Looking to jumpstart your career in journalism? You're in luck — we're looking for the next best group of reporters, writers, photographers, social media strategists and more to join our staff for Spring 2019. And trust me, there's no better place than at The Daily Texan.
By joining our staff, you'll become part of a legacy of alumni that include Pulitzer prize-winning reporters, photographers and columnists. In recent years, staffers have gone on to summer internships at The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, Politico, The Dallas Morning News, The Texas Tribune, and so many more state and national journalism institutions.
But you don't have to be a journalism major. In fact, no matter what you're interested in, you'll find a home and a family during your time at The Daily Texan. But don't just take my word for it — come find out yourself.
We welcome students of all majors and experience levels. Once you submit this form (also embedded below), the editors of the departments you indicate interest in will reach out to you via email once the semester begins. Tryouts last three weeks, starting on the first day of classes, and the process is dependent on each individual department.
Questions, comments, concerns? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. For all other department head emails, check out our contact page.
NEWS
- The news department covers student issues on campus, University policy, the UT administration, the state Legislature, city policy affecting students, crime on campus and so much more. Research reporters produce stories on University research and report to the research editor. Come help us break some news — like this story that first reported the UT Los Angeles director was kept on staff for five years, despite being found guilty of sexual misconduct by an official University investigation in June 2013. No experience required.
Positions: General reporter, research reporter
SPORTS
- The sports department is responsible for reporting on athletics. Although the sports department’s primary focus is Texas athletics, writers also cover local and professional sports and write weekly online columns about a variety of issues in the sports world. Join our staff and help us top this headline — yes, we printed that. Do we regret it? Nope. No experience required.
Positions: Sports reporter
LIFE&ARTS
- The L&A department features content ranging from profiles of campus "characters" — like this story on a familiar University face — to local interests and oddities. The department also runs coverage of local festivals such as South By Southwest and Austin City Limits. The department also features weekly online album, movie and book reviews, as well as recurring columns. No experience required.
Positions: L&A staff writer
- OPINION
- The opinion department includes columnists, cartoonists and editors who work to contribute and solicit columns from the community. The department’s work serves a dual purpose: to reflect, and further inform, the opinions of the University community. No experience required.
Positions: Columnist, opinion illustrator
PHOTO
- Photographers capture visual content to supplement news, sports and Life&Arts stories on a daily basis. They also have the opportunity to work on long-term multimedia projects independent from other departments and produce photo spreads, slideshows and work on special projects. We have the most dedicated, talented photographers around — trust me. No experience required, although familiarity with camera settings is a plus. Tryouts will be required to have access to their own equipment for the tryout period.
Positions: Staff photographer
VIDEO
- The video department produces videos that go alongside stories from reports in other departments, while also tackling separate standalone projects. Apply to the video department to create exciting content to bolster the Texan's online presence — like this video, where staffers from across the newsroom read mean tweets. Tryouts will be required to independently film and edit a video, with advice and coaching from the video editors.
Positions: Staff videographer
SOCIAL MEDIA
- The social media team works to coordinate The Daily Texan's social media accounts to maximize the organization's outreach. Social media staffers work with the Texan's main Twitter account — which boasts the second-largest following among all college media — and use analytics to track the success of its strategies, in addition to managing the Texan's Facebook, Instagram and Reddit accounts. Web producers write fun, humorous and conversational articles and aggregate posts that drive up web traffic — stuff our audience wants to click on. If you think you have a good online voice, particularly on social media, and you have a good eye on what our audience is talking about, the web team is the perfect department for you. No analytics experience required.
Positions: Social media staffer, web producer
ENGAGEMENT
The engagement team oversees the Texan’s engagement initiatives, including our Facebook groups, Curious Campus (and other reader-focused content projects), and events. Engagement reporters answer questions from readers once a week and help moderate the Facebook groups daily. Events planners work with the events team lead to plan small and large events on a bi-weekly, monthly and semester basis. Help us put our readers at the forefront of our coverage — like this story that answered a question from a reader about what happened to the Starbucks inside DKR Stadium. No experience required, though experience with social media strategy is preferred for engagement reporter and marketing/advertising experience is preferred for events planner.
Positions: Engagement reporter, events planner
NEWSLETTERS
The newsletters team writes copy for the digital front page of the Texan and keeps an engaged audience up-to-date with daily briefings, special investigative projects and political news from the 86th Texas Legislature. Ideal candidates will be able to write fast, and keep the words sharp and catchy. We want to humanize the stories that our amazing reporters tell. Think of it as telling your friend about the most important campus happenings. Make them ask for more — that is, click! Newsletters writers work once a week writing for our morning brief — the Daily Digest — and help out on other newsletters. No experience required.
Positions: Newsletters writer
DESIGN
- The design department makes note of all stories and art for each print issue and lays out the pages each night. Issue designers work one night a week. Digital illustrators help make graphics and logos for social media, digital promotion and special projects. The department often works on special design projects such as in-depth packages and special issues. Help us design the next best front page — like this one. No experience required, though familiarity with InDesign is a plus.
Positions: Issue designer, digital illustrator
COPY
- Staff copy editors are responsible for fact-checking stories from all departments and reading for AP style. Copy staffers work to strengthen content across all departments and gain skills in writing headlines and editing. Join our staff and help us write the next eye-catching headline. No experience required, though familiarity with AP style is a plus.
Positions: Copy editor
AUDIO
- The audio department provides audio clips and embeds that supplement storytelling for other departments and special projects, while also producing podcasts of weekly content and analysis. No experience required, but experience with audio editing software and/or broadcast journalism is a plus.
Positions: Audio producer
COMICS
- The comics department focuses primarily on the daily comics, filling the section with new, original content produced by comics artists. Artists' work may include comics for the printed page or for the website. Illustrators provide other departments, such as news, opinion and Life&Arts with illustrations to accompany their stories. All artists, animators and illustrators welcome.
Positions: Comics artist, comics illustrator
