OGONI/NIGER DELTA NEWS WRITERS & EDITORIAL TEAM 2013 APPLICATION

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Have you always thought of becoming an online editor, writer, or a journalist? Then here is the right opportunity for you to unveil your potentials and skills. HURAC is currently looking for a group of 15 volunteers, who will be responsible for forming the HURAC editorial and writers’ team for the 2013/2014 publishing year.  This would look good on your CV or resume’ as you exhibit that which has been hidden in you for years now. All the works will be done remotely and so the issue of ‘’I don’t live in Bori’’ does not come into play. We are in need of 5 editors and 10 writers to constantly update our website from August, 2013.   For a PDF copy of this application description, please click here
You will be required to work with HURAC INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, Mr Kate Wisdom Deebeke to ensure that the missions and goals as endorsed in the HURAC constitution are reached and maintained. You will also be required to abide by the HURAC codes of conduct and apply the terms and conditions relevant to your role. No previous work experience is required for these roles.
This is a part-time role and successful applicants are not going to be paid for the services rendered, and therefore, only interested and serious applicants need apply as HURAC is not a profit-making organisation rather a club that operates among secondary school students and school leavers.
Interested persons are advised to follow the apply-link below or send an email to recruitment@huraclub.org stating which of the posts (online editor or writer) that he/she is interested in.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY:
Editor and Online Editor:

1. Working with writers to determine dates for publication.
2. Working with Editor-in-Chief to receive articles that have been approved for publishing.
3. Editing articles by focusing on appropriate web formatting.
4. Contributing to the editorial process such as suggesting potential article topics.
5. Take responsibility for the news areas of the website, ensuring consistent high quality, good ‘inclusive’ writing, plenty of visuals and timely uploads.
6. Take a quality control oversight of other website content to ensure clear and logical writing, sensible links to connected areas, and striking relevant images and replying to visitors comments on the website when necessary
7. Originate new ideas, and propose ways to pull together or link stories thematically and geographically, and to add in depth coverage on issues.
8. Ensure that the effectiveness of the website is evaluated by using statistical information and qualitative research, and lead the implementation of any remedial action required.
9. Report errors such as in spelling, grammar, and photos of any published works to HURAC  for verification and corrections.
10. Contribute at least 2 hours per week and attend online facebook chat meetings when necessary.

Writer:

1. Working with the editorial team to determine dates for publication.
2. Originate new ideas, and propose ways to pull together or link stories thematically and geographically, and to add in depth coverage on issues.
3. Contributing to the editorial process such as suggesting potential article topics.
4. You will also be responsible for writing local, regional and national news around Ogoni (crucial for Ogoni indigenes), Rivers State, Nigeria, Africa and the globe.
5. Responsible for producing the contents of the website, and any expression by HURAC on facebook, twitter, and other social media.
6. Contribute at least 2 hours per week and attend online facebook chat meetings when necessary.

(Please note that we would appreciate it the more should our writers be indigenes of Ogoni or Niger Delta as most of our posts are concerned about the Ogoni/Niger Delta struggle: this is desirable, but not essential.
Again, all writers are required to reproduce their own work, and in the case where they copy from other links, provide reference that the work they have submitted is not their original work. This is necessary to avoid plagiarism and to maintain copy rights law)

SKILLS REQUIRED:
a) Good judgment, creativity, self-motivation and curiosity
b) Attention to detail, highly organized and can meet deadlines
c) Excellent writing and editing and verbal communication skills
d) Must be able to work independently and manage a large team
e) Must have strong computer skills and ability to quickly learn online collaboration applications.
f) Shows initiative to discover new ways to improve the status quo
g) Attention to detail and results-oriented.
h) Has the ability to set priorities and manage workloads with minimal supervision
i) Has reliable daily internet access and is familiar with standard email technology
j) Has knowledge of Microsoft words, powerpoints, excel, photo editors and other relevant applications/softwares
k) Can type on a average of 40+ words per minute (especially the writers)

PERSONS REQUIRED:
Must be at least a graduate from secondary school or in the last class in secondary school, i.e. SS3 (For Nigerian applicants).  This role is suitable for any person, of any career pathway.

BENEFITS:
a) Helps you to build and strengthen your editorial and writing experiences,
b) Enables you to be current on recent human rights issues and their impacts on you.
c) Builds your understanding of how a website is developed and administered.
d) Gives you a prior understanding of the Ogoni human case study and the progress so far.
e) You become internationally recognised as a person associated with the Ogoni and Niger Delta struggle and who aims to assist in disseminating the news to others globally
f) It’s will be a good look on your CV g) Awards and certificate to recognise your effort working for HURAC and getting involved in the Ogoni/Niger Delta human rights issues.

g) As a THANK YOU for volunteering to become a part of the Writers/Editors Team, HURAC provides you with a dedicated email address (e.g, YOURNAME@huraclub.org) where all correspondence about you will be sent to.

COMPETENCIES:
Personal effectiveness, achievement driven, good communication and writing and editing skills, teamwork and collaboration, change and innovation,  professional and technical.

SELECTION PROCESS:
Although we are looking for a group of 15 volunteers, we hope to get more than 50 interested applicants for these roles – based on last year statistics.  We shall select candidates based on the skills and requirements above. In situations where you don’t meet one of the requirements, please do not feel you are no longer needed. Just let us have your application and allow us to decide what fits you best. Here at HURAC, there is zero tolerance to nepotism, favouritism, discrimination, partiality, preferential treatment or gender inequality, ethnicity and/or background. No one will be denied of their rights to volunteer for the HURAC cause.

DATA PROTECTION:
In line with data protection act, all your information will be stored safely in our database and will be securely discarded 2 weeks after all the applications have been received and processed. Your email address will not be passed on to any third party neither your profile be linked online without your prior permission to do so.

Are you the right person for this role?, then click here to apply now!

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