Interested in becoming a part of one of the largest independent student-run newsrooms? The Alligator is looking for its next team of reporters, editors, photographers, copy editors, audience engagement strategists and more to move the newspaper forward.
Students will gain professional experiences on deadline in an electrifying newsroom.
The Alligator reporters have covered high-profile events such as white supremacist Richard Spencer’s speech at UF and the Women’s March in D.C. They’ve investigated the education success gap in Alachua County and broken stories about the underfunding of the UF Counseling and Wellness Center.
Our staff has gone onto internships at The New York Times, Sun Sentinel, The Palm Beach Post, Miami Herald, CNN, Tampa Bay Times, Chicago Tribune, Gainesville Sun, Sarasota Herald-Tribune and more.
Being part of The Alligator staff also connects students to a large and diverse distinguished alumni network. Our alumni work at national and local newsrooms, study at Harvard Law School and start public relation firms.
Editor Applications
Click HERE to apply
Applications are due 11:59 p.m. Dec. 7
University Editor
The university editor will lead The Alligator’s coverage on all things related to the University of Florida. This editor will manage the student government reporter, university administration reporter, a news assistant and edit contributor stories focused on the university. The Alligator is looking for someone who is organized, passionate about committed to watching over the powers of the university administration and Student Government. This editor will edit stories for The Alligator’s three day per week print product and daily online content. Stories assigned and edited should range from daily to enterprise stories. Alligator staff writer or editor experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $88 per week
Metro Editor
The metro editor will lead The Alligator’s coverage of Gainesville, Alachua County and Santa Fe College. This person will manage and edit the crime and breaking news reporter, city commission reporter, a news assistant and metro-related contributor stories. Stories assigned and edited should range from daily to enterprise stories. The Alligator is looking for someone who is creative, organized and determined to learn about the Gainesville community. This editor should be prepared to look for interesting and nuanced angles in local stories. The metro editor will edit stories for The Alligator’s three day per week print schedule and daily online content. Alligator staff writer or editor experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $88 per week
Digital News Editor
The digital news editor will be responsible for assigning stories and editing the two general assignment reporters and a news assistant. This editor will also write and edit briefs, advances and story updates to be published online during the day. The Alligator is looking for someone who will scour social media for news stories important to the community, find sources and think of ideas for digital-first angles to engage online readers. Alligator staff writer or editor experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $88 per week
Multimedia Editor
The multimedia editor is responsible for working with photographers and videographers to provide multimedia content for the newspaper and The Alligator website. The editor is responsible for producing some media content while assigning daily and enterprise photo and video assignments for staff photographers and videographers. We’re looking for someone who is passionate about multimedia and is willing to collaborate with reporters to create content. Journalism and communications majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $70 per week
Opinions Editor
The opinions editor is responsible for maintaining the opinions section of The Alligator, choosing columnists and cartoonists to work for the section as well as editing any work that is sent in. The opinions editor is also responsible for consulting with the editor-in-chief and managing editors and writing daily editorials for the paper. Columnist experience is preferred but not required. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student. All majors are encouraged to apply.
Pay: About $50 per week
The Avenue Editor (Entertainment Editor)
The Avenue Editor is responsible for maintaining the entertainment section of The Alligator, choosing writers to work for the section as well as editing any work that is sent in. The Alligator is looking for someone with creative ideas who is in tune with local and national entertainment and pop culture. Previous Avenue or entertainment writing experience is preferred but not required. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student. All majors are encouraged to apply.
Pay: About $35 per week
Copy Desk Chief
Copy Desk Chiefs are responsible for running copy desk and selecting and working with copy editors. Copy Desk Chiefs are in charge of proofreading every story and print pages with copy editors to check for factual errors, grammar and AP style. This person will work one or two print nights. Prior experience on copy desk preferred but not required. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student. All majors are encouraged to apply.
Pay: About $25 a night (Up to two nights per week)
Staff Writer Applications
Click HERE to apply
Applications are due 11:59 p.m. Dec. 7.
Student Government Reporter
This reporter is the sole watchdog of UF’s Student Government, which has a more than $20 million budget funded by student fees. This reporter will be responsible for attending weekly Tuesday night Senate meetings, so applicants’ class schedule should not overlap. During Spring semester, this reporter will follow the SG presidential and Senate election. This will include completing candidate profiles, attending debates and following platform generations. Previously, this reporter has also covered national news such as UF’s Student Body President-elect being arrested and done features such as a historic three black student body president race. This reporter will be assigned stories related to this beat by the university editor but will also be encouraged to pitch his or her own daily and feature story ideas. This reporter will be expected to write an average of four to five stories per week and at least one enterprise or “Feature Friday” story per semester. Previous staff writer and/or contributing writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $10 per story that appears in print. $5 per online-only stories and per briefs.
University Administration Reporter
This reporter is responsible for attending the University of Florida Board of Trustees meetings and writing about updates, changes or announcements dealing with the UF administration. This reporter is also encouraged to dig into demographics of UF faculty, staff and students. Some previous stories done by this beat reporter include UF changing graduation procedures and university negotiations with Graduate Assistants United. This reporter will be assigned stories related to this beat by the university editor but should also pitch his or her own daily and feature story ideas. This reporter will be expected to write an average of four to five stories per week and at least one enterprise or “Feature Friday” story per semester. Previous contributing writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $10 per story that appears in print. $5 per online-only stories and per briefs.
Breaking News and Crime Reporter
This reporter is responsible for covering breaking news and writing about crime on the UF campus and in the Gainesville community. The reporter is expected to write two to three police briefs daily and at least one enterprise or feature story per semester. This reporter will keep up with local breaking news, including serious car crashes that affect traffic and UF Alerts, and follow developing cases. The crime reporter will learn how to search court records, request arrest reports and contact law enforcement. Besides briefs, crime stories can range from following up with a shooting survivor to writing about how many people were kicked out of the stadium during a football game. This reporter is expected to respond quickly to breaking news, attend law enforcement press conferences and update developing stories. This reporter should have a sharp eye for detail and a sense of humor. Previous contributing or staff writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $10 per story that appears in print. $5 per online-only stories and per briefs.
City Commission Reporter
This reporter will be a watchdog of the Gainesville and Alachua County commission. This reporter will be responsible for looking at the agenda for commission meetings and pre-reporting stories important to the community prior. The reporter will attend these meeting to hear out the results of such agenda items, talk to local leaders and write on deadline. This reporter will also be in charge of covering local races and writing candidate profiles. Other general stories pertaining to the growth of the area or its needs will be assigned. This could include news from local schools and safety. This reporter is expected to write 4-5 stories per week and at least one enterprise or “Feature Friday” story per semester. Previous contributing or staff writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $10 per story that appears in print. $5 per online-only stories and per briefs.
General Assignments Reporter (2)
These reporters will be the jack-of-all-trades in the newsroom. They’ll cover any story from university to metro. They’ll be lead by the digital news media editor, who will teach them how to quickly write briefs and breaking news. They’ll also learn the basics of reporting in a multimedia age across digital platforms. These reporters will be expected to write daily briefs, 2-4 stories per week and at least one enterprise or “Feature Friday” story per semester. Previous contributing writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $10 per story that appears in print. $5 per online-only stories and per briefs.
News Assistants (3)
News assistants will be the first people who our desk editors go to when a breaking news story happens and a staff writer needs backup. These positions allow The Alligator to bring in more people willing to work and learn who may not have the same experience as a staff writer. News assistants will learn how to pitch, write and pursue their own stories. They’ll be expected to write 1-3 stories per week. Previous contributing writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
This is an unpaid position
Multimedia Applications
Click HERE to apply
Applications are due 11:59 p.m. Dec. 7
Photographer (2)
Photographers capture the details stories cannot tell on their own. Through speeches, protests, features, sports and daily events on campus, photographers are on the frontlines to preserve the history of the community. Photographers are expected to take 3-4 photos a week that would accompany daily stories and also take photos for the “Feature Friday”. Photographers are also required to complete at least one photo story per month. Although a photographer’s priority is to shoot photos, knowing how to shoot and edit video is also required. Photographers will also be required to produce at least one enterprise feature photo story and accompanying video per semester. This could stand alone or complement an ongoing “Feature Friday”. Previous contributing experience is preferred but not required. Photojournalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $5 per assignment
Videographer
The videographer will be in charge of showing our readers what it’s like to be at an event. This is a new position where the videographer would produce 1-3 professionally filmed and edited videos for online content per week. The videographer will work on videos of weekly important events on campus and the “Feature Friday”. One enterprise feature video per semester will also be required. This could accompany a “Feature Friday” or stand alone. This is a good chance for the videographer to get their content published by news organization and contribute to the growth of The Alligator’s digital space. The Alligator is looking for someone creative that can film and edit video quickly to be placed online. Photojournalism or telecommunications majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $5 per assignment
Graphic Designer
The graphic designer will be a visual communicator to make it easy and fun for readers to interpret hard-hitting stories. This is a new position at The Alligator, aimed at pushing our digital and online content further. Although this position is unpaid, flexible applicants are preferred, but the graphic designer can work at their leisure. The Alligator is looking for someone who would seize the opportunity to get creative and have their work published. Knowledge of data visualizations, illustrations, Adobe programs and an eye for great design are pluses. Journalism and communications majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
This is an unpaid position.
Coder
The coder is a new position to make The Alligator’s stories more interactive. The coder will work primarily with The Alligator’s editors, reporters and multimedia staff to complete an interactive story for Poynter’s College Media Project. The project will allow sections of the newsroom to work together and do something impactful for the community. Knowledge of JavaScript and Python are required. The Alligator is looking for someone innovative and innovative to lend a hand on enhancing the project and working with staff to also enhance their projects and “Feature Friday.” Journalism or computer science majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $700 stipend
Audience Engagement Applications
Click HERE to apply
Applications are due 11:59 p.m. Dec. 7
Social Media Strategist
This strategist will help The Alligator continue to grow its social media presence and audience engagement. The social media strategist will work directly with the Engagement Managing Editor to work on strategizing social media posts and use different platforms. This person will also come up with new ways to reach The Alligator’s audience. The strategist will also gather and analyze social media posts and send reports to the desk editors, Editor-in-Chief and managing editors three times a week. Although this position is unpaid, this will give the strategist a chance to be experimental and gain practical experience in branding and social media. Journalism and communications majors or marketing students are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must either be a UF or Santa Fe College student.
This is an unpaid position.
Engagement Reporter
The engagement reporter will be one of the faces of The Alligator’s brand. This reporter will work under the Engagement Managing Editor to meet with the community to gather story ideas and sources. The reporter will also crowdsource either in person or online for projects and investigations. Answering questions on The Alligator’s social media and hosting Facebook Live chats to communicate with the audience will also be required. This reporter will help work on crowdsourcing for Poynter’s College Media Project. Although this position is unpaid, this will give the engagement reporter a chance to be creative in branding and crowdsourcing for a professional newsroom. Journalism and communications majors or marketing students are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must either be a UF or Santa Fe College student.
This is an unpaid position.
Event Planner
The event planner will put together exciting get togethers for The Alligator’s audience and the university community. The event planner will work with the Engagement Managing Editor to lead the organization of events such as our semesterly open house to welcome contributing writers and introduce them to our staff; organize a table for the audience, university community and interested writers to come to throughout the semester to get information about The Alligator. Other ideas include “Coffee with the Community” and an end-of-the-year community forum for Poynter’s College Media Project. Although this position is unpaid, this will give the event planner the opportunity to learn about event planning and be innovative. Journalism and communications majors or marketing students are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must either be a UF or Santa Fe College student.
This is an unpaid position.
