Student Publications Advisor and Director

Appalachian State University•Boone, NC

17d•Onsite

About The Position

The Student Publications Advisor and Director advises, educates, and oversees students in all aspects of Appalachian State University’s award-winning, editorially independent, student-run publications, including The Appalachian, the student newspaper serving both the campus and the community, and The Peel, the student-run creative literary and arts journal. The candidate will serve as a full-time, in-person staff member in the Department of Communication within the College of Fine and Applied Arts. About The Appalachian and The Peel Literature & Arts Review: Both publications are housed within the Department of Communication in the College of Fine and Applied Arts at Appalachian State University. The Appalachian is an award-winning, editorially independent, student-run news organization, producing and publishing content covering campus and the local community, and distributing through print and digital channels. Founded in 1934, The Appalachian strives to provide fair and accurate news for the campus and the larger local community; to inform, entertain and create a forum for ideas; to provide an outlet for readers’ opinions; to be a champion for student, faculty, staff, and community interests; and to remain editorially independent, by exercising and ensuring the First Amendment rights of students, faculty, staff and the broader community. The Appalachian publishes monthly in print, through twice weekly email newsletters, and through a website and social media platforms. The Appalachian is student-managed and student-run, meaning student editors, managers and staffers are responsible for all content in the publication. The Peel Literature & Arts Review is the award-winning, editorially independent, student-run literary and arts organization, cultivating creative expression at the university through publishing and featuring literary, art and sound works created by and curated by students online and in print each academic year. Founded in 2008, The Peel is committed to nurturing and celebrating the university’s vibrant, active and creative community, through the belief that Appalachian students deserve an accessible outlet to showcase their creative expression. The Peel produces a digital edition in the fall, and a print journal in the spring.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree and ten years of experience in print journalism, OR a Master’s Degree in Communication or related field and five years of experience in print journalism.

Nice To Haves

Experience in college newspaper advising, producing news for multiple platforms, budget management and revenue generation, and success in recruiting and supporting diverse working groups.

Responsibilities

Mentoring and Leadership Promote and oversee effective student media leadership and media production through active and engaged mentoring and professionally informed advising in all aspects of a student-run news organization and a student-run literary and arts organization, including (but not limited to) reporting, publication, distribution, marketing, community and university relations, revenue generation and donor support, and business, professional, and editorial activities across varied and integrated media platforms.
Define and maintain student performance expectations through regular meetings, ongoing feedback, coaching, and accountability measures, including oversight of student leaders’ training, scheduling, and management of student staff and volunteers.
Oversee, foster and maintain an inclusive, equitable, creative, and professional organizational culture that supports and extends classroom instruction and fosters student growth both as career preparation and in service to the campus and community.
Collaboration and Consultation Initiate and maintain collaborative and consultative relationships with Department of Communication faculty and other student media advisers.
Partner with the department chair, student media advisers, and Student Media Board to ensure professional, ethical, supportive, inclusive, and legal standards and practices.
Collaborate with the department chair, student media advisers, and Student Media Board in maintaining the operations handbook, revising student-staffing structures, and updating delivery methods as needed.
Training and Outreach Serving as the instructor of record for the mass comm activity classes for both The Appalachian and The Peel
Develop and maintain training materials, programs, and events as well as regional and campus recruitment programs and events.
Budgeting and Revenue Oversee and manage multiple related budgets including student scholarships and wages, materials, and equipment, and ensure financial sustainability and fiscal solvency.
Set annual revenue goals based on budget planning of operational expenses each fiscal year, and meet revenue goals through both selling advertising and managing a team of students in selling advertising.
Manage business office through identifying and pursuing new advertising opportunities on campus and in the community, working with national media buying companies, and focusing on increasing donations throughout the year.
Administration Perform administrative functions including processing paperwork (payroll, travel, advertising sales collections, etc.), maintaining student and staff records, responding to inquiries, and contributing to an efficient office environment.
Maintain The Appalachian’s and The Peel’s annual print contracts with their contracted vendors, including seeking out RFPs as needed in consultation with the Office of Materials Management at App State, and working with appropriate parties to ensure invoices are paid on time.
Work with on- and off-campus partners for distribution of print editions of both publications.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, and relevant University policies.
Professional Development Participate in regional and national collegiate student media educational organizations, including annually submitting student work to relevant competitions.
Understand recent developments in print and digital publications, including formats and platforms, distribution services, regulations, and other emerging practices.