Join The Newsroom

The Beacon is consistently heralded as one of the top student news organizations in the country, with our focus on editorial excellence and newsroom innovation. Through daily publication of content online, a weekly print newspaper, a semesterly magazine, and other forms of multimedia distribution, The Beacon is the leading source for Emerson-centric news.

We reach more readers in print and online than any other media organization on campus. Our website reach alone averages 30,000 views every month with over 200,000 yearly visitors.  Our stories have been picked up by The Washington Post, CNN, The New York Times, ESPN, BBC, and other prominent titles. Our live blog for Emerson’s pro-Palestinian encampment during the Spring 2024 semester generated more than 10,400 page views and was the most cited story about the event on Google.

Working at The Beacon will give you access to a real-world journalism laboratory that will translate to the lessons and ideas exposed in the classroom. On any given day, hundreds or thousands of people could read a story published by a Beacon reporter. Given our position in the heart of Boston, our reporters, editors, photographers, and broader storytellers have a front-row seat to some of the region’s biggest events. 

In our inclusive, collaborative newsroom environment you will learn to write, edit, and produce content for varying forms of media. You’ll have access to cutting-edge products and technologies designed for the newsroom of tomorrow. You will also be a part of a passionate team of dedicated individuals who will help you grow as a journalist.

Get involved

How can you contribute?

The Beacon holds general meetings every Monday at 7 p.m. where we send out story assignments and review our weekly paper. The meeting room is subject to change every semester. Members can pick up story or photo assignments from section editors at these meetings. Contributors are welcome to pitch ideas to section editors and the editor-in-chief. 

The Beacon uses Slack and email as its main means of communication. Section editors also send story/photo assignments and review pitches via Slack and email.

No applications are necessary to contribute.

Production night 

In addition to our general meetings on Mondays, which typically last for at least an hour, The Beacon has production night on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. onward (until The Beacon’s physical edition is sent to the print). 

Assistant and section editors are expected to attend every general meeting on Mondays and production nights on Wednesdays. Members who contribute to the weekly paper—reporters, photographers, print designers, copyeditors—may attend production night.  

Positions offered at The Beacon:

Correspondents
(No application necessary—all new writers start with this position)

Staff Writer
(Application necessary; Correspondents can be promoted to this position after writing five articles for The Beacon)

Photographer
(No application necessary)

Editor
(Assistant, Section, Managing, Social Media, Copyediting, Photo, Reels, Illustration/Graphics, Layout, Website/Audience Development; Application necessary)

Business Operations
(Application necessary)

Editor-in-Chief
(Letter nominations from staff necessary)

Non-tuition credit

Students who contribute at least 5 stories or articles or are on the masthead can earn one non-tuition credit per semester.

Register for JR-346 (The Berkeley Beacon) to be eligible to receive credit. After registering, you will be added to a Canvas course by The Beacon’s advisor.

APPLY

Staff applications for the Spring 2025 semester are now open! All applications are due Dec. 4 at 11:59 p.m. For any questions about positions at The Beacon, email [email protected] or [email protected].

Below are the staff member applications for the spring 2025 semester. Current staff writers/editors must reapply. Anyone who writes five articles and/or takes five photos/makes five illustrations (must be for different assignments) throughout the semester will be added to the masthead. You may apply for multiple positions. If you accept a position on staff, please note you will be required to attend editors’ meetings each Sunday at 7 p.m. via Zoom, general meetings each Monday at 7 p.m., and production night each Wednesday at 6 p.m. in our 172 Tremont newsroom.

Staff Writer Application

Section and Assistant Editor Application

Managing Editor Application

Copyeditor Application

Staff Photographer and Staff Illustrator Application

Section and Assistant Editor (Photo) Application

FAQs 

Do I have to be a journalism major to work for The Beacon?

Not at all. The Beacon is open to all majors across Emerson.

I have never worked in any form of media. Can I still join The Beacon?

We are a learning institution just as much as we are an essential news source. There are no prerequisites required to work with us.

I want to contribute to The Beacon, but I can’t attend general meetings or contribute every week. Can I still be a part of the paper?

Yes, new/non-staff members and/or those who cannot contribute regularly are given correspondent titles. Correspondents are free to contribute whenever they can. Those who wish to be on The Beacon’s masthead must contribute on a consistent basis, either by writing every week or being a part of The Beacon’s daily production as an editor/manager.

Are grad students allowed to work at The Beacon?

Yes, as the student newspaper of record, all students may work at The Beacon.

Even if the staff application is closed can I still join this semester?

Yes, absolutely! You can join anytime of the year. While editor positions are not available anymore we are always looking for writers, illustrators, photographes, etc. Email [email protected] for the link to our staff Slack page.

Still Have Questions?

Page Last Updated in November 2024