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, monthly magazine, radio show, 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 stories have been picked up by The Washington Post, CNN, The New York Times, ESPN, BBC, and other prominent titles. In 2020 alone, more than a dozen Beacon staffers had work published in leading newspapers and magazines, while others contributed reporting for outlets around the world.
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 that will help you grow as a journalist.
Do I have to be a journalism major to work on The Beacon?
Not at all. The Beacon is open to all majors across Emerson.
I am studying remote this spring, can I still work at The Beacon?
Absolutely! The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to change the way we have historically operated, and we’ve transitioned many of our workflows online.
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.
Are grad students allowed to work at The Beacon?
Yes, as the student newspaper of record, all students may work at The Beacon.
Still have questions? Reach out to us.
For assistant, deputy, and section editors, you will be expected to attend mandatory staff meetings on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Monday we meet from 6:30 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays, our production night, we meet from 6 p.m. onward (until The Beacon’s physical edition is sent to the print). We also run a flex meeting on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. This time is used to edit, write, and produce content as we prepare for production.
10-15 hours per week, suggested meeting attendance Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesday
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities:
Reports to the Operations Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief. This is a year-long commitment and, depending on performance, candidates should expect to become the Operations Managing Editor in Fall 2021.
15-20 hours per week, mandatory meetings on Monday and Wednesday
The Web Editor is in charge of ensuring that all articles are packaged properly online and that the website is curated best to fit our content. They will also be responsible for distributing stories on all social media platforms in order to reach our audience.
Applicant should have:
Responsibilities include:
20 hours per week, mandatory meetings Monday and Tuesday
The Magazine editor finds, assigns, and edits stories for The Beacon’s print magazine and online platform. Additionally they are responsible for being the chief designer and planner of the 16 page magazine. A major component of the job will be finding articles and planning the issues months ahead to ensure completion. They manage a deputy and a number of dedicated staff writers and correspondents.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
15 hours per week, mandatory meetings Monday and Tuesday
The Deputy Magazine Editor assists the Magazine Editor find, assign, and edit stories for the Magazine section. They will also offer their ideas and feedback and work closely with the Magazine editor in the designing and planning of the 16 page magazine. A major component of the job will be finding articles and helping refine pitches that the team of writers and correspondents will send in. Additionally they will have the opportunity to pitch, report, and write their own stories.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
35-40 hours per week, mandatory meetings Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesday. The news team also holds a weekly section meeting attended by the sections’ editors that moves depending on the group’s schedule. The EICs and MEs may sit in on this meeting.
The news editor finds, assigns, and edits stories for the news section. They manage a team of deputy and assistant editors, as well as a number of staff writers and news correspondents.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
30-35 hours per week, mandatory meetings on Monday and Wednesday nights
The express news editor focuses on breaking news and short form articles surrounding events and happenings both on and off campus. This position acts as the main point of contact for articles assigned to the express section. They will edit articles daily with a drive to publish at least one article a day.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
The deputy express editor communicates primarily with the news editor while also staying in contact with the managing editor for copy and editor-in-chief on a regular basis.
30-35 hours per week, mandatory meetings on Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday nights
The enterprise editor focuses on long form and investigative stories surrounding ongoings, trends, and happenings both on and off campus. The position acts as a main point of contact for reporters with articles assigned to enterprise. They will edit articles and check on writers’ progress on a daily basis with the help of their assistant.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
The deputy enterprise editor communicates primarily with the news editor while also staying in contact with the managing editor for copy and editor-in-chief on regular basis.
20 hours per week, mandatory meetings on Monday,Wednesday and Sunday nights
The assistant express editor will help the deputy express editor produce breaking news and short form content surrounding events and happenings both on and off campus. The position’s primary focus is editing articles and finding story ideas to pitch to reporters each week. The assistant express editor will also write news coverage as it is deemed fit for them to do so.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
The assistant express editor communicates primarily with the deputy express news editor while also staying in contact with the news editor, managing editor for copy, and editor-in-chief on a regular basis.
20 hours per week, mandatory meetings on Monday and Wednesday nights
The assistant enterprise editor will help the deputy enterprise editor in producing long form and investigative pieces. The position’s primary focus is editing articles and finding story ideas to pitch to reporters each week.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
The assistant enterprise editor communicates primarily with the deputy enterprise news editor while also staying in contact with the news editor, managing editor for copy, and editor-in-chief on a regular basis.
25 hours per week, mandatory meetings Monday and Wednesday
The living arts editor finds, assigns, and edits stories for the lifestyle and arts sections. They manage a team of a deputy and assistant editors, as well as a number of staff writers and correspondents.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
10-15 hours per week, mandatory meetings Mondays and Wednesdays
The deputy and assistant living arts editor positions are a step below the section editor within The Berkeley Beacon. It serves to copy-edit and revise incoming stories within the section, and work as a primary staff writer.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
10-15 hours per week, mandatory meetings Mondays and Wednesdays
The deputy and assistant living arts editor positions are a step below the section editor within The Berkeley Beacon. It serves to copy-edit and revise incoming stories within the section, and work as a primary staff writer.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
25 hours a week, mandatory meetings Monday and Wednesday
The sports editor runs the sports section, coordinating the assignment of stories and the production of the sports section for the print issue.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
(Assistants: 10, Deputies: 15) hours per week, mandatory meetings Monday and Wednesday nights
The assistant sports editor supports the section editor. The goal of this position is to ensure that the section is running smoothly.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities:
15-20 hours a week, mandatory meetings Monday and Wednesday
The opinion editor is responsible for managing the opinion section—including op-eds, editorial, photo shoot, and editorial cartoon—weekly.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
15 hours a week, mandatory meetings on Monday and Wednesday nights
The Deputy Opinion Editor and the assist the Opinion Editor to produce the Opinion section of the newspaper every week.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
5-10 hours/week, mandatory meetings on Monday and Wednesday
The Photo Editor is in charge of communicating with section heads every week to find out which images are crucial to telling each story, and managing the photo team to ensure said images are obtained.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
5-10 hours per week, mandatory meetings Monday and Wednesday
The assistant and deputy photo editor(s) assists the photo editor to gather and edit photos for the Beacon’s print and web articles, as well as completes photo assignments for both print and web publication.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
The assistant/deputy photo editor(s) works with directly to the photo editor and the editor-in-chief, and oversees staff photographers
15-20 hours per week, mandatory meetings Monday and Wednesday
The videographer pitches, films, and edits videos for the Beacon’s website, youtube channel, and social media platforms. Videos range from short news clips (about 3-4 minutes long) to higher production non-narrative feature videos (6-10 minutes long).
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
The videographer works directly with the managing editor for visuals and editor-in-chief as well as the various editorial sections (News, Arts, Lifestyle, Sports, Opinion).
5 hours per week, remote
The chief copy editor ensures Beacon copy is clean and clear for publication. They will manage a team of copyeditors, and review all final drafts.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
5 hours per week, remote
Copy editors make any last changes to articles before they are published, editing primarily for style and clarity.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
Copy editors respond to the chief copy editor. Occasionally they will communicate with section editors for queries.
5 hours per week, remote
The podcast producer should take initiative and produce an episode weekly.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
Podcast Producer responds to the visual managing editor. They will also communicate with section editors for queries.
3-4 hours per week, remote
The radio host will record and produce our radio show twice a week in the WECB offices, and be responsible for giving the audio files to the Managing Visual Editor
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
3-8 hours per week, remote
Graphic designers and illustrators prepare graphics and illustrations for print, web, and social media. Their workload varies each week.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
3-5 hours per week, suggested meeting attendance Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesday
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities:
Reports to the Operations Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief
3-8 hours per week, mostly remote, suggested attendance Wednesday nights
News Designers help lay out The Beacon’s weekly 8-page print edition and monthly magazine. Their workload varies per week.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
Designers respond to the multimedia managing editor and editor-in-chief. They may communicate with other section editors.
5-10 hours per week, mandatory meeting on Monday
Staff writers cover stories that may interest the Emerson community. These range from breaking news stories, longer enterprise stories, game stories, and more.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
2-3 hours per week, mandatory meetings Monday and Wednesday
Staff photographers pitch photo and visual stories and take breakin news/feature photos as needed by the photo editor.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include:
The photographers work directly with the managing editor for visuals and photo editor, as well as the various editorial sections (News, Arts, Lifestyle, Sports, Opinion) occasionally.
5-8 hours/week
An opinion columnist will be a regular contributor to the opinion section, both responding to prompts and submitting pitches for publication regularly.
Applicants should have:
Responsibilities include: