Background
The Bylines Network is a not-for-profit network of online citizen journalism publications, set up in 2020 to give a platform to progressive voices and encourage participatory democracy. We now have eight titles in England as well as Bylines Scotland and Bylines Cymru. Beyond the core team of five employees, the wider team comprises over 1,500 volunteer writers, editors and website teams working behind the scenes, as well as videographers, podcasters and social media support.
Across the network our titles have received over ten million reads, with some of our best articles rivalling top performers in the mainstream media. On social media we average six million Twitter impressions and three million Facebook impressions each month. We have also built our own app, which has had over 15,000 downloads on Apple and Android. In addition to all this, we publish a virtual, glossy Bylines Gazette each month, showcasing the best articles from across the network for our financial backers.
Our not-for-profit model means that the majority of volunteers who work behind the scenes, and many of our writers, represent a demographic that has sufficient time available to commit to doing so unpaid. Our aim now is to broaden that demographic so that we better represent our local communities. We would like to approach communities representing diverse ethnicities, cultures, interests and wider demographics, to find and train champions to be writers and join our core teams. A particular interest is in marginalised communities.
Bylines also hosts a student placement programme for young writers, and has established links with ten universities, primarily in the north of England. Students join us either throughout the academic year on an ad hoc basis, or for a week at a time during the holidays. The majority write for us, though we have also hosted placements for editors, videographers, podcasters and social media managers. Each placement is tailored to the needs of the individual student, while also supporting the needs of the Bylines team.
Roles
We are seeking two highly motivated individuals to join our core staff, as our:
1) Inclusivity Coordinator and
2) Student & Education Coordinator
Both roles are for a minimum of one year and are part-time (0.5 FTE), though there is the potential for the right person to cover both roles in a full-time position. Flexible working and job share can be considered. Our staff all work from home remotely, though some travel will be required for both these new roles.
Hours: 0.5 FTE (20 hours a week)
Pay: £24K–£26K full time (£12K-£13K pro rata)
Location: Home based – remote working
Inclusivity Coordinator
Essential criteria
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to adapt communication style to meet the needs of the audience
- Strongly values inclusivity and is attentive to cultural sensitivities
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to write to a high standard
- Computer literate with a personal computer and internet access at home
Desirable criteria
- Established connections and/or experience working with a range of communities, civil society groups and those groups already working to promote/ help minority and marginalised communities
- Proficient on WordPress and Word
- Proven track record in establishing connections and building teams
- Good social media awareness across Twitter, Facebook and other platforms
Core duties
- Establishing links within a range of communities, charities, campaign groups, civil society groups, etc in each Bylines area, supporting them in providing ‘champions’ to work with Bylines as writers as well as other voluntary roles
- Ensuring wellbeing of ‘champions’ in their interactions with Bylines teams
- Liaising with core team members, editors-in-chief and other volunteers to identify how each Bylines can be strengthened in terms of diversity of participation and audience
- Supporting each Bylines in reaching out to new writers and volunteers from under-represented backgrounds and communities
- Leading the Bylines diversity forum and coordinating actions to ensure the entire network is focused on improving diversity and accessibility both internally and in our public-facing work
- Tracking and analysing progress
Student & Education Coordinator
Essential criteria
- Proven track record in training or education
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to adapt communication style to meet the needs of the audience
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to write to a high standard
- Computer literate with a personal computer and internet access at home
- Good social media awareness across Twitter, Facebook and other platforms
Desirable criteria
- Experience working with students
- Track record of delivering workplace training via online webinars
- Experience as either an editor or journalist
- Proficient on WordPress and Word
Core duties
- Liaising with universities to bring more students onto student placements at Bylines
- Mentoring students on writing, editing, proofreading and article promotion
- Ensuring wellbeing of students in their interactions with Bylines teams
- Supporting our volunteer Events Organiser in running a series of free online webinars for Bylines supporters
- Liaising with core team members and editors-in-chief to design webinars for editors, writers and students in order to ensure we have a continuing programme of education, training, engagement and community-nurturing with our wider network (covering issues such as libel, requesting quotes, FoI requests, copyright, titles, lead pictures)
- Tracking and analysing progress
To apply
To apply: Email a copy of your CV and covering letter to [email protected]
Closing date for applications: Monday 17 July 5pm
