Job Abstract

Position Overview

Staff Reporter for the VISTA newspaper.

Hours per Week

• Up to 25 hours per week, maximum, during fall and spring semesters.
• Up to 35 hours per week, maximum, during summer semesters and breaks.

College/Department Overview

The Vista is a department within Mass Communication and was established in 1903 as the student newspaper of the University of Central Oklahoma and is the longest, continually published student newspaper in the state.

Department Specific Job Functions

The Staff Reporter will interview, report, and edit stories/articles.

Enrollment Requirements

Fall/Spring Semesters: All student employees must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible to work any UCO student position. Half-time enrollment for fall/spring semesters is considered 5 hours for graduates and 6 hours for undergraduates. International students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible to work as a student employee. Full-time enrollment is 9 credit hours for graduates and 12 credit hours for undergraduates.

Summer Semester: Student employees working regular student positions must be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours to be eligible to work during the summer. Students not enrolled in summer classes must be enrolled in fall classes in order to work during the summer, but they (and the department) will be required to pay FICA taxes. Student employees working FWSP positions must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours (if undergraduate) or 5 credit hours (if graduate) in order to work during the summer in a Federal Work Study Program position.

Enrollment Exception: If the number of credit hours needed to graduate is less than the minimum number of hours required for student employment, the student must obtain a letter from their Academic Advisor (stating the number of hours needed to graduate and anticipated graduation date) and submit it to Human Resources. This pertains to both regular and Federal Work Study Program positions. Contact jobs@uco.edu for more information.

Qualifications/Experience Required

• Media Writing, News Reporting, and Newspaper Participation required.
• Must have great communication skills and be deadline driven.
• Proper grammar and spelling skills are a must, as well as a strong sense of AP style.

Qualifications/Experience Preferred

• Media Writing, News Reporting, and Newspaper Participation required.
• InDesign and Photoshop experience preferred.
• WordPress experience preferred.
• Proper grammar and spelling skills are a must.
• Strong sense of AP style is required.
• Must have great communication skills and be deadline driven.
• Having a flexible schedule is a plus.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Sensitivity of intercultural communication.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Detail oriented.
• Dependable.
• Punctual.

Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodation, in accordance with ADA requirements, may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.