The Free Press seeks responsible, hard-working and dedicated students to join our team. All positions require drive to learn common journalistic practices and standards and the ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. We provide real-world media experiences that will help you land a job post-graduation, and you’ll have a bit of fun in the process. Former Free Press staffers have gone on to join publications like the New York Times, the New York Post, Bangor Daily News, MaineBiz, and the Columbia Journalism Review.
We offer a variety of positions for volunteers and students with federal work study funds along with a handful of stipend-positions. Below is a list of our current job openings with general descriptions. If there’s something you feel you can contribute to the Free Press that isn’t listed here, contact us and we can find a place for you to fit in.
To apply please email [email protected] for details
Staff Writer
Are you always asking questions while you’re on campus? Wondering how much those new renovations to your dorm cost, what the university spends on heating or what cool things go on in that studio art class? We’re looking for writers who have the drive to find, investigate and share important and interesting stories about what’s happening at USM. If you want to work with a team of other students to keep the community updated on the latest news on campus, you should join us.
Minimum Requirements:
- Writing skills and the ability to adopt industry standards, methods and styles.
- ‘Coachability’ is an absolute must. The paper is a learning experience for everyone involved.
- A commitment to your role at the paper, as others will be relying on you.
- Willingness to step outside your comfort zone for stories.
- A keen eye for details, thoroughness in reporting and a desire to learn
- Know what deadlines are and meet them.
*Expectations / Duties:
- Meet weekly deadlines as set and work with an editor to polish / complete your story
- Make contacts and record interactions, creating a network for the entire staff.
- Remain unbiased in coverage of university reporting.
- Communicate regularly with your editor and team.
Staff writers may choose to write for a specific section of the paper (News, Arts & Culture, Sports or Community) or try their hand with different forms of writing.
Compensation: volunteer, internship (for academic credit) or paid if you qualify for federal work-study.
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Columnist
Do you have opinions? Sure, you do! We’re looking for students who want to start a conversation about serious (and sometimes not so serious) that affect USM, the community and your peers. Whether you’re outraged about new scheduling, have ideas on how to confront parking problems, or have an interesting take on college life, the Free Press has the space for you to share your views with the community.
Minimum Requirements:
- Writing skills and the ability to adopt industry standards, methods and styles.
- ‘Coachability’ is an absolute must. The paper is a learning experience for everyone involved.
- A commitment to your role at the paper, as others will be relying on you.
- A respect for our readers, as opinions may come under fire
- The patience and humble attitude necessary to have your arguments put to the test by our editors (We’ll poke the holes in your work and help fill them in).
- Know what deadlines are and meet them.
*Expectations / Duties:
– Submit stories that are complete and backed up with research.
– Meet weekly deadlines as set and work with an editor to polish / complete your column.
– Write content that is relevant to the community and timely.
– Communicate regularly with your editor and team.
Compensation: volunteer, internship (for academic credit) or paid if you qualify for federal work-study.
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Photographer
If you’re responsible for all of your friends fantastic Facebook profile pictures, but are looking for a little more professional experience, you’ve come to the right place. Photographers make the paper fun and visually appealing amidst all that text that we have to read. We need flexible photographers to help find interesting visuals for all stories, from already awesome looking art gallery openings and student protests, to the not-so-attractive board meetings. If you can take photos that are worth a thousand words (or more), we want you to pick up a camera and a press pass and to get shooting!
Minimum Requirements:
- Proficient photography skills, knowledge of the crafts’ technical aspects (to a point).
- ‘Coachability’ is an absolute must. The paper is a learning experience for everyone involved.
- Ability to collaborate with a writer and editor to find the best visuals for a story.
- A commitment to your role at the paper, as others will be relying on you.
- The drive to go out of your way for photos (not everyone will meet you for a portrait shoot).
- Know what deadlines are and meet them.
*Expectations / Duties:
- Work with writers and take photos for stories as needed.
- Meet weekly deadlines as set and work with an editor to polish / complete your visuals.
- Keep up with the ethical and journalistic standards for photography at the paper.
- Communicate regularly with your editor and team.
Compensation: volunteer, internship (for academic credit) or paid if you qualify for federal work-study.
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Graphic Designer
When we’ve gathered our hard-hitting stories, groundbreaking columns and award-winning photos, we need help making them eye-catching, in-sync, and organized. There are plenty of projects to work on, from page layout and special cover designs, to advertisements and web content. If you have a knack for creating visuals from scratch and have experience with digital / print design, let us know and we’ll put you to work.
Minimum Requirements:
- Design skills, knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop.
- ‘Coachability’ is an absolute must. The paper is a learning experience for everyone involved.
- Ability to collaborate with a writer and editor to find the best visuals for a story.
- A commitment to your role at the paper, as others will be relying on you.
- Drive to work independently on projects.
- Know what deadlines are and meet them.
*Expectations / Duties:
- Help with a minimum of one design project a week.
- Meet weekly deadlines as set and work with an editor to polish / complete your visuals.
- Keep up with the latest developments in print media design.
- Communicate regularly with your editor and team.
Compensation: volunteer, internship (for academic credit) or paid if you qualify for federal work-study.
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Ad Executive
While the newspaper is partially funded by the student activity fee, we still need a steady source of money to keep everything working at top speed, which means we need advertisements. We’re looking for business-savvy students to build-up a motivated and go-getter sales team. If you’re comfortable with cold-calling, can learn everything there is to know about our market and sell us to local businesses, hurry up and get on board. Make your own hours and work in your downtime to gain serious sales experience and make a little cash on the side.
Minimum Requirements:
- A comfortability with make cold-calls
- Drive to succeed, despite the constant ‘no’s’ you’re bound to hear.
- ‘Coachability’ is an absolute must. The paper is a learning experience for everyone involved.
- Knowledge of our product, the market and sales tactics (and the willingness to learn).
- A commitment to your role at the paper, as others will be relying on you.
- Know what deadlines are and meet them.
*Expectations / Duties:
- Help the advertising team to meet their weekly sales goal (to be determined).
- Find new clients while maintaining established relationships and accounts.
- Communicate regularly with the advertising manager and sales team.
Compensation: commission-based, internship (for academic credit) or paid if you qualify for federal work-study.
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Marketing Assistants / Social Media Coordinators
These days, it’s difficult to get someone’s attention. We need students to help make sure all the hard work that goes into the paper, gets recognized, read and promoted by the community. If you’re handy with hashtags, savvy with social media and are a content-sharing machine, come help us get the word out. This an area that needs development, so there are plenty of opportunities, all based- on what you’re interested in. Your work here can be as complicated as developing an entire marketing plan for the newspaper or as simple as handing out the papers every monday the old-fashioned way with a big ole smile and an “extra, extra, read all about it.”
Minimum Requirements:
- Ability to bring new ideas to the table, and creatively work on marketing plans.
- ‘Coachability’ is an absolute must. The paper is a learning experience for everyone involved.
- Ability to collaborate with the EIC on marketing efforts.
- Be a communications expert, collaborating with a team and the community.
- A commitment to your role at the paper, as others will be relying on you.
- Drive to work independently on projects.
- Know what deadlines are and meet them.
*Expectations / Duties:
– TBD, based on interest
Compensation: volunteer, internship (for academic credit) or paid if you qualify for federal work-study.