JOBS
As a creative company, we don’t have a list of jobs that we are looking to fill. Creative people don’t tend to fit neatly into pre-determined job slots, and multi-tasking is the norm rather than the exception. So we look for people with skills that could complement those in the team, and the initiative and motivation to enjoy the freedom of working in a company such as Graphic News.If you think you could contribute to Graphic News, contact Fiona Roberts via the Contact Us link on the website.
Graphic Journalist / Designer .....
The infographics produced by Graphic News are created by graphic journalists, that are not only expected to be able to be able to tell news stories visually using artwork and design together with words and picture elements, but to be able to identify stories of topical interest and obtain the information needed.
At Graphic News the graphic designers come from a creative background with their primary training in art, graphics, illustration and/or design. They then learn how to select news stories and tell them visually, do their own research and write captions. Graphic designers working for other companies may have different expectations and not being told what to draw may therefore come as a shock.
As the graphics produced will be modified and edited by others, and will be published via a variety of presses and websites of varying age and construction, it is not just the information and visual content that is important, but also the way in which the graphics are constructed. Technical skills are therefore required. Experienced artists working for publishers without these constraints may find it impossible to change their methods - like asking a watercolour artist to work in oil.
If you want to compare your skills with those expected for a graduate graphic designer at Graphic News download this Strengths and Weaknesses assessment questionnaire. This should be completed not only by a graphic designer themselves but also by their supervisors/co-workers, and the results compared. The intention is to identify strengths as well as weaknesses. People often underestimate their strengths because these are the areas they find easy, but understanding these can give the confidence needed to seek out appropriate help from other members of the team or to seek out appropriate training.
In addition to the graphic designers in the core team, Graphic News also commissions artwork from specialist illustrators and artists. It is always a pleasure to see the work of other graphic artists and designers. Sometimes the presentation of a cv suggests an opportunity that would not otherwise have been considered by us, and sometimes somebody comes to us and suggests a project because of their unique skills and interests.
At Graphic News the graphic designers come from a creative background with their primary training in art, graphics, illustration and/or design. They then learn how to select news stories and tell them visually, do their own research and write captions. Graphic designers working for other companies may have different expectations and not being told what to draw may therefore come as a shock.
As the graphics produced will be modified and edited by others, and will be published via a variety of presses and websites of varying age and construction, it is not just the information and visual content that is important, but also the way in which the graphics are constructed. Technical skills are therefore required. Experienced artists working for publishers without these constraints may find it impossible to change their methods - like asking a watercolour artist to work in oil.
If you want to compare your skills with those expected for a graduate graphic designer at Graphic News download this Strengths and Weaknesses assessment questionnaire. This should be completed not only by a graphic designer themselves but also by their supervisors/co-workers, and the results compared. The intention is to identify strengths as well as weaknesses. People often underestimate their strengths because these are the areas they find easy, but understanding these can give the confidence needed to seek out appropriate help from other members of the team or to seek out appropriate training.
In addition to the graphic designers in the core team, Graphic News also commissions artwork from specialist illustrators and artists. It is always a pleasure to see the work of other graphic artists and designers. Sometimes the presentation of a cv suggests an opportunity that would not otherwise have been considered by us, and sometimes somebody comes to us and suggests a project because of their unique skills and interests.
Page Editor / Proofer .....
Graphics need proofing, to check that the message is clear and interesting, that the information is accurate, and that the words in the captions read well and are spelt correctly. This is normally done by an independent editor/proofer
In addition, because the Graphic News website receives so many visitors simply interested in world news, the story pages pages displaying the graphics are checked as well. Sufficient background is needed, either in the graphic or in the accompanying words/story, to make the page stand alone as a news story.
Editors need:
• A wide general knowledge
• Impeccable English grammar and spelling
• Editorial experience in news media and news judgement
• Good visual skills and empathy with artists (but not necessarily training in the visual arts)
They can work full-time or part time, and remote working is possible
In addition, because the Graphic News website receives so many visitors simply interested in world news, the story pages pages displaying the graphics are checked as well. Sufficient background is needed, either in the graphic or in the accompanying words/story, to make the page stand alone as a news story.
Editors need:
• A wide general knowledge
• Impeccable English grammar and spelling
• Editorial experience in news media and news judgement
• Good visual skills and empathy with artists (but not necessarily training in the visual arts)
They can work full-time or part time, and remote working is possible
Journalist .....
News graphics are only as good as the stories and information on which they are based. So we spend a lot of time looking for suitable stories and researching for information. We also spend a lot of time on forward planning.
So please contact us if you are a journalist and would like to suggest events that would make good graphics, and would like to write a story to go with the graphic.
So please contact us if you are a journalist and would like to suggest events that would make good graphics, and would like to write a story to go with the graphic.
Internship .....
Internships are offered when suitable opportunities arise. Because Graphic News is a relatively small company it is possible for an intern to get an overall understanding of the news business and how a news agency operates. The position could be for 3, 4 or 5 days a week. (Many students find it difficult to work 5 days a week at the beginning and need the freedom to have some time to pursue other activities.) The position would be suitable for a bright school-leaver (looking for work experience before going to University) or new graduate based in London seeking work experience.
The primary responsibility is to send out e-alerts, rss, twitter and other social media feeds, etc. giving information about new graphics and advance notice about graphics in preparation.
A variety of other projects are possible depending on the expertise of the individual. Projects in the past have included:
• Marketing -- Preparing and sending mailshots or e-alerts and social media feeds
• Writing -- Researching and writing stories to complement graphics
• Support for new translators working remotely (expertise in Adobe Illustrator required)
• Producing the On This Day series of graphics, taking previously selected words and editing these in Illustrator to fit the space. This is a good starting project for somebody with words skills that hasn’t used Illustrator before
• Reformatting archive graphics to modern standards, and checking the formatting of new graphics
Technical training would be given so it would not be necessary for a candidate to have prior experience of Mac computers, Filemaker, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or other software.
Payment is at trainee level with the possibility of increments as skills increase.
The primary responsibility is to send out e-alerts, rss, twitter and other social media feeds, etc. giving information about new graphics and advance notice about graphics in preparation.
A variety of other projects are possible depending on the expertise of the individual. Projects in the past have included:
• Marketing -- Preparing and sending mailshots or e-alerts and social media feeds
• Writing -- Researching and writing stories to complement graphics
• Support for new translators working remotely (expertise in Adobe Illustrator required)
• Producing the On This Day series of graphics, taking previously selected words and editing these in Illustrator to fit the space. This is a good starting project for somebody with words skills that hasn’t used Illustrator before
• Reformatting archive graphics to modern standards, and checking the formatting of new graphics
Technical training would be given so it would not be necessary for a candidate to have prior experience of Mac computers, Filemaker, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or other software.
Payment is at trainee level with the possibility of increments as skills increase.
Representative .....
In addition to referrals, Graphic News has regional representatives to support customers in different time zones and languages, and to promote sales
We are always happy to receive introductions to publishers that might be interested in using the Graphic News Service, and offer a “thank you” referral fee for such introductions.
Regional representatives work with Graphic News on a more on-going but part-time basis, and receive a retainer plus bonus (dependent on sales and workload)
• Background in news/media and/or translation and/or public relations/sales
• Good organisational skills
• Native speaker
• Broadband line
• Mac computer an advantage
Training would be given as necessary and job descriptions tailored to the background of the individual
• Support Graphic News’ existing customers - answer calls and emails in local language
• Help member of London team if/when visiting - make appointments, accompany on meetings to customers and potential media customers
• Proactively approach potential media customers by email, telephone, and mailshots
• Provide feedback to the London office about the use of graphics and needs of customers locally
• Promote the use of graphics in secondary markets such as corporate publications and websites, government organizations and NGOs, magazines, schools, and direct sales
• Could also be a translator.
We are always happy to receive introductions to publishers that might be interested in using the Graphic News Service, and offer a “thank you” referral fee for such introductions.
Regional representatives work with Graphic News on a more on-going but part-time basis, and receive a retainer plus bonus (dependent on sales and workload)
• Background in news/media and/or translation and/or public relations/sales
• Good organisational skills
• Native speaker
• Broadband line
• Mac computer an advantage
Training would be given as necessary and job descriptions tailored to the background of the individual
• Support Graphic News’ existing customers - answer calls and emails in local language
• Help member of London team if/when visiting - make appointments, accompany on meetings to customers and potential media customers
• Proactively approach potential media customers by email, telephone, and mailshots
• Provide feedback to the London office about the use of graphics and needs of customers locally
• Promote the use of graphics in secondary markets such as corporate publications and websites, government organizations and NGOs, magazines, schools, and direct sales
• Could also be a translator.
Translator .....
Graphic News currently supplies graphics translated into Arabic, Dutch, German, Portuguese and Spanish. Other languages would be considered, especially French and Russian, if a suitable translator was identified
Translators receive a monthly retainer plus a “top-up” depending on circumstances. Translators can live anywhere in the world, but need to be native speakers, able to translate from English into their mother tongue, and able to manage their own time so that translated graphics are available with minimal delay. Editorial experience is also needed with a background in news media.
Translators need:
• To be able to translate to fit the space in a succinct editorial style
• Visual awareness so that the typography looks good
• To be able to cover a wide range of subjects
• Accuracy, and to be able to check their own spelling and punctuation
• Good organisational skills so graphics are neat and tidy after being translated and are packaged so they open consistently
When fully trained the procedure is as follows: Translators download graphics, knowing what graphics are new either by looking online or monitoring a team chat group. They then translate the captions in the Adobe Illustrator document, and upload directly to the Graphic News website. The files are then checked in-house.
Of course few translators are able to do all of this to start with, but training and equipment can be provided by Graphic News, so there is rarely any problem learning it all.
For holiday cover, a different procedure is used because the translator may not be familiar with Adobe Illustrator and may not have a Mac. The text for each graphic is available as a text file so that it can be translated or edited in a simple text edit program. Then somebody able to use Adobe Illustrator can replace the English words in the graphic. Many publishers also use this procedure.
Translators receive a monthly retainer plus a “top-up” depending on circumstances. Translators can live anywhere in the world, but need to be native speakers, able to translate from English into their mother tongue, and able to manage their own time so that translated graphics are available with minimal delay. Editorial experience is also needed with a background in news media.
Translators need:
• To be able to translate to fit the space in a succinct editorial style
• Visual awareness so that the typography looks good
• To be able to cover a wide range of subjects
• Accuracy, and to be able to check their own spelling and punctuation
• Good organisational skills so graphics are neat and tidy after being translated and are packaged so they open consistently
When fully trained the procedure is as follows: Translators download graphics, knowing what graphics are new either by looking online or monitoring a team chat group. They then translate the captions in the Adobe Illustrator document, and upload directly to the Graphic News website. The files are then checked in-house.
Of course few translators are able to do all of this to start with, but training and equipment can be provided by Graphic News, so there is rarely any problem learning it all.
For holiday cover, a different procedure is used because the translator may not be familiar with Adobe Illustrator and may not have a Mac. The text for each graphic is available as a text file so that it can be translated or edited in a simple text edit program. Then somebody able to use Adobe Illustrator can replace the English words in the graphic. Many publishers also use this procedure.