PAID REPORTING OPPORTUNITY SPRING SEMESTER, 2010.
Students who have successfully completed NEWS 202 are invited to apply for paid positions as reporters for a report to be written in the spring and summer, 2010. The report will detail the 30 years of work by INTSORMIL.
INTSORMIL is an international research project headquartered at UNL and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Scientists at six land-grant universities work on the project in the U.S. and in Africa and Central America. Their goal is to develop varieties of sorghum and pearl millet that will resist drought, disease and pests while increasing production and would, therefore, be good cash crops for farmers in those parts of the world. (INTSORMIL = INTernational SORghum and MILlet and Other Grains Collaborative Research Support Program.)
The College of Journalism and Mass Communications is partnering with INTSORMIL to support students who will be selected to report on the program's work. Seven students, including at least one with videography or photography experience, will be accepted for the project. Their task will be to write three articles during the spring semester to fulfill most of their assignments in NEWS 498, advanced science writing.
During spring break, students will be assigned to travel to other land-grant universities in the U.S. where INTSORMIL research is underway. On that assignment, the students will do the reporting necessary to write feature stories on INTSORMIL scientists and projects at those universities. The INTSORMIL project will pay all travel expenses (air fare and lodging plus a per diem for meals). Students will also receive pay for their work at a rate of $10 an hour for a 40-hour week.
Students who successfully complete this work will be reimbursed $500 for tuition and fees for NEWS 498.
Three of the seven students will be chosen to travel to Africa or Central America during the summer for a month to write feature stories about INTSORMIL scientists and projects. The INTSORMIL project will pay all travel expenses and $10 an hour (for 40 hours a week up to four weeks).
Application deadline is noon, Friday, October 30. To be considered for this project, please deliver hard copies of an application letter, resume and work samples to Carolyn Johnsen, College of Journalism and Mass Communications, Andersen Hall, Room 243. Your application letter must not exceed one page; it must explain your interest in this project and state your willingness to travel during the spring and summer of 2010 (as described above).
NEWS 498 meets on Wednesdays, 1:30-4:20 in Room 333, Andersen Hall.
With questions, contact Carolyn Johnsen: 472-5840 or cjohnsen2@unl.edu.
