills and would look pretty impressive in a portfolio! You will be working alongside Catalyst co-editor Emily Cork, who will be looking after the design team.

What it involves:

  • Working alongside editors to establish a colour scheme for each issue
  • General graphic design of magazine spreads –  you will be responsible for about a third of the issue, and will be given a master document with the written content, artwork and allocated page numbers
  • Implementing the above mentioned master doc details, and adhering to specific suggestions made by editors
  • Using creativity and design knowledge to create spreads that showcase text and artwork but are also clear and engaging to browse through on paper
  • Preparing the master PDF and ensuring it will look its best in print
  • Working to deadlines …yay!

When applying, please include samples of work/portfolio and experience – print production especially, if possible. We’d love to see unique style that appeals to students, and enthusiasm for working in a team!

 

 

EDITING + REPORTING

Editorial Committee

Here it is, your chance to gain publication experience in a fun and collaborative environment! The Editorial Committee is an avenue to get more involved with Catalyst and work with similarly minded people. You’ll be helping guide the direction of content and give ideas and feedback.

What it involves:

  • Attending an editorial meeting before each issue to brainstorm the content list
  • Being assigned a couple of pieces which you will follow from the draft to the final stage, alongside the editors (if applicable)
  • Proofing and editing of pieces to go into the magazine
  • Opportunity to specialise in editing pieces you are passionate about (eg. news, science, poetry, features etc

 

Music / Film + Culture Editor (2 roles)

Media, journalism and music industry students… we’re looking at you! These roles offer involvement with the industry and experience in managing contributors. Most pieces will be for the website, however you will be working alongside the editors to include certain standout pieces in the print edition.

What it involves:

  • Liaising quickly & efficiently with people keen to do reviews and interviews (gigs/artists, books, films, albums, etc.)
  • Liaising with anyone who contacts us about potential reviews (i.e. a band sending us an EP for review, a theatre company offering to send us tickets to a show in exchange for a review, etc) and reaching out to publicists for other exciting opportunities
  • Ensuring that reviewers have clear, easy access to the content that they will be reviewing
  • Ensuring that reviews are as up to date as possible, where applicable.

When applying, tell us a little about your personal interest in arts / film / media as well: what you’ve just discovered, have always loved, or think deserves a spotlight in student media!

 

Fiction and Poetry Editor  

Ideally suited to Professional Writing and Editing/Creative Writing students, but could also be a good one for avid readers.

What it involves:

  • Reviewing and selecting poetry and creative writing pitches
  • Acting as a point of contact for contributors in this category
  • Sourcing and organising new fiction and poetry content to fit in with each issue’s theme
  • Liaising with relevant school to source and recruit contributors for content
  • Liaising with main editors and attending editorial committee meetings

 

News Editor

To keep us all in the loop. This role is great for a good communicator, who is organised and can manage a team.
Most pieces will be for the website, however you will be working alongside the editors to include certain standout pieces in the print edition.

What it involves:

  • Staying up to date with news relevant to RMIT students and student politics
  • Managing a team of reporters (with assistance from the editorial team)
  • Liaising with main editors
  • Ensuring consistent and accurate news items are published online
  • Working knowledge of, or willingness to learn about Media law (ie what can and cannot be published)

 

News Reporter

Keen to report on relevant issues and inform the info-hungry crowds of RMIT? Joining the team as a News Reporter is a perfect way to let your writing skills shine and be put to great use.

What it involves:

  • Working with the News Editor and editorial team to scope out issues (eg. events on campus, student politics, protests or societal issues)
  • Pitching story ideas to the News Editor
  • Writing well researched pieces to deadlines. (You will be well supported in producing these!)

 

 

AUDIO + VISUAL

Photographers

We’re looking for photographers who are keen to take photos at various events and locations or portraits to be published alongside a feature story or online piece.

What it involves:

  • Liaising with editors
  • Keeping photography close to the theme of the upcoming issue (taking into account theme colours, what the feature story is about, etc)
  • Working to deadlines


Video Coordinator

Great for a media student with experience in video making/editing who is keen to let their creativity roam free and produce regular videos for the website and social media.

What the role entails:

  • Shooting/editing videos primarily for online purposes
  • Working alongside the social media team to incorporate video content into Catalyst socials/advertisements and more
  • Help curate video ideas to boost the magazine’s multimedia presence
  • Skills in animation/effects are an extra bonus!

 

 

MEDIA + MARKETING

Social Media Team (2-3 members)

A sweet gig for communication or marketing students! This offers experience in social media management, and applicants should be pretty savvy with facebook, instagram, and all that jazz.

What it involves:

  • Co-operating in a small team that runs all the social media accounts for Catalyst Magazine (primarily Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
  • Using design skills and programs to create visual content
  • Creating consistent, relevant and engaging content across all social media platforms
  • Opportunity to help with event management – eg. launch parties and workshops

Advertising Coordinator

Studying PR / marketing / business or just super keen for experience in managing advertising and revenue? This one’s for you – our advertising coordinator is invaluable in supporting the magazine.

What it involves:

  • Recruiting and liaising with our advertisers
  • Ensuring our ad pack is up to date & is accurate
  • Sending our ad pack to potential advertisers
  • Ensuring advertisers get their ads to us by predetermined deadlines

Catalyst has been the student publication of RMIT University since 1944. We may be older than your parents but we’re still going strong!

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