Apply

The Hawk is currently accepting applications for the fall 2025 semester. Apply here!

The application is due by April 11 at 11:59 p.m. for current Hawk staff, and by April 18 at 11:59 p.m. for new applicants. After applications have closed, The Hawk leadership will reach out regarding interviewing and next steps. Please direct any questions to [email protected]

*You must use a non-SJU gmail account to apply or you will encounter an error. If you have any issues please contact [email protected].

The Hawk Newspaper Staff Positions 

Editor in Chief:

The Editor in Chief is responsible for all content of The Hawk. The Editor in Chief is responsible for enforcement of all deadlines and acts as the publisher of the paper. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversee all editorial content for all published material (online and print)
• Know the status of all Hawk business matters
• Edit/Produce material as needed
• Set vision for the future of The Hawk
• Chair meetings of the Editorial Board and staff
• Oversee and develop special projects
• Act as a liaison between editorial and business departments
• Act as a public liaison to students, faculty and staff outside of The Hawk
• Meet regularly with faculty adviser(s)

Managing Editor:

The Managing Editor is responsible for overseeing the Editorial Board and staff of The Hawk to ensure the efficient internal functioning of the newspaper. The responsibilities of the Managing Editor include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Know the status of all The Hawk business 
• Edit/Produce material as needed 
• Oversee and develop assignments and special projects 
• Train new staff members, in conjunction with staff editors and the Editor in Chief 
• Act as a liaison between the various departments of The Hawk 
• Meet regularly with faculty adviser(s)

Copy Chief:

The Copy Chief is responsible for proofreading all copy and making subsequent edits in accordance with the AP Stylebook and The Hawk Style Manual. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Training copy editors and managing the copy staff
• Proofreading and editing all copy before it is sent to the Editor in Chief
• Fact checking in collaboration with section editors regarding the quality of articles

Copy Editor:

Copy Editors assist the Copy Chief in proofreading, editing and fact checking. They are assigned work by the Copy Chief based on the needs of the determined copy process. They may be assigned to a specific section(s).

News Editor:

The News Editor is responsible for assigning coverage of campus, city, state, national, and international news/events that affect the St. Joe’s community. The News Editor edits and proofreads all articles that are published in the News section. 

Opinions Editor:

The Opinions Editor is responsible for assigning coverage of Opinions articles that affect the St. Joe’s community as a whole, both on- and off-campus. The Opinions Editor edits and proofreads all articles that are published in the Opinions section. 

Editorial Editor:

The Editorial Editor will work with the Editor in Chief and Editorial Board to develop weekly staff editorials that cover timely and pressing issues relevant to the St. Joe’s campus community. 

Features Editor:

The Features Editor is responsible for assigning coverage of articles that fall under the category of soft news, human interest, humor, fashion, health, service, lifestyle and other campus/off-campus events and news. The Features Editor edits and proofreads all articles that are published in the Features section. 

Sports Editor:

The Sports Editor is responsible for assigning coverage of sports articles that affect the St. Joe’s community. This includes all events at St. Joe’s Sweeney Field and Maguire Campus, as well as the Michael J. Hagan ’85 Arena. City and national sports events may also be covered. The Sports Editor edits and proofreads all articles that are published in the Sports section. 

Assistant Editors:

The assistant editor will work closely with their section editor to learn editing responsibilities according to the definitions put forth by each section editor. The responsibilities of an assistant editor will therefore vary depending upon the section of The Hawk to which they are assigned, but may include: pitching stories, writing and editing stories, laying out a page and communicating with other members of the section. Assistant editor positions are available in: News, Opinions, Features and Sports. 

Reporters:

The responsibilities of a reporter involve writing articles (including research, interviews, etc.) on a weekly or biweekly basis as assigned by each section editor. Ideal reporters will have strong writing skills, knowledge of journalism and be excellent with communication. Reporter positions are available in News, Features and Sports.

Hawk Columnists:

The responsibilities of a Hawk columnist involve writing columns on a weekly or biweekly basis. Ideal columnists have strong writing skills and communicate their opinion clearly, with well-supported evidence and citations. Columnist positions are available primarily in Opinions (see the Opinions Guidelines page for more information). However, some Features and Sports columnists positions may be available as well. Features columnists often write pieces on a specific topic in the arts, entertainment or pop culture, such as reviews. Sports columns are often analytical pieces, expressing an opinion or prediction about a specific sports team or topic.

Photo Editor:

The Photo Editor is responsible for assigning photos and keeping track of all photo assignments and photographers each week. Ideal Photo Editors will have experience with Adobe Creative Suite, especially Photoshop and InDesign. The Photo Editor and their team ensure that all photos requested by section editors are ready with captions on deadline. The Photo Editor must have meticulous organization. The Photo Editor prepares all photos for production.

Photographers:

The responsibilities of a photographer/photojournalist include: working with the Photo Editor and reporters to cover events on campus, writing captions or cutlines, and preparing the photos for publication. Ideal photographers will be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop and InDesign) or Lightroom, and be proficient with a DSLR camera. Photographers are expected to photograph at least one to two stories per week. 

Creative Director:

The Creative Director is responsible for the weekly design and production of the paper. The Creative Director is also responsible for assigning graphics/illustrations and keeping track of all assignments and members of the creative team each week. The Creative Director should have experience with the Adobe Creative Suite, and will work with section editors in designing each section in InDesign. The Creative Director makes final decisions regarding layout. The Director also designs the front page in conjunction with the Editor-in-Chief and section editors. They will supervise the design of pages before each issue is published.

Graphics Editors:

The Graphics Editor will report to the Creative Director. Graphics Editors will create weekly graphics by deadline, as requested by section editors. Graphics Editors will also assist with page layout and design, and should be proficient in the Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign and Illustrator. The Hawk is looking for individuals adept in creating illustrative graphics, infographics and other designs. Graphics Editors may also assist with design for more complex social media posts and similar projects.

Illustrators:

The Illustrator will be skilled in illustration and design, with art/drawing experience. Illustrators may create illustrations to accompany article/columns, or may develop an illustrated column in the form of a single- or multi-panel illustration that comments on a topic or theme relevant to the St. Joe’s community.

Multimedia Editor:

In consultation with the EIC and section editors, the Multimedia Editor is responsible for researching, developing and producing video, audio, text and other multimedia news-based content. Examples of this include 1-to-2 minute (TV) news inserts, 2-3 minute audio (radio) stories, and web-based graphics.

Online Editor:

The Online Editor is responsible for producing and maintaining The Hawk’s website (www.sjuhawknews.com). The Online Editor uploads all articles, pictures, and other content to the website weekly and maintains The Hawk’s online presence. Additionally, the Online Editor works in collaboration with the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor and Social Media Manager to develop special projects and web-based content. 

Social Media Editor:

The Social Media Editor is responsible for sharing The Hawk’s news coverage via its established social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Long-term goals include expanding web presence by creating and maintaining additional accounts on newly developing networking sites in order to increase online readership. Ideal Social Media Editors will have experience in journalism, Adobe Creative Suite and Canva. Social Media Editors have a strong sense of what news is most relevant to be published on The Hawk’s social channels, and should be equipped to transform articles into social media stories.

Social Media Coordinators:

Social Media Coordinators will report to the Social Media Editor, completing tasks related to maintaining The Hawk’s social media presence. This may include brainstorming ideas for posts across multiple platforms, creating the graphics for social media content, writing captions, examining analytics and more. This is a beginner-level social media position.

Business Managers:

The Business Manager is responsible for overseeing and being the leading force of the sales team, which solicits advertisements from St. Joe’s departments, local businesses and national advertising agencies and/or companies. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Set budget in collaboration with Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor and other Hawk leadership
• Handle accounts payable, ensuring all payments due to vendors, etc. are paid in a timely fashion
• Handle accounts receivable, ensuring all payments due to The Hawk are paid in a timely fashion by providing and organizing insertion orders and invoices and following up on each as necessary
• Set financial and advertising vision for the future of newspaper
• Create and service new and existing advertiser accounts
• Maintain and grow advertising clients for ads in weekly print issues
• Develop new advertising and business initiatives
• Manage finances for The Hawk’s annual commencement issue

Assistant Business Managers:

The Assistant Business Manager will assist with any and all aspects of The Hawk’s business team, as needed by the Business Manager.

Distribution Managers:

The Distribution Manager is responsible for delivering The Hawk newspaper to stands across St. Joe’s Hawk Hill and University City campuses each Wednesday morning. The Distribution Manager will also manage the distribution team, ensuring each drop-off location is covered and doing outreach for faculty/departmental deliveries. The Distribution Manager will also keep track of pick-up rates, make suggestions for new delivery locations and refill delivery locations as needed.

Assistant Distribution Manager:

Assistant Distribution Managers will support the Distribution Manager in delivering The Hawk newspaper across St. Joe’s campuses. Assistant Distribution Managers will deliver to assigned locations each week and will retrieve any remaining issues that were not picked up from the previous week.