Internship at CNN Chicago

CNN's Chicago bureau has a need for an intern this
summer to work with its video collection. If
interested, please send appropriate materials by June
15th to Jennifer Turner, CNN Library at
Jennifer.Turner@turner.com.


Internship - CNN Library – (Chicago)

Please Note: Internships are UNPAID and structured to
last approximately 10-12 weeks, generally in the
format of typical college semesters. A resume and
cover letter are required for application. Please
include days/hours of availability in your cover
letter and three references at the end of your resume.
Students should have a strong academic record (a 3.0
GPA or higher) and good character. Students must
currently be enrolled in and pursuing a Master of
Library Science (MLS) or some variation. Note to
International Students: All international interns will
be required to provide documentation of proper visa
paperwork prior to arrival. Only J1 or F1 student
visas will be accepted. Deadline is June 15th.



Internship Description: The CNN Library functions as
both as a research center and video archive, and
supports worldwide newsgathering and production for
CNN networks and web sites, as well as other Turner
companies.



The Chicago Bureau manages coverage in a 12-state
region that includes Dallas, Denver and all points in
between. It covers a wide range of stories, both
breaking news and scheduled features.



This internship will focus on video cataloging -
assessing the Chicago Bureau’s video for archiving and
then cataloging selected video in the Library content
management system.



Qualifications: Candidate must currently be enrolled
in and pursuing a Master of Library Science (MLS) or
some variation, with an interest in or focus on
journalism or special libraries preferred. Candidate
should have knowledge of Chicago/Midwest current
events and recent history. Candidates should be a
highly motivated self-starter who is detail-oriented
and able to work independently. Effective written and
verbal communication skills are a top priority.



Again, if interested, please send your resume, cover
letter, three references, and hours of availability to
Jennifer Turner, CNN Library at
Jennifer.Turner@turner.com

Database producer opening, Chicago

Company: Chicago Tribune Interactive
Job Title: Database Producer
Description: Chicago Tribune Interactive is looking for someone with a great nose for data and a knack for helping present that data to online users in compelling, innovative ways. This person should be a hybrid journalist-techie -- at home in both worlds and ready to lead its online database efforts.

The ideal candidate will have a record of innovation in online media and a proven ability to execute complex editorial database projects. This is not exclusively a programming position, but it will likely require a great deal of hands-on coding.

The position requires excellent communication and team skills, and a flair for explaining complex concepts and procedures to others in clear and compelling ways.

Duties:

-- Oversee development of useful public interfaces to local data collected by Tribune journalists and third parties. Key content areas include real estate, crime, education and sports.

-- Imagine novel ways for users to interact with information and, where appropriate, contribute to and edit information.

-- Work with the newspaper's database experts, Web editorial staff and product-development teams to plan and execute online database projects

Qualifications:

-- 2-4 years experience with database programming, preferably in a media environment

-- Bachelor's degree in computer science or related technical degree preferred

-- HTML/ DHTML/CSS

-- SQL/MySQL

-- PHP/Perl/Python

-- Web Scraping

-- Basic knowledge of Flash

Additional (nice but not required):

-- JavaScript/XML/AJAX

-- PostGreSQL

-- WEB Frameworks (Django or Ruby on Rails)

-- Google Maps/Yahoo! Maps API


If you are interested in applying, or know someone who would be a great candidate for this position, please direct resumes and cover letters to Ben Estes at bestes@tribune.com.

Student Stipend Applications Sought: $1500 to attend SLA. Deadline: Wed., 4/16

Hey LIS graduate students and recent grads interested in news librarianship: want $1500 to help fund your first trip to the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference? We members of the Vormelker-Thomas Student Stipend Award Committee eagerly await your applications! Complete application instructions are at: http://www.ibiblio.org/slanews/about/vormelker2008.htm.

Selection Criteria:

1. Applicants must be members of the Special Libraries Association when they apply for the stipend.
   
2. Applicants must be attending their first SLA conference.
   
3. Applicants must be graduate students or December 2007 graduates interested in a career in news librarianship.
   
4. Applications must include:
   
   
   • a word-processed essay (500-1,000 words) addressing an issue in news librarianship
     
   • a letter of reference from a news librarian, a news editor, or a faculty member
     
   • a resume
     
   • a list of course work undertaken
     
   • a statement of professional goals
     
   • a statement of what the applicant expects to gain from attending the conference
     
   
   
5. Applications must be e-mailed no later than Wednesday, April 16 at 5 p.m.
   

Yes, it seems like applying for the award is a lot of work, but it's worth it. The money really helps defray the cost of the conference and the award looks pretty on a resume. Few people apply, so your chances of winning are very good. Past winners include a lot of folks who go on to do great things for news librarianship.

Job notice

I haven't been cross posting job offerings from the NewsLib listserv, but got a direct request to post this one:

The Sports Illustrated library has an opening for full-time research librarian. The library provides both reference and in-depth research for Sports Illustrated reporters and writers.

Requirements:

--M.L.S. from ALA accredited school preferred.

--Experience working in a news or special library.

--Extensive experience using various databases (including Nexis, Dialog, Factiva, Autotrack and Accurint) and the internet.

--Knowledge of standard print reference sources.

--Familiarity with cataloging, database design and construction (specifically Inmagic or Filemaker Pro) and archival preservation are also a plus.


Applicant should have excellent communication skills, be creative, flexible and have a broad knowledge of sports.


Please send resumes to:

Joy Birdsong

Sports Illustrated

1271 Ave. of the Americas, 32-318

New York, NY 10020

e-mail: Joy_Birdsong@simail.com

Fax: (212) 522-1719

Going to Internet Libraria 2007?

A few SLA News Division members usually turn up at Internet Librarian. Raise your hand if you're going and keep an eye out for some division members. The conference is from Monday, October 29, through Wednesday, October 31, in Monterey, California. It features a lot of the latest Internet technologies and why librarians should pay attention to them.

Blogging the conference

Thanks to J for posting about the conference. J has also posted some on her own blog.

Here's what I posted on my news research blog a couple days ago:

The News Division blog I started a few years ago for one of the SLA conventions is still available for posting from attendees, but no one has updated the blog in a long time. I've been tempted to at least add job postings there but since I'm not really a member any more (despite occasional contributions to the listserv), have hesitated to do it. If anyone attending the conference is reading this and wants to post to the blog, email me and I'll set you up.

The News Division, however, has a great program for the annual meeting. Hope everyone's having fun! (I would love to be a fly on the wall at this morning's Future of News Libraries seminar just to hear Mark Hannan, Jr, Reference Desk Director at USA Today. His father was my beloved boss, research director at the Washington Post, long ago.)

For news of the meetings, InfoToday's Blog is again covering the convention from inside. The buzz from yesterday and today is mostly about Al Gore, who did a book signing and a keynote speech. Of course there's also an SLA blog by attending members, including, I hope, some News Division members.

SLA Update: Monday

The Special Libraries Association Annual Conference is filled with lots of News Division goodness. I've spent lots of time in News Division sessions, hanging out in the suite, and catching up with our fellow News Division colleagues.

The Denver Post tour last night was terrific. Their new digs are gorgeous. I think we spent more time talking on the 10th floor balcony than we did touring the library, oohing and aahing over its index cards and old photos. Thanks to our colleagues there for hosting us!

Afterward, I walked up the capitol and stood on any number of steps that might or might not be exactly one mile above sea level.

The Future of News Libraries session yesterday might be my favorite session so far. We're in times of great change and we need to learn how to adapt and cope. Learning what our colleagues have been through was inspiring. Nora Paul's review of technology and images was fabulous.

I know quite a few of you are really eager to find out what's happening at the conference. I've got too many balls in the air right now to do an adequate job of covering everything in real time, but I hope to be able to post notes here and on j's scratchpad eventually.