Please note: Writers must be enrolled in at least 6 units at San Diego State. Current employees of Associated Students or volunteers involved in student government may not work for The Daily Aztec in any capacity*, not even as a volunteer.

This application is preliminary and if we contact you there will be further paper work to fill out.

Writers are generally expected to write regular articles for publication, usually one every week. This is a volunteer position. Paid positions (editors, assistant editors, and upper management) are gleaned almost exclusively from well-established, reliable contributors, and these positions often open up at the beginning of every semester.

General requirements and responsibilities for contributors usually include (but aren't limited to) attending a weekly section meeting, pitching multiple story ideas each week, maintaining a regular beat, correctly citing sources, self-editing, and submitting content under a deadline.

Writers should be prepared to show three writing samples, preferably ones that have been previously published. Those without published samples may bring in pieces they feel are representative of their work, and should be prepared to produce samples as requested by the editor. Those who have already been published may be promoted directly to Staff Writer.

*Does not apply to entry-level student employees of facilities administered by Associated Students: the Aquaplex, Aztec Recreation Center (ARC), Viejas Arena, or Mission Bay Aquatic Center.

DA blogs are meant to be fun, fast, and above all helpful. Your blog is filling a spot that our website needs. You'll be required to submit one post a week for a set period during the semester.

While there's a chance your blog will be featured in print, blogs are mainly meant for the website.

Topics: Your topic should remain the same throughout the semester so make sure you stick to it.

Meetings: While you won't meet many times inside the office, be prepared to do so between Monday - Thursday. You’ll meet with the Web Editor at least twice during the semester.

Emails: Because we don’t meet in person you MUST make time to reply to any emails you receive regarding the blog. Communication via email is very important. Try to maintain a 15-hour reply time.

Types of Blogs

J.AM. (Just Another Music Blog): Jam is our music blog covering local and national bands and artists. It's a fun, quick and casual blog meant to introduce people to new artists and to talk about current music news.

DA Style: DA Style is our in-house fashion hub reporting about the latest trends on campus and around the country. This blog is meant for someone who loves fashion and wants to share their style point of view with our readers.

Aztec Gaming: Aztec gaming is our all-things gaming blog.

NOTE: Only JAM is accepting applications for spring 2012.

Applicants may choose to include links to writing samples available online (no more than three). If an applicant has no previous experience being published, he or she will be expected to write two sample articles after being contacted by an editor, before he or she will be accepted as a regular contributor.

These samples should be publishable, and if they meet the standards they may be published; samples which do not meet the standards may result in the writer having a coaching session with the editor and asked to revise and resubmit.

Papers written for class may be used to illustrate a writer's general abilities, but because they are generally too long and rarely contain appropriate content, they will not be accepted as a publishable sample. The applicant will be expected to produce two samples of journalistic news-writing after the interview.