Volunteer with Amplify

Want to get involved with our merry band of writers, editors, creators and organizers?  Have other skills and talents that could support our work? Join us!

Needed skills & tasks

• writing
• editing
• interviewing
• researching (story-related local resources and activism opps)
• copy editing
• fact checking
• language translation (oral or written)
• website content management
• monitoring inbox for story tips
• and more!

A description of several open roles is provided below.

Here's how to connect

If you have any additional questions, please reach out to: storytelling@indivisiblechicagonw.org

Open Volunteer Roles

Assigning Editor

Work with a writer from the start of a story to finish, as a partner, sounding board, and the final guide to publication.

• Set clear goals for the story for tone, angle, length, style, etc.  with the writer before interviews and first draft, in line with expectations from the editorial team
• Review first draft for substance and angle and, if needed, discuss with the writer how they should rewrite
• Edit the final writer draft to improve and match Amplify style
• Work with the writer and editor in chief to finalize edited story to be ready for publication
• Responsible for project management of individual installments (stories, resources, activism lists published around a single theme)

Copyeditor/Proofreader

Edit copy for quality and readability within the existing parameters of the piece. 

• For copyediting: address grammatical errors, consistency, typos, clarity, etc. for finalized copy for stories or pages
• Present suggested edits to assigning editor for stories, writer for pages and discuss with them as needed
• For proofreading: review copy in Ghost layout for any final errors and work with website manager to fix

Reporter

Find stories on the Northwest Side that match Amplify goals.

• Talk with sources and individuals to find people or groups who will share how they are impacted by the Trump administrations’ policies and those who are helping
• Leads may come from editorial board, through ICNW membership, or from reporter’s own research or contacts
• Reporter may write articles themself, or hand over the story to a writer, depending on circumstances

Writer

Work with Assigning Editor to create articles in a journalistic style that tell the stories of how the Trump administration is impacting the Northwest Side and how people are mitigating damage.

• Interview people and use online research to gather information for a draft.
• Write and as necessary rewrite drafts to tell the story in a lively, informative, and clear way.
• Collaborate with the assigning editor, copyeditor, and editor in chief to produce the best final product.
• Writer may find the story ideas and sources themselves as a reporter, or be assigned a story and sources, depending on the circumstances.

Researcher

Find and curate information for Resources and Activism pages on topics being covered in Amplify; may also help with spot research for stories in the works. 

• Use the web and other resources to determine what organizations are serving Northwest Side communities.
• Use guidelines, research and judgement to determine what to emphasize to Amplify readership.
• Write up copy using Amplify style rules and present to copyeditor. Work with copyeditor to finalize page.
• May be assigned discrete research assignments by a writer or assigning editor to help develop a story. 

Website Manager

Manage website to ensure current and well-organized content. 

• Learn ins and outs of publishing on the Ghost platform, including drafting, editing, publishing, website navigation, and metadata. 
• Ensure that website content is periodically reviewed for dead links, outdated events, etc. 
• Coordinate with SET leading up to publication of new stories to add drafts to website, edit as needed at direction of Assigning Editor and EIC, and ensure signoff from Director before publishing. 

Art Liaison

Responsible for managing communications with ICNW Art Team to provide artwork for Amplify stories and website. 

• Learn and own processes for requesting artwork from the Art Team, following up to ensure art is requested, reviewed, and completed in a timely manner.
• Remain in regular contact with Amplify Assigning Editors and Writers to timely request art from ICNW Art Team. 
• Provide suggestions and direction for requested artwork, to match with tone and substance of story, in collaboration with the Assigning Editors and Writers. 
• Work with Social Media Coordinator to request artwork as needed for one-off promotions, events, etc. 

Social Media Coordinator 

For now, serve as liaison to ICNW promotions team to promote Amplify stories and events on social media. Eventually will grow into developing social media strategy, timeline, and posts for Amplify content and coordinating with ICNW promotions to post. 

• Remain in contact with EIC and Assigning Editors to manage social media calendar and timing for upcoming social media posts (coordinated with regular publications of Amplify content on website)
• Serve as liaison between Amplify and ICNW Promotions team to keep Promotions in the loop about social media needs for Amplify team
• Work with Assigning Editors and Writers to develop social media posts and flag for Director of Storytelling for final review

You can also help by reading and sharing our stories or donating to support our 100% volunteer-powered work.

Thank you for your interest!