SA: BSN: Assistant InDesign Editor (S99919)

Summary, Scope, and Responsibilities

Bates Student Newspaper Fellows serve as members of the managerial team for the Bates Student Newspaper. Fellows aim to provide a space for topics of interest to Bates students and the Bates community to be investigated and shared. Fellows work to provide an open, equitable, and accessible opportunity for all community members to engage with. The Bates Student Newspaper Fellows recognize that this position is an educational opportunity in which students grow personally and professionally.

For Winter 2026, we are hiring to fill a limited number of spots. All interested are encouraged to apply for this round, but may be encouraged to apply again for Fall 2026.

Managing Section Editors
Managing News Editor
Assistant Section Editors
Assistant News Editor
Assistant A&L Editor
Assistant Sports Editor

Need to know for applying:
Please indicate the position or positions that you are most interested in with The Student
This is a fellowship position. Total Fellowship amount will be paid in two even payments per semester. It is not an hourly position.
Students interested in applying for this position should provide a 500 word writing sample and their resume.

Leadership Development
Campus Life embeds the Bates Leads Framework into its student leadership and employment positions. The following competencies are most relevant to this position:

Consciousness of Self & Impact: Awareness of one’s beliefs, values, attitudes, and emotions; recognition that these are shaped by cultural context and other external forces. Self-awareness, including one’s inherited and positional power and privilege. Awareness of one’s impact on individuals and community, recognizing the impact of each action and inaction
Bates Student Newspaper Fellows will be most successful if they are able to know their own strengths and apply that knowledge to their work with other members of the Bates Student Newspaper staff, students, and the community. This includes considering the impact of one’s words and actions on others and communities; working to report and publish stories free from impropriety; and being a kind community member.

Commitment: The passion, energy, creativity, and follow-through one brings to ideas, pursuits, and collective goals.
This position involves a high level of responsibility, and requires individuals to hold themselves and others accountable by meeting deadlines, attending meetings and professional development opportunities, and working to produce the best work possible.

Collaboration: Working reciprocally with others. Working across differences to achieve a shared goal. Bringing multiple perspectives, diverse experiences, and individual creativity to bear on a pursuit.
This position requires working with Bates Student Newspaper colleagues, various Bates students, faculty and staff, and the community more broadly.

Common Purpose: Cultivating a shared goal, direction, and sense of responsibility.
Listening, learning, and acting together toward a shared goal.
This position requires an ability to build consensus and share the work equitably. While members of the Bates Student Newspaper may have different roles and responsibilities, collectively, each fellow is working toward a common purpose: to effectively share information and news with the campus community, covering issues carefully and thoughtfully to provide independent and responsible journalism.

Congruence: Alignment of values, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions with actions in the world.
Bates Student Newspaper Fellows act and communicate with consistency, honesty, and transparency. Integrate individual and collective values. Fellows are listening to other peoples “why” and are willing to challenge their one “why.”

Controversy: Acknowledging conflict, controversy, and dissent as opportunities for new insight, or new direction or deeper relationships. Disagreeing with others in a spirit of curiosity and learning. Disagreeing or dissenting from the norm without dehumanizing others.
At times, Bates Student Newspaper fellows and members may disagree with each other, with the Bates community, and the community more broadly. It is crucial in these moments to communicate honestly, openly, respectfully, and to work to resolve conflict through collaboration and sometimes compromise.
Fellows will work to develop the ability to use difference as a point of strength, creative intervention, growth, and direction.
Fellows will learn to welcome dissenting perspectives and different points of view.

Civic Agency: Embracing one’s capacity and responsibility to work with others to advance communal goals. Actively supporting people’s full participation in the decisions, systems, and processes that impact their lives and communities. Recognizing the impact of one’s choices on others.
Bates Student Newspaper Fellows are exploring and exposing injustices, challenges, and various perspectives. Fellows are open to having their position or perspective challenged and are open to feedback on their impact.

The Basics

Department:Student Affairs

Supervisor: Erin Caswell

Office Location: Chase Hall

Email: ecaswell@bates.edu

Hours: 0-4

Workers: 1

Qualifications, Requirements, and Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Bates Student Newspaper Fellows are responsible for: Attend Sunday editorial meetings, training, and development opportunities. If you must miss a meeting, please contact the Editor in Chief. Produce timely content needed in role for the success of the newspaper Participate in professional development opportunities Be open to feedback from Bates Student Staff and campus partners, and community members Have a positive attitude and know when to ask for help! Managing Section Editors: Lead section by being able to produce story ideas, recruit and retain staff writers, and cover important stories and topics Write at least two stories per month (though writing more is strongly encouraged) Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings. Cultivate helpful relationships with students, administrators, and other campus partners that are frequently covered or work within departments covered by the section Communicate professionally with students, administrators, campus partners, and the community Provide edits and check sources for all stories before sending them to copy editors according to weekly publishing deadlines keeping in mind to provide space for a variety of perspectives and experiences. Be open to feedback from Bates Student Staff and campus partners Work with photographers and/or illustrator to get images for stories before they are published We are hiring a managing editor for the News section. The total payment for this role is $300 for the semester. This is not an hourly paid position. Assistant Section Editors: Support Managing Section Editor by producing story ideas and working to recruit and retain staff writers Write at least two stories per month (though writing more is strongly encouraged) Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings Read through and edit a few stories per week, in assistance of the Managing Section Editor. Provide edits and check sources for all stories before sending them to copy editors according to weekly publishing deadlines, keeping in mind to provide space for a variety of perspectives and experiences. Provide illustration/photography ideas so that all stories have an image attached to them before publication. We are hiring an assistant editor for News, Arts & Leisure, and Sports sections. Students interested in applying for this position should provide a 500 word writing sample. The total payment for this role is $200 for the semester. This is not an hourly paid position.

Requirements

Timely communication (ability to respond to emails within 24-48 hours unless special circumstance arises). Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Should be honest, flexible, responsible, dedicated and level-headed. Passion for cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment. Ability to work with diverse populations. Creativity and passion for pitching interesting and news-worthy stories for the greater Bates population. Experience writing and editing AP style preferred. Previous experience writing and/or editing for The Student or another newspaper/magazine is preferred. If you have experience in data analysis/data journalism or audio-visual communications please highlight these skills!

Reporting

Erin Caswell, the Assistant Director for Campus Life, serves as the professional staff supervisor and advisor to the Bate Student Newspaper and Bates Student Fellows. Bates Student Newspaper Fellows are directly supervised by the Editor in Chief and Managing Executive Editor. The Editor in Chief and Managing Executive Editors are directly supervised by Erin Caswell in the Office of Campus Life. Campus Life staff provide support and guidance to all members of the Bates Student Newspaper. As a student organization, the Bates Student is held to the mission of Campus Life and the Bates Student Code. Campus Life staff provide support and guidance to all members of the Bates Student Newspaper. Personnel matters that are related to the operation of The Bates Student newspaper or may impact your employment status or that of another Bates Student Newspaper Fellow, should be brought to the attention of Erin Caswell, or another professional staff member in the Office of Campus Life at once.

Working Conditions

Mostly sitting at weekly meetings and using technology both personal and provided by the college.