| PURPOSE: To improve the coverage of the Hispanic community,
the fastest-growing segment of the United States population, in
the newspapers owned and operated by The E. W. Scripps Company;
To better serve the interests of readers by having news stories
written by journalists who have insight into Hispanic issues and
culture; To identify, recruit, develop, and place entry-level and
early-career journalists who are uniquely qualified to contribute
to the attainment of the program's purpose; and To provide the necessary
experience that participants will need to become employed at a major
daily newspaper such as the Rocky Mountain News or another Scripps
newspaper.
TARGET GROUP: Entry-level and early-career journalists
whose education or experience will enable them to improve coverage
of news from or about the Hispanic community.
REQUIREMENTS: The minimum requirements for application
to the program are: (a) four-year college degree in journalism
or applicable field; and (b) practical daily newspaper experience,
either through internships while attending college or in an entry-level
position.
The following preferred qualifications will be deciding factors
in offering admission into the training program: (a) bilingual
fluency in Spanish and English;
(b) college course work relating to the study of contemporary
Hispanic culture and heritage; (c) prior employment, internship,
or volunteer experience pertaining to Hispanic issues; and (d)
other pertinent experience.
PARTICIPATION: After a two-year phased startup, a maximum
of eight journalists may be employed in this program at one time.
The program will focus on developing reporters, photographers
and presentation editors who combined copy editing and page design.
Four positions will be awarded in the first year, staggered as
follows: 1 in January 2004; 2 in June 2004; 1 in September 2004.
Four more positions will be added in the second year, following
the same staggered sequence. In succeeding years, four positions
will be filled on the same sequence, as two-year terms are completed.
If a participant leaves the program before the two-year term is
completed, either by transfer to a regular full-time position
at another Scripps paper, for other employment, or because of
dismissal from the program, the vacancy may be filled promptly
after it occurs.
DURATION and CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT: Each participant will
be employed in a temporary full-time position for two full years
unless attendance, behavioral or performance problems warrant
dismissal from the program. Employment in a regular, full-time
position at the Rocky Mountain News or another Scripps paper may
be offered to participants at any time between the end of the
first year of participation and conclusion of the second year.
Each participant will be informed of post-completion regular employment
prospects not later than the end of the third quarter of the second
year of participation.
Participants do not have contractual rights to be hired for regular,
full-time employment by the Rocky Mountain News or another Scripps
newspaper.
COMPENSATION: Recent graduates will be paid Entry Level
scale in the Guild contract. Working journalists will be paid
Experience Step scale appropriate for their previous daily newspaper
employment. All participants will be eligible for the employee
benefits provided to all other full-time employees.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Each prospective participant will
be provided with an assessment of their skill level and a set
of development goals as part of the written offer of a position
in the program. Acceptance of the offer requires a commitment
to working diligently to achieve the stated development goals.
Each participant will work closely with a designated professional
mentor of assistant department head rank or higher. The mentor
will monitor the participant's work habits and work product, consult
regularly with the participant, and assess his or her progress
toward the stated development goals. All Reporting participants
will be assigned to the City Desk for the first year, and will
work each of three shifts (10-7, 12-9 and 3-12) for one month
at a time during the first quarter of their participation. Presentation
Desk participants will be assigned to Reporting positions on the
City Desk for 8 weeks before they begin editing copy and designing
pages. Presentation Desk participants will be assigned exclusively
to copy editing for 4 weeks before they begin designing pages.
Each participant will receive a formal, written performance assessment
each quarter.
TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION, PLEASE VISIT THE
SCRIPPS ACADEMY FOR HISPANIC JOURNALISM WEB SITE.
Send application to: Michael Madigan, Program Administrator,
Scripps Academy for Hispanic Journalism, Rocky Mountain News,
100 Gene Amole Way, Denver, CO 80204. Or e-mail: madiganm@rockymountainnews.com.
For information: (303) 892-2386.
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