News Staffer Application
Winter 2016
Do you enjoy writing, reporting and storytelling, but haven't yet found the right place on campus to do them? If so, consider joining The Michigan Daily as a news staffer!
As a reporter, you will get to report on important campus events, speak with a variety of people and hear their experiences, and be in tune with the actions of city, student and university officials to learn how their decisions are impacting the community.
Read the steps below for more information on the responsibilities of a news staffer, and for steps on how to apply.
What are the duties of a Michigan Daily news staffer?
The Michigan Daily prints everyday undergraduates have class, usually Monday through Friday. There are five daily news stories for each paper, published both in print and online. A story is typically due the day before it publishes before 5 p.m.
- You will write and report on a news story, one you either signed up for on our story doc or that was assigned to you by a Senior News Editor. Most staffers write once a week.
- After completing your story, you must come into the newsroom at 420 Maynard St. and sit down with a senior news editor as they walk you through the edits of your story.
- Attend a mandatory news staff meeting each Sunday, where we will talk more deeply about improving your reporting and brainstorm stories for the coming weeks.
After joining staff and writing consistently, many news staffers opt to sign up for a "beat," or a specialized topic or area of expertise within the University and Ann Arbor community. Our beats are Student Life, Academics, Ann Arbor, Student Government, Research, Hospital, Government, Business, University Administration, Crime and Detroit.
What makes a good news reporter?
We are looking for people not only passionate about writing, but who have a desire to speak with a wide variety of people and gather insight from diverse perspectives. Good news stories have many perspectives, are unbiased and include background knowledge on the topic. Be prepared to dig up information on a particular topic from old Daily articles, archives and other sources online. Be proactive in seeking as many voices for your stories as possible, and make sure you gather a variety of different inputs to make your story as multidimensional as possible. Be careful to remain impartial; if you wish to give your opinions on the news you cover, this is not the right section for you, and we suggest you join opinion staff.
Do you need prior experience in journalism to apply for The Michigan Daily news staff?
No! In fact, many news staffers begin with little to no experience working on a student paper or as a reporter.
The news section is a teaching organization. Our training process will familiarize you with how exactly to go about writing and reporting on news, some key points about journalism ethics, an introduction into the various beats at the Daily and more. The current staffers and editors are here to answer any questions you may have and to help you at every step.
Is there a deadline to apply to be a news staffer?
No. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the semester, and training goes at your own pace.
Steps on how to apply.
If you have read the information above and wish to apply, please e-mail senior news editor Allana Akhtar (allanakh@umich.edu) a copy of your resume and a one-page cover letter explaining why you wish to be a reporter with the subject line "Michigan Daily News Staffer Application." We will provide you with the next steps after that.
Thank you for your interest in joining news staff and welcome to The Michigan Daily — we look forward to working with you!