Beacon News Reporter

This is not a Student Employment Position. This is a student volunteer experience. Volunteer experience participants receive monthly stipend payments.

The Beacon, UP’s award-winning online student newspaper is hiring reporters for the 2026-27 academic year. NO JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE REQUIRED and all majors are welcome! Reporters report and write one to two stories (usually fewer than 800 words) a week on deadline, as assigned by the news editor or living editor.

• Attends staff meetings Mondays and Thursdays at 5:45 unless there is a conflict with a class and the editor approves the absence in advance. Staffers are strongly discouraged from registering for classes that meet during those time periods.
• Must attend Beacon Boot Camp training in August approximately one week before fall term starts and should not schedule conflicting activities/positions.
• Follows best practices in journalism especially accuracy, fairness, and ethics.
• Immediately upon receiving the assignment, calls sources to arrange interviews… and prepares for interviews by researching the subject, attaining background information, and having 5 – 10 key questions prepared.
• Conduces interviews in person, via Zoom, and on the phone in a professional manner.
• Responds promptly to all emails and messages from editors and the adviser.
• Records audio of interviews (with source permission) in addition to taking thorough notes.
• Makes story revisions and/or revisits or adds sources immediately as assigned by editors.
• Provides relevant hyperlinks and sidebar information to the section editor.
• Collaborates with section editors, multimedia editor, photographers, and videographers in enhancing written storytelling with visuals such as photos, video, and graphics.
• Learns and uses digital tools as assigned for maps, charts, graphics and data journalism.
• Is always on the lookout for compelling story ideas and strives to include coverage of UP community members who may be underrepresented on campus.
• M‑maintains contact on at least a bi-weekly basis with key sources in campus beat, such as Campus Safety, Department of Res Life, academic departments etc. assigned by News Editor to nurture relationships and foster story ideas.
• When not in class, responds to breaking news by providing reporting/writing/photo/video as directed by editors.
• Discusses story and photo ideas directly with the assigned photographer(s)/videographer.
• Writes at least one commentary per semester for the Opinions section.
• Notifies editor immediately if a correction of the published piece is needed.
• Uses social media in a professional manner including posting links to Beacon content.
• Takes photos and or video with smartphone or camera using apps as assigned.
• Reads professional‑level journalism on a regular basis and as assigned by adviser.
• Stays informed on current events.

• May not be employed by UP Marketing, UP Athletics or on ASUP.
• You must have at least a 2.5 GPA, but preference is given to applicants with 3.0 and above.