We Need YOU!

With Animated Views up and running, and a planned revamp for Animated News in the works, we’re on the lookout for some new contributors for both sites!

There’s no programming or HTML experience necessary (you’ll be given full training on our very easy posting process) and we have a number of flexible positions that can be tailored to the amount of time applicants feel they can realistically contribute. Our placements might especially suit those who would like to run their own sites but without the amount of time a solo enterprise demands.

We have various places open with ample room for moving around to different sections of both sites, and for the right people to make a splash in their chosen applications. All we ask is that you’re dedicated and take your participation seriously.

Here’s what we’re looking for…

NEWS GATHERERS

As one of the most read news sites of its kind on the web, Animated News needs people who regularly search the web for animation stories or naturally come across them during their online hours. We’re looking for several people who can simply locate stories of interest on the web and post the links to our private staff special forum for other staff members to follow up on.

NEWS POSTERS

News Posters don’t have the hassle of actually finding stories, though if you come across some that’s great! You’ll be ready to post the links found by the News Gatherers, emails from site visitors and press releases that will need formatting in the Animated News house style. You’ll be taking submissions to the site and re-wording them for general presentation on the Animated News page.

NEWS EDITORS

We’re looking for someone who can keep a check on the site, make sure duplicate stories don’t turn up on the main page and make sure our items read with correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. Our Senior Editors will still oversee major content changes, but there may be a responsibility to close and merge stories to keep the page fresh.

NEWS REPORTERS

Combining all aspects of the above jobs, we would be looking for dedicated individuals to search for links, chase up their own stories, post and edit them to the front page. The opportunity to cross over to the Animated Views page with selected articles is a high possibility, and we would especially like to hear from people with specific areas of animation expertise.

FEATURE WRITERS

At Animated Views, we’re looking to keep our content rolling in the State Of The Art interviews, Persistence Of Vision historical, and The Wide Wide World Of Toons global roundup sections. Animation knowledge is a must, though those with good research skills and the right enthusiasm will be considered. You’ll be asked to contribute at least one or two feature-length articles of suitable depth per month.

REVIEWERS

As a review site, reviewers are obviously important! Our Toon Review section aims to inform with entertaining takes on the latest animated features, soundtracks, books, merchandise and events. You’ll be providing your reviews under your own steam for many of your pieces but occasional freebies may be sent out. However this should not be a reason for applying. Again, opportunity for crossover to other section positions is high.

REVIEWERS – TELEVISION

We’re looking for enthusiastic and well-written people to cover the latest TV-on-DVD releases. You’ll have knowledge of the current television animation scene as well as a certain level of classic animation awareness. This is an “as and when” opening, with screener copies offered where available, though a continued stream of your own reviews would be expected in gap periods.

REVIEWER – YOUNGER AUDIENCE TITLES

While animation isn’t just for kids, the truth is that a lot of it is! With the advent of more and more pre-school shows making their way to DVD, we’re looking for someone to review these titles in a timely manner. This position would suit a parent who could provide commentary on such releases as guidance for other parents. Reviews, which would follow our general layout, will be “as and when”, with screeners supplied. There would be no expectation for titles to be covered from your own libraries, but we would not discourage this if offered!

REVIEWER – JAPANIMATION/ANIME/MANGA

As an area of animation sorely lacking at Animated News & Views we are looking to build up our coverage of this unique and successful segment of the animation pie. Absolutely expert knowledge, good writing skills, and the time to dedicate to the many releases each month, we would be primarily requesting round-up reviews on the more mainstream and established brands as opposed to the relentless franchise splinters. Screeners will be requested as this section of the site starts to become more established, and there may be a need for news coverage as well on the most major stories in this area.

COMPETITION MANAGER

We’re looking for someone to organize, run and source new contests, giveaways and prize competitions. Most of our opportunities come direct from distributors eager to promote their latest titles, but taking the initiative during down times and setting up your own contests would be a plus. Responsibilities would include the setting up of content for the Contest Corner section and the announcement of the winning names under our guidelines. There would be no physical handling of the prizes, and no shipping costs incurred on your part.

MANAGERS - NEW RELEASES

As someone who will head up our Calendar section, you’ll be keeping your ear to the ground in order to keep our listings for Theatrical and DVD Releases up to date, sorting the routine catalog disc titles from the collectors editions that we’re really interested in! For someone with a little more time, you’d be doing that plus sifting through online stories, heading up and adding regularly to keep our Rumored Rumblings section alive. You should have good knowledge of upcoming releases, be on the lookout for new announcements, and an interest in what makes good DVD releases special, or maybe perhaps an ear for good juicy gossip and a way to write it up as compelling content!

FORUM MONITORS

The AN&V Forums are always abuzz with interesting conversation, exciting news and friendly members, but sometimes a topic can get a little over enthusiastic! As a family of sites that are proud to refer to themselves as PG-rated, you would be someone we could count on to keep an eye on the Forums for questionable comments and inappropriate behavior. Editing of messages and banning of members may be subject to the Senior Editors’ decisions, but we do need a monitoring of our boards and reporting back to us on unruly participants, as well as those who might show an interest in joining our team!

ADDITIONAL STAFF

If you can’t see yourself filling any of the openings above, but would still like to assist the running of the sites, we’re looking for people we can call upon to fill in where needed, from assisting in our Forums, to writing up pieces for our News page, occasional features for our Views pages, and maintaining our regular MIA-DVD, Rumored Rumblings and DVD Easter Egg features. You will be good writers, able to think for yourselves and happy to help out often without credit. Naturally, there is much room for promotion for the right people to whichever areas they demonstrate a clear affinity towards.

A NOTE ON ALL POSITIONS:

Animated News & Views is an always working-in-progress set of sites, created and maintained by fans for fans. It is completely self-run without any affiliation, sponsorship or advertising, and in many cases applicants will be working and writing for the love of the medium. As we have grown, we have attracted the interest of several companies, studios and individuals. The occasional exciting, one of a kind perks often crop up, but these should not be expected or your only consideration when applying for a role within our team.

We’re also very open, with a friendly working environment and happy to take on board suggestions from even the newest staff for new features and changes. Although there is no outright payment, we do adhere to a professional approach with standard guidelines that we request be followed. As such, you’ll be working under an established group who reserve the right to edit pieces for style purposes, while on content issues the writer will be consulted. While all roles are essentially voluntary, your accepted application constitutes an agreement that we expect to be taken seriously.

All positions are open to international applicants as in the current situation where we have contributors from various regions, but Animated News & Views is primarily an American-based website and you will be asked to contribute with a US English outlook in mind. We request that, while you participate in Animated News & Views you do not contribute content to any other similarly themed website that could be seen as a conflict of interest.

All stories and features will be credited to the original writer/poster though content remains the copyright of Animated-News.com and Animated-Views.com and may not be reproduced without permission. But we’re nice about things like that.

Please apply privately via e-mail to ben(at)animated-views.com or james(at)animated-news.com for any position listed above, or sign up at our Forum and introduce yourself in this thread. The closing date for applications is May 31 2007. You may include any background info to support your submission but attachments will not be accepted. Good luck and thanks for your interest in the Animated News & Views family.

(Ref: AN&V-JOBS-MAY-07).