The advisor of The Waltonian, reporting to the Vice President of Student Development, is a faculty member who is charged with nurturing student journalism as a regular contribution to community life, in particular as a source of news and opinion. The advisor provides the continuity that transcends annual student production of the campus newspaper, upholding professional standards and providing the kinds of stimulation and feedback that make those standards possible. The advisor is responsible for initiating and refining the processes that fill editorial positions with qualified students for encouraging the best management practices that help staff writers and photographers to accomplish their task in a timely and thoughtful manner. The adviser serves as faculty contact person should a mediatory role be necessary between the newspaper staff and other group or individuals on campus. Finally, the advisor may oversee the coursework of the writers and/or photographers in one or more of the following: ENG140, ENG200, or ENG345.
Position Responsibilities
1. Supports the exercise of First Amendment rights of students within the context of Eastern University’s status as a privately funded institution, and whenever necessary, brokers the exercise of such rights with members of the community who may have different opinions of those rights.
2. Maintains the role of mentor to student journalists (reporters and photographers) on campus, using formal training as well as ongoing feedback to nurture the practice of journalistic professionalism among student writers and editors.
3. Assists the editor-in-chief to highlight the balance between informing and shaping the opinion of the University’s student constituency.
4. Advises the editor-in-chief and newspaper staff on issues that relate to copyright protections, truth and fairness, libel or invasion of privacy with regard to the publication of student-written articles or photographs. Can advise a stay of publication for discussion are review but cannot alone stop the publication of an article or issue of the paper.
5. Supports the editor-in-chief by forwarding tips for articles.
6. Consults with the editor-in-chief or a section editor at his/her request in a matter of personnel management. For example: meets regularly with the editor-in-chief or editorial staff as the editor-in-chief deems appropriate and assists editorial staff in building team spirit.
7. Regularly critiques issues of the newspaper at staff meetings for the edification and celebration of all.
8. Advocates in the community for the newspaper and its staff. Acts as interface with administration through ongoing communication with the Vice President of Student Development.
9. Requests and maintains the budget, approves all invoices, and forwards bills to Student Development for payment.
10. Serves on the Student Media Advisory Committee.
11. Coordinates staff professional memberships, attendance at conferences, or submission to contests.
12. Conducts training or arranges for such, in annual on-campus workshop for two weeks pre fall semester.
13. Has a disposition the reflects patience and understanding while demanding a high degree of professionalism from undergraduate students.
14. Embodies values of caring and compassion, justice and integrity, competence and affirmation.
15. Seeks to treat each member of the campus community with fairness, dignity and respect, seeking a spirit of unity and harmony as we join together to achieve our common mission.
Status: part time
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
The advisor has an M.A, preferably in Journalism with Communications, or English, considered and at least two years of experience in writing and teaching, print and/or online journalism. Experience with desktop publishing or print publication, the Mac OS platform as well as nuances of First Amendment rights in a community that has a Christian worldview and mission.
Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Please send a letter of application, a resume, three professional references, and salary requirements to:
Eastern University
Office of Human Resources
Attn: Search #0821
1300 Eagle Road
St. Davids, PA 19087
