Make a difference this summer — become a team leader for Newsroom by the Bay 2016

Calling all team leaders! Are you an experienced journalist with a caring spirit, the ability to connect with younger students, a solid sense of ethics, and cutting-edge multimedia skills? If so, consider applying for a position as a team leader at Newsroom by the Bay. Our 2016 session will be held Saturday, June 25 to Sunday, July 3.

Team leaders are the anchors of our program — the people who interact most closely and creatively with our residential and commuter campers. We value our team leaders highly. They work with faculty to provide students with the opportunity to put into practice what they learn in their morning classes. Team leaders should have solid journalism and multimedia skills, including experience in reporting and writing stories, a knowledge of social media and the ability to tell stories using photos, podcasts and videos in addition to text. Familiarity with WordPress, iMovie, Photoshop, Audacity, and the iPad are a plus, as well as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Vine. We also value demonstrated leadership experience in a prior high school newsroom or summer camp. Our typical team leader is a college student with extensive experience in the high school and college newsroom and classroom.

Student Tim Lan (left) and team leader Alexandria Cremer work on a video during NBTB 2015.

What you’ll do

As a team leader, you’ll guide a news team of 10-12 students, who will work with you every afternoon and evening to report and write stories and to create photo and video content about newsmakers and events on campus. Then, you’ll help campers edit and post that content to your team’s WordPress website. Team leaders listen closely to their students and help them with everything from crafting an editorial vision for their sites, to figuring out how to get along with others, to making sure that everyone follows Associated Press style. You’ll work with your news team to plan an exciting daylong field trip to San Francisco with opportunities for reporting in the field. And you’ll also help us make sure that we cover the basics — that students make it to meals and classes on time, obey camp rules, and stay safe during field trips and other activities.

Team leaders lead by example, often becoming mentors and guides to younger students who are contemplating a career and a life in journalism. Expect to form fast friendships with your team, as well as with other team leaders, whose experience and insights will broaden your own understanding of journalism. You’ll also learn your way around Stanford, the second-biggest college campus in the world, including access to libraries, the student union and other campus landmarks and facilities.

Who you are

You’re passionate about digital journalism, you’re good at working in groups, you delight in fast-paced work (and don’t get rattled when the unexpected happens), and you can guide students creatively and ethically without taking away their ability to make decisions on their own. Experience in a newsroom is a plus, since it means that you’re already familiar with the culture of journalism that we try to instill — one that emphasizes the power of collaborative work over the personal glow of individual achievement. If you’re a people person who can balance journalistic intensity with a smile, this job is for you.

Past team leaders have reflected the best in college journalism, including students from Northwestern University, Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Chicago, the University of Missouri, and the University of Oregon. Often, our team leaders are award-winning journalists in their own right, such as Taylor Blatchford, the 2014 JEA/NSPA High School Journalist of the Year (now a student at Mizzou).

Compensation and housing/dining

Team leaders receive $1,200 plus housing/dining on campus at Stanford from Saturday, June 25 to Sunday, July 3. You’ll also receive an iPad and other equipment plus wifi, and access to Stanford athletic facilities during your stay. Tickets and transportation for field trips to San Francisco, Silicon Valley and on campus activities are included. You will not need to bring or drive a car.

Next steps

Please click here for a link to our team leader application and email us at newsroombythebay@gmail.com with any questions.

We look forward to hearing from you!