
The Collegian - Job Descriptions
The Rocky Mountain Collegian serves as the focal point for student life at Colorado State by providing an important forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions, information about events, and news of general interest about the campus, region, nation and world. As a division of the Student Media department, the Collegian's mission statement recognizes the needs to:
- enhance students' undergraduate education through training and hands-on experience in media methods, management, ethics, responsibilities, and community service;
- provide media access to individual students and student organizations by reporting news of interest to the campus and by providing forums for student expression and opinions;
- protect students' First Amendment rights by ensuring media are free of censorship and advance approval of copy.
Because of the key role they serve, the editor-in-chief and all staff have a responsibility to be guided by reader - rather than self - interests. The editor-in-chief and staff are to aspire to serve the truth by providing balanced, complete, accurate, fair reports and to maintain a clear distinction between news reports and expressions of opinion. While student enjoy considerable latitude in designated expressions of opinion, such as in editorials and columns, partisanship that knowingly departs from the truth or serves to promote individual self-interests constitute a violation of the public trust.
The editor-in-chief and all staff are expected to show respect for the dignity, privacy, rights and well-being of everyone and to avoid discriminatory coverage or practices. The editor and management staff also are responsible for creating a welcoming environment for all other newsroom staff and visitors.
The Collegian exists to serve the student of Colorado State and the university and Fort Collins communities. Staff members are accountable to their peers, who are encouraged to voice their grievances. If forums, letters to the editor, and personal meetings fail to adequately provide redress for complainants, staff members are to explain the complainant's rights to appeal to the Board of Student Communications.
For detailed job descriptions, click the corresponding links below.
Editor-In-Chief
Managing Editor - News
Managing Editor - Features
Managing Editor - Night Staff
Campus Editor
Regional Editor
State Editor
Diversity Editor
Entertainment Editor
Sports Editor
Opinion Editor
Head Copy Editor
Photography Editor
Graphics Editor
Assignment Editors
Head Photographer
Senior Photographer
Staff Photographer
Copy Editor
Student Media Webmaster
Collegian.com Webmaster
Online Production Staff
Advertising Production Staff
Advertising Paginator
Newspaper Paginator
Student Computer TechnicianEditor-In-Chief
The editor-in-chief is responsible for determining the content of the newspaper and for hiring managing editors and desk editors who, in turn, hire all other student staff. While in office, the editor-in-chief and all newsroom staff must be full-time, admitted, degree-seeking Colorado State University students in good academic standing (carrying at least three hours if working during the summer semester; continuing education courses do not constitute admission to Colorado State).
The editor-in-chief's duties include: - Organize and manage the news, editorial and news production staff to ensure all deadlines are met.
- Develop and monitor newsroom budgets. Lead daily meeting.
- Work with the Newsroom Adviser to organize staff training programs.
- Prepare job descriptions and conducting job reviews.
- Monitor closely the content of the newspaper in order to avoid legal difficulties. The editor must have completed or be in the process of completing a media law course.
- Participate in the promotion of the Collegian and enter available contests.
- Be responsible for the content of Collegian.com.
- Train new editors.
- Prepare an annual report to the BSC prior to leaving office.
- Maintain regular office hours and ensure other members of the editorial staff do the same.
- Adhere to BSC approved codes of ethics and ensure staff have received copies of those codes. Promptly report to the BSC any violations of those codes.
- Help to create a welcoming, open environment for all staff and visitors to the Collegian.
- Serve on the editorial board.
- Meet weekly with professional staff.
The editor-in-chief reports to work the week before summer production begins and one week prior to spring semester. Vacations are negotiable. Salary is negotiable (minimum of $3,000 per semester).Managing Editor - News
The Managing Editor - News' primary task is to coordinate the newspaper staff's daily news coverage. The Features ME supervises the campus, regional, diversity and state desks. Those editors should go directly to the Features ME with problems and questions regarding daily coverage. This will create unity between the desks, allowing for ample and accurate coverage in all sections.
Because of the Features ME's active role, the editor-in-chief, then, is free to concern her/himself with long-term planning and budget considerations, as well as the link between the night and day staffs. Of course, major issues and problems should involve the editor-in-chief, but the Features ME should try to solve most problems at that level.
Other specific duties of the News ME will include: - Read over all news stories (as well as sports or entertainment stories that run on the front page) before they are sent to a copy editor to read. The Features ME is the final reader for content and facts. He/she may decide at that time that a story isn't fit to run.
- Check over story assignments filed by work-study assignment editors and by desk editors to make sure paper's everyday coverage is thorough and not redundant. Attend daily budget meetings.
- Help plan photo assignments.
- Pull Associated Press wire copy and photos for inside pages and briefs packages.
- Plan and coordinate special and long-term coverage, particularly the bi-weekly "in-depth" packages. Meet at least once a week with photo editor, graphics editor, reporters, editor-in-chief to discuss these packages.
- Occasionally cover a story from any desk if there are no reporters available to cover the story.
- With editor-in-chief, lead the daily budget meeting to plan both short- and long-term coverage. (This meeting should take place no earlier than 3:30 and no later than 4:30 and should take no more than 30 minutes.)
- Meet daily with Night ME to convey daily budget.
- Take care of any other duties assigned by the editor-in-chief.
- Work with the editor-in-chief with as needed new reporter training sessions.
- Serve on the editorial board.
The News ME reports to work two weeks prior to the beginning of classes for the fall semester and one week prior to spring semester.Managing Editor - Features
The Managing Editor - Features' primary task is to coordinate the newspaper staff's daily coverage of sports, opinions, and entertainment, as well as produce all special advertising sections. The sports, opinion and entertainment editors should go directly to the Features ME with problems and questions regarding daily coverage. This will create unity between the desks, allowing for ample and accurate coverage in all sections. Because of the Features ME's active role, the editor-in-chief, then, is free to concern her/himself with long-term planning and budget considerations, as well as the link between the night and day staffs. Of course, major issues and problems should involve the editor-in-chief, but the Features ME should try to solve most problems at that level.
Other specific duties of the Features ME will include: - Read over all sports, opinion and entertainment stories before they are sent to a copy editor to read. The Features ME is the final reader for content and facts. He/she may decide at that time that a story isn't fit to run.
- Check over story assignments filed by work-study assignment editors and by desk editors to make sure paper's everyday coverage is thorough and not redundant. Attend daily budget meetings.
- Help plan photo assignments for sports, entertainment and special sections.
- With a special sections writing staff, plan and coordinate special sections coverage, Meet when needed with photo editor, graphics editor, reporters, editor-in-chief to discuss these sections.
- Occasionally cover a story from any desk if there are no reporters available to cover the story.
- With editor-in-chief and other ME's, lead the daily budget meeting to plan both short- and long-term coverage.
- Meet daily with Night ME to convey daily budget.
- Take care of any other duties assigned by the editor-in-chief.
- Serve on editorial board.
- Work with the editor-in-chief with as needed new reporter training sessions.
The Features ME reports to work two weeks prior to the beginning of classes for the fall semester and one week prior to spring semester.Managing Editor - Night Staff
The Managing Editor - Night Staff's primary task is to serve as the liaison between the day staff and the copy desk. This means the Night ME will work closely with the editor-in-chief, the other ME's, and the respective desks in making sure all copy and art produced during the day make it safely into the next day's paper. In addition, the Night ME will supervise the photo editor, the graphics editor and the head copy editor to make sure those staffs are functioning efficiently.
Specific duties of the Night ME will include: - Create design specifications for all sections of the Collegian and make sure the copy desk adheres to those specifications.
- Monitor the wires during the evening to make sure the Collegian is on top of all breaking news.
- Coordinate coverage of all late stories for the next day's paper, whether they be planning events or breaking news.
- Check all pages for editorial appropriateness before turning them over to the professional night production manager, who in turn electronically sends them to the printer.
- Check over story assignments filed by work-study assignment editors and by desk editors to make sure paper's everyday coverage is thorough and not redundant. Attend daily budget meetings.
- Occasionally cover a story from any desk if there are no reporters available to cover the story.
- With editor-in-chief and other ME's, lead the daily budget meeting to plan both short- and long-term coverage.
- Meet daily with editor-in-chief and other ME's regarding the daily budget, then meeting with the head copy editor to convey that budget.
- Take care of any other duties assigned by the editor-in-chief.
- Serve on editorial board
- Work with the editor-in-chief with as needed new reporter training sessions.
The Night ME reports to work two weeks prior to the beginning of classes for the fall semester. Salary is negotiable.Campus Editor
The campus editor is responsible for all reporting about CSU. This broad range constitutes the bulk of the Collegian's new coverage, from ASCSU to CSU administration to CSUPD to features stories about research projects to anything else that happens on campus. In addition to staying abreast of the goings-on in student government and in the administration, the campus editor must maintain close contact with the student body and be aware of its interests and concerns. In practice, the campus editor should have the largest staff on the paper, and is responsible for hiring and firing those reporters. More reporters will report to the campus desk than any other. Therefore, the output from those reporters is expected to be greater than any other desk - from three to eight or more stories per day. Because of the greater workload coming from this desk, the News ME should be of great assistance to the campus editor in making sure all work is completed. The regional editor, too, can help the campus editor, if needed.
Other specific duties of the campus editor include: - Develop an on-call reporter system and collaborate with photographers for breaking news.
- Attend the daily budget meeting.
- Read the day's stories for content and clarity.
- Deal with breaking news.
- Make sure the next day's stories and photos/graphics are assigned.
- Work with the News ME in communicating the day's budget to the Night ME.
- Once a week, facilitate meetings and head discussions with the reporters, and help them along with their stories. The campus editor will be in charge of running reporter meetings and reporting to the News ME when there is a problem with a story or a reporter.
- Communicate with the advocacy offices and urge reporters to seek out diverse sources when reporting stories.
- Be responsible for keeping track of his/her section's payroll.
The campus editor will report to work two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of the spring semester.Regional Editor
The regional editor is responsible for all reporting about Fort Collins, Larimer County and Colorado. Frequently, the coverage coming from the regional desk involves conflict between CSU and the aforementioned communities, but other city, county and state news could have an impact on our readers. In addition to attending community events and meetings, the regional editor must maintain close contact with Fort Collins city and Larimer County officials, as well as the FCPD and the Larimer County Sheriff's Office and courthouse. In practice, the regional editor should have a smaller staff than the campus editor, and is responsible for hiring and firing regional beat reporters. The output from those reporters is expected to be from one to three stories per day. Because of the smaller workload coming from this desk, the regional editor should assist the campus editor in making sure all his/her work is completed.
Other specific duties of the regional editor include: - Develop an on-call reporter system and collaborate with photographers for breaking news.
- Attend the daily budget meeting.
- Read the day's stories for content and clarity.
- Deal with breaking news.
- Make sure the next day's stories and photos/graphics are assigned.
- Work with the News ME in communicating the day's budget to the Night ME.
- Once a week, facilitate meetings and head discussions with the reporters, and help them along with their stories. The regional editor will help the campus editor run reporter meetings and report to the News ME when there is a problem with a story or a reporter.
- Communicate with the advocacy offices and urge reporters to seek out diverse sources when reporting stories.
- Be responsible for keeping track of his/her section's payroll.
The regional editor will report to work two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of the spring semester.State Editor
The state editor is responsible for all coverage coming from the state legislature, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the State Board of Agriculture, the U.S. Congress and any other bodies that create legislation that could directly affect CSU's students and staff. In addition to reading daily newspapers, the Chronicle of Higher Education and websites that cover those institutions, the state editor must maintain close contact with representatives of those bodies. The state editor should have a reporting staff of three reporters, and is responsible for hiring and firing those reporters. The output from those reporters is expected to be from one to two stories per day.
Other specific duties of the state editor include: - Attend the daily budget meeting.
- Read the day's stories for content and clarity.
- Deal with breaking news.
- Make sure the next day's stories and photos/graphics are assigned.
- Work with the News ME in communicating the day's budget to the Night ME.
- Once a week, facilitate meetings and head discussions with the reporters, and help them along with their stories. The state editor will help run reporter meetings and report to the News ME when there is a problem with a story or a reporter.
- Urge reporters to seek out diverse sources when reporting stories.
- Be responsible for keeping track of his/her section's payroll.
The state editor will report to work two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of the spring semester.Diversity Editor
The diversity editor is responsible for all reporting about Fort Collins' and CSU's clubs, advocacy offices and organizations that bring and/or promote diversity on campus and in the city. In addition to staying abreast of the goings-on in those organizations, the diversity editor must maintain close contact with the student body and be aware of its interests and concerns regarding diversity. In practice, the diversity editor should have his/her own staff, and be responsible for hiring and firing those reporters. The output from those reporters is expected to be at least one story per day. The News ME should assist the diversity editor in making sure all work is completed.
Other specific duties of the state editor include: - At least once a month, set up a brown bag lunch with students and faculty from a campus advocacy office or another student group that deals with a diverse population. The editor-in-chief and at least another news editor should plan to attend the lunch.
- Daily devote some morning time to devising story ideas for the diversity desk and for other desks, including news and entertainment.
- Make sure the next day's stories and photos/graphics are assigned.
- Work with the News ME in communicating the day's budget to the Night ME.
- Once a week, facilitate meetings and head discussions with the reporters, and help them along with their stories. The diversity editor will help run reporter meetings and report to the News ME when there is a problem with a story or a reporter.
- Urge reporters to seek out diverse sources when reporting stories.
- Be responsible for keeping track of his/her section's payroll.
- Coordinate training sessions and speakers for the entire staff regarding issues of diversity in the media and in society in general.
- Be responsible for a bi-monthly package featuring issues of diversity.
The diversity editor will report to work two weeks prior to the beginning of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of spring semester.Entertainment Editor
The Entertainment Editor is responsible for covering the arts and entertainment at CSU, and in both the immediate and greater communities. The section's primary aim should be to cover the arts at CSU and the people who create them. After that, state, national and international issues can be covered. The entertainment editor will hire a staff that should include feature writers, reviewers from varied and diverse backgrounds with varied and diverse interests, and an entertainment columnist. The entertainment editor may choose to have a beat for him/herself.
Other specific duties of the entertainment editor include: - Attend the daily budget meeting.
- Read the day's entertainment stories for content and clarity.
- Make sure the next day's stories and photos/graphics are assigned.
- Assign entertainment beats to every reporter.
- Work with the Night ME in designing a weekly four-page entertainment section.
- Work with the Features ME in communicating the day's budget to the Night ME.
- Once a week, facilitate meetings and head discussions with the reporters, and help them along with their stories. The entertainment editor will work with the adviser in helping to train his/her staff and report to the Features ME when there is a problem with a story or a reporter.
- Communicate with the advocacy offices and urge reporters to seek out diverse sources when reporting stories.
- Be responsible for keeping track of his/her section's payroll.
The entertainment editor will report to work two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of the spring semester.Sports Editor
The Sports Editor is responsible for covering varsity and club athletics at CSU, as well as other sporting events, particularly collegiate events, that have interest to our readers. The section's primary aim should be to cover varsity athletics at CSU and the people who participate in them. After that, club and intramural sports should be covered. If time and space permit, the paper may also choose to cover other events. The sports editor will hire a staff that should include several beat writers from varied and diverse backgrounds with varied and diverse interests, and a sports columnist. The entertainment editor may choose to have a beat for him/herself.
Other specific duties of the sports editor include: - Attend the daily budget meeting.
- Read the day's sports stories for content and clarity.
- Make sure the next day's stories and photos/graphics are assigned.
- Assign sports beats to every reporter.
- Work with the Night ME in designing the Sports Monday package.
- Work with the Features ME in communicating the day's budget to the Night ME.
- Once a week, facilitate meetings and head discussions with the reporters, and help them along with their stories. The sports editor will work with the adviser in helping to train his/her staff and report to the Features ME when there is a problem with a story or a reporter.
- Communicate with the advocacy offices and urge reporters to seek out diverse sources when reporting stories.
- Be responsible for keeping track of his/her section's payroll.
- Maintain professional relationships with athletic department personnel and athletes.
The sports editor will report to work two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of the spring semester.Opinion Editor
The opinion editor is responsible for the Collegian's Opinion page, which includes columns, staff editorials, editorial cartoons and letters to the editor. The opinion editor should strive to include each of those elements in every day's paper, if possible. The opinion editor will hire a staff of columnists and cartoonists from varied and diverse backgrounds with varied and diverse interests. The opinion editor may choose to have a column for him/herself.
Other specific duties of the opinion editor include: - Attend the daily budget meeting.
- Read the day's opinion stories for content and clarity.
- Devise a regular schedule for columns and staff editorials to run.
- Attend editorial board meetings (with the editor-in-chief and the three managing editors) and assign staff editorials as needed, potentially once a day.
- Work with the Night ME in designing the daily opinion section.
- Once a week, facilitate meetings and head discussions with the columnists, and help them along with their stories. The opinion editor will work with the adviser in helping to train his/her staff and report to the Features ME when there is a problem with a story or a reporter.
- Be responsible for keeping track of his/her section's payroll.
The opinion editor will report to work two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of the spring semester.Head Copy Editor
The head copy editor is in charge of the night copy desk and reports to the Night ME. The head copy editor should work at least four nights a week, usually five, as well as keep office hours prior to the night's work.
Other specific duties of the head copy editor include: - Hire and maintain a staff of copy editors. Arrange, with the adviser, for training of that staff.
- Read at least once every story that is scheduled to go in the newspaper the next day. Check for usage, grammar, spelling, mechanics and style.
- Monitor the newspaper for major copy editing and design errors, producing an occasional critique for them (in addition to the adviser's regular critiques. Meet with the staff once a week to discuss the critiques and how errors can be avoided in the future.
- Schedule copy editors so that at least four are working every night of production. More may be needed on certain days.
- Work with the Night ME to make sure all copy editors follow specific Collegian style and design guidelines.
- Work with the Night ME and the professional night production manager to make sure the pages are sent to the printer on time.
- Either lay out the front page or help another copy editor design the front page. The head copy editor should do at least one, but not more than two, front pages every week.
- Work with the adviser in procuring all necessary materials for the copy desk.
- Maintain a payroll for the copy desk.
The head copy editor will report to work one week prior to the start of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of the spring semester.Photography Editor
The photo editor will be responsible for all photographs that appear in the Collegian. He/she will hire a photo staff that is skilled in several areas of photojournalism.
The photo editor's specific duties: - Monitor all photo assignment to make sure none have been duplicated. Encourage the news desks and other desks to be as specific as possible in their photo assignments.
- Assign all photographs first to senior staff, then to regular staff, as they become available.
- Run a weekly staff meeting, as well as provide staff training for all photographers. That may include bringing in professional photographers. Work with the adviser in arranging these guest appearances.
- Keep an accurate inventory of all film and photo equipment.
- Maintain an accurate payroll for the department.
- Work with the Night ME and the professional night production manager in ensuring the quality of all photographs that go in the paper.
- Attend the daily budget meeting to help plan photographs that go with stories.
- Arrange for open space to display photo essays that reflect the hard work and preparation of the photo staff.
- Shoot mug shots for all columnists.
- Be available to shoot photo assignments as assigned by editor.
- Carry on-call pager at all times and be available to shoot last-minute assignments on assigned feature day.
- Research equipment for purchase when necessary.
The photography editor will report to work one week prior to the start of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of the spring semester.Graphics Editor
The graphics editor is responsible for all news, sports and entertainment graphics. In addition, he/she will produce the comics page and procure the syndicated materials that appear on that page.
The graphics editor will: - Design the comics page.
- Order all syndicated material for the comics page.
- Solicit student comics contributions.
- Produce news, sports and entertainment informational graphics, charts, art, etc.
- Work with the news desks, sports and entertainment in timely fashion to clarify their graphics needs.
- Attend the daily budget meeting.
- Hire staff, as needed to complete the above tasks.
- The graphics editor may also work as an opinion cartoonist for an opinion cartoonist's pay.
The graphics editor will report to work one week prior to the start of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of the spring semester.Assignment Editors
The assignment editors are responsible for developing story ideas and story package ideas that can be used by the campus, regional, sports and entertainment desks at the Collegian. While they aren't solely responsible for this activity, their contributions will form the backbone of the Collegian's daily coverage. Beat reporters still must develop their own story ideas and desk editors still must generate ideas for their reporters.
The assignment editors typically will work no more than three hours per day, two to three days per week. At the end of each of those shifts, each editor should have completed three story assignment sheets and attached those to original documents or notes.
At the very least, the assignment editors will begin by reading The Rocky Mountain Collegian , The Denver Post, The Rocky Mountain News, and the Fort Collins Coloradoan. Should the editor see a story from any of those papers, he/she should highlight important parts of the story, clip it from the paper, fill out a story idea form, then file the story in the futures file for the associate editor and the desk editors.
Once those daily newspapers have been read (they will be provided for the editors by the Collegian adviser), the assignment editor may then begin to look at national magazines, Internet sites, television news to help with story generation. The Collegian subscribes to several magazines, but if the assignment editor feels we need more, please ask the adviser to order a subscription. Macintosh computers with Internet capability dot the newsroom, and we have a television equipped with cable in the meeting room.
Since these are work-study positions, the assignment editors report directly to the newsroom adviser, but they should also check with the editor-in-chief, associate editor, campus editor, regional editor, sports editor, and features editor to see if the story ideas were received and for other input and feedback.
Hours are flexible, but should be between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Stories that have a particular urgency should be ready to go by 1 p.m. the day they're to be written.Head Photographer
The head photographer's duties are as follows: - Be available to shoot photo assignments as assigned by editor.
- Check photo assignments every day.
- Be very consistent and very reliable in ability to shoot quality photographs.
- Attend and assist with weekly staff meetings.
- Carry on-call pager at all times and be available to shoot last minute assignments on assigned feature day.
- Organize and teach clinics for photo staff as needed, at least twice a semester.
- Research equipment for purchase when necessary.
- Be able to work photo desk when editor is unable.
- Help editor with monitoring and purchase of film.
- Help staff with any problems that arise, technological or otherwise.
- Shoot mugs for staff when necessary.
- Be available and willing to shoot last-minute assignments.
- Take over photo editor position in emergencies.
The head photographer will report to work one week prior to the beginning of fall semester and spring semester.Senior Photographer
Senior photographers will get first shot at all photo assignments turned into the photo editor. They should have extensive experience in photography and knowledge of photojournalistic principles.
The senior photographer duties are as follows: - Be available to shoot photo assignments as assigned by editor.
- Check photo assignments every day.
- Be consistent and reliable in ability to shoot quality photographs.
- Attend weekly staff meetings.
- Carry on-call pager at all times and be available to shoot last minute assignments on assigned feature day.
- Be available and willing to shoot last-minute assignments.
Senior photographers will report to work the Friday prior to each semester's beginning.Staff Photographer
Staff photographers will get assignments as they are declined by senior photographers. In general, staff photographers won't be as experienced as senior photographers.
The staff photographer's duties are as follows: - Be available to shoot photo assignments as assigned by editor.
- Check photo assignments every day.
- Be consistent and reliable in ability to shoot quality photographs.
- Attend weekly staff meetings and all workshops.
- Carry on-call pager and be available to shoot last minutes assignments on assigned feature day.
Staff photographers will report to work the Friday prior to each semester's beginning.Copy Editor
Copy editors are responsible for maintaining a consistent and correct use of style in the Collegian. While the managing editors and other desk editors check all stories for organization and accuracy, it is the responsibility of the copy desk to check the stories - as well as the headlines, cutlines and graphics - for correct usage, grammar, spelling and style.
The head copy editor will hire the copy editors, who generally work two to four weekly four-hour shifts, at night.Student Media Webmaster
The Student Media Webmaster is responsible for designing and updating the departmental web site. The content for the Student Media Department web site is differentiated from individual organizational web sites, such as Collegian.com and KCSUFM.com , whose content are the responsibilities of student editors and managers. The Student Media web site will reside on the Colorado State University web server, and all content and graphics will be consistent with University standards.
The Student Media Webmaster's responsibilities include: - Working with professional and student staff to establish both uniform standards and unique requirements, if any, for each of the four organizational units, and developing conceptual elements, such as site mapping and navigation in compliance with University and departmental standards.
- Working independently to develop sample pages, links and designs for presentation to the department's professional staff. Once approved by the professional staff, the webmaster will create the pages, links and related items for final review, testing and evaluation.
- After getting the web site onto the University web server, reviewing the site to make improvements, adjustments and corrections as needed.
- Updating one of the four organizational units each week or more frequently as needed.
Collegian.com Webmaster
The Collegian.com Webmaster is responsible for maintenance, update, and development of the www.collegian.com web site. This position requires knowledge of ODBC with MS SQL server and Access, Macromedia ColdFusion MX, MS ASP.NET, PHP, ftp tools, ActiveX controls, graphics editing packages, HTML, scripting both server and client side, and experience working with web applications. The online editor directly supports the student online staff by providing assistance with production and training.
The Collegian.com Webmaster's responsibilities include: - Overseeing the daily operation of the site to ensure a positive user experience. This include ensuring that all articles, images, advertisements, and any other content are properly displayed on the site, accessible to all users in the target audience, and navigable.
- Overseeing the upload process to ensure that all content submitted to run on the site conform to www.collegian.com design and content standards including but not limited to: bad links, proper formatting, page weight, and consistent Look And Feel (LAF).
- Correspondence with the newsroom staff to ensure that the www.collegian.com web site is fulfilling their needs and expectations, as well as to collaborate on future features.
- Assisting interested newsroom staff in generating special content for the site, which conforms to requirements.
- Continuing development of future features and enhancements to the site to ensure that it stays current with the needs/expectations of the online and newsroom staff.
Online Production Staff
The online production staff is part of a team of full-time students who support the on-line version of the Rocky Mountain Collegian . This position requires learning of a variety of software applications, including Dreamweaver, Cold Fusion, PhotoShop, some type of scripting and html; and experience working with web applications such as e-mail, telnet and file transfer protocol.
The online production staff responsibilities are assisting the webmaster in the following areas: - Ensuring Collegian's online pages are properly created for inclusion on web site and monitoring content approval process to ensure only authorized content is available to public site.
- Reviewing all submitted stories from newsroom to ensure the pages meet html and coding standards.
- Reviewing all photos to ensure size specifications are met.
- Routinely checking all links and functions throughout web site.
- Supplying monthly statistics.
- Assisting Student Media Webmaster with graphic projects as requested.
Advertising Production Staff
The advertising production staff is responsible for creating, designing and producing advertisements that run in the Rocky Mountain Collegian newspaper. They also design ads for the Fort Collins Visitors Guide, the Survival Guide, Collegian Coupon Books as well as special advertising supplements. The production manager works closely with the Art Department at Colorado State to offer internships to Graphic Arts majors. Students have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and are highly competitive in seeking careers in design and print publications. Staff members must be full-time, degree seeking students at Colorado State. This position requires learning a variety of software applications, including Multi-Ad Creator, Quark XPress, Illustrator, PhotoShop, and Adobe Distiller and Acrobat.
The student staff's responsibilities include: - Designing advertisements for the Rock Mountain Collegian using Multi-Ad Creator, Illustrator and Quark Xpress.
- Scanning photographs, logos and art elements via flatbed scanners and manipulating images in PhotoShop.
- Downloading photos from digital cameras and preparing images for print.
- Reviewing all color elements to ensure process color specifications are met.
- Converting PDF files submitted from customers into EPS files to ensure ads meet electronic production specifications.
Advertising Paginator
The advertising paginator creates paginated advertising pages for the Rocky Mountain Collegian newspaper. This position requires a working knowledge of a variety of software applications, including Multi-Ad Creator, Quark XPress, PhotoShop, Adobe Distiller and Acrobat, and experience working with EPS and PFD files, and file transfer protocol.
The advertising paginator's responsibilities include: - Preparing Collegian's advertisements in EPS format for inclusion on electronic Quark pages.
- Placing EPS files on Quark pages, producing PDF files, and printing PDF files to ensure print functionality.
- Reviewing all color ads to ensure spot color and process color specifications are met.
- Preparing classified pages for inclusion on electronic pages.
- Assisting in the completion of advertisements that are received during or after the transition period from day to night production.
Newspaper Paginator
The newspaper paginator creates fully electronic paginated pages for the Rocky Mountain Collegian and submits news stories to Collegian.com online newspaper. The paginator is specifically prohibited from making changes in editorial or news content, which is the responsibility of the student editors, such as writing, rewriting or editing news stories, letters or editorials, headlines and photographic captions. The adviser may make minor changes to page layout to ensure photos, stories, headlines, and other page elements fit appropriately, as long as such changes do not involve changes in content. This position requires a working knowledge of a variety of software applications, including QuarkXPress, Baseview, Multi-Ad Creator, PhotoShop, Adobe Distiller and Acrobat, and experience working with EPS and PDF files, and file transfer protocol.
The newspaper paginator's responsibilities include: - Ensuring Collegian's pages are properly created and then submitted via file transfer protocols to the production offices of the commercial printer under contract to print the newspaper.
- Reviewing all pages after completion by student editors to ensure the pages meet production standards.
- Assisting in the completion of advertisements that are received during or after the transition period from day to night production.
- Working with the Collegian.com staff to learn software applications and methods currently in place and serving as a contact person and resource for the interactive and the print staffs.
Student Computer Technician
The computer technician provides support and maintenance on the Collegian newsroom computers with direction from the production manager. This position also supports the student staff by providing assistance with computer related questions when applicable. This position requires a working knowledge of Macintosh based network and a variety of software applications, including Quark Xpress, Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat and Distiller, Multi-Ad Creator and Photoshop.
The student computer technician's responsibilities include weekly and monthly duties: - Troubleshooting newsroom computers and reinstalling software as necessary.
- Running Tech Tools Pro (or current disk tools program) to check and repair minor problems and disk fragmentation.
- Updating Virus Definitions at beginning of each month to ensure definitions are current and activated.
- Checking Adobe fonts to ensure all workstations' font packages are compatible and complete.
- Burning CDs for the purpose of archiving photographer's photos and keeping file server space optimized.
- Ensuring

