Professional experience desired.
Please send resume and cover letter to MHNO, 92 Congress St. Portland, Me. 04101
or email it to liz@stlawrencearts.org
Deadline: January 5, 2009
About the Organization:
The Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization, founded in 1979, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing the residential, business and organizational community on the East End of Portland. It supports worthy causes, educates and informs residents about important issues, and seeks to improve the general quality of community life in the neighborhood. The Observer is not only a newspaper, but the voice of the MHNO.

Position summary:
This is a part-time position. The Editor is in charge of managing the process. He or she has directly related skills in composition, editing and layout. He or she need not live on Munjoy Hill but should appreciate the Hill and its energy for life. The Editor has the capability to manage volunteers, interact well with the Observer Committee, the Board of Directors, and community members, and to publish a great newspaper on schedule every month. The Editor supervises reporters and ensures adequate coverage of the templated content. The Editor is accountable to the Board. He or she collects comments and suggestions from the Observer Committee and collaborates on developing content on a regular basis.

Specifically, the Editor's tasks include--

Author, proofread and copy-edit content
Ensure that all content adheres to established standards and style guides (InDesign) before submission for publishing, including: proofreading, grammar, spelling, word usage, readability, and consistency, fact-checking of references, and general quality control
Collaborate with Observer Committee throughout the production process
Oversee finances, keep the Observer within budget, and in a self-sustaining fashion. The Observer relies entirely on advertising and donations.
Reach out to the entire community in ways that stimulate support for the newspaper and its readers
Work with the advertising staff and volunteers to improve work flow, increase advertising revenue, advise on ad placement, initial approval to print based on evidence of payment
Manage and mentor volunteers and contributors, assign stories, review assignments and approve them for publication
Work with layout designer(s) who may or may not from time to time as the need may arise be paid a fee for this service on a part time basis.
Maintain objectivity

Following qualifications preferred:

Professional experience copyediting, editing, writing
Proficient with computer programs such as Excel, Word, InDesign
Bachelor's or advanced degree
Proficiency in accepted copy editing standards, including MLA guidelines, and an understanding of publishing with the ability to identify erroneous content
Compensation:
The Editor is paid a set fee for a 16- page Observer each month twelve months a year. The Editor is expected to use the help of volunteers to a good extent but maintain strong and direct control over published content.

The MHNO owns its own building at 92 Congress Street. The computer with the publishing software InDesign already installed is in the building. The building is shared in separate space with the Community Policing Center of Munjoy Hill, and is convenient to public transportation. Much of the work of the Editor can take place by e-mail and telephone, but the office is available for meetings, work sessions, layout, organizational matters and for distribution.

To apply for this position, please mail or e-mail your resume with a cover letter and "Editor-YOUR LAST NAME" as the subject of the e-mail to : liz@stlawrencearts.org or to "MHNO 92 Congress ST. Portland, Me. 04101". A writing sample may be requested. Deadline: January 5, 2009