IV Leader Staff

All part- and full-time students at Illinois Valley Community College are eligible for a position on the IV Leader staff. Positions are advertised yearly, and appointments are usually made for the school year.

Selection of the editor is normally made before the start of the fall semester. The editor is selected by the faculty adviser; other staff decisions are made by the editor in consultation with the adviser.

Editor-in-chief

The editor is responsible for the overall function of the newspaper and its contents. The editor’s function is to insure full coverage of campus news. The editor’s responsibilities are to:

• Select and supervise staff
• Conduct staff meetings as scheduling allows
• Provide leadership in the formation of editorial policy
• Write or assign the writing of editorials for each issue
• Check all copy, photos, cartoons, headlines, etc. for conformation to journalistic style, ethics and law.
• Assign copy, photos to appropriate pages for layout
• Assist the adviser in the training of staff members
• Check the coverage of news events by beat reporters, making suggestions in advance for those reporters and reassigning or personally covering beats as necessary
• Assign reporters to news events not covered by beat reporters and to major news events which may require special handling or contacts with several sources
• Consult with the photo editor for the assignment of photos as needed to accompany news stories
• Consult with and supervise other editors.
• Supervise newspaper website and social media accounts.
• Assume other duties as required

 Managing/Associate Editor

The managing editor works with the editor-in-chief to plan and organize each issue’s content and help editors, reporters, and writers research and create interviews for stories. The responsibilities are to:

• Acquire contact information of entire staff from editors to reporters to communicate responsibilities and to help individuals find resources for their stories
• Communicate with the college’s organizations on their upcoming events and goals for each issue
• Conduct surveys and questioners with students and staff on relevant issues to the college
• Help layout pages and design with the editors
• Assume other duties as required

 News Editor

The news editor is responsible for layout and content of the news pages. The responsibilities are to:

• Layout pages for press, which includes fitting copy, writing captions, fitting and labeling photos, illustrations and other artwork, writing headlines.
• Communicate with the editor and adviser on story, column and feature ideas for the section.
• Communicate with the photo editor about needed photos and illustrations and upcoming stories
• Coordinate and supervise columnists, reporters and photographers (as needed).
• Write stories, columns when needed
• Read and edit all copy for grammar and style. The copy should conform to standards of written American English and the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.
• Assume other duties as required

 Opinion Page Editor

The opinion page editor is responsible for layout and content of the opinion pages. The responsibilities are to:

• Layout pages for press, which includes fitting copy, writing captions, fitting and labeling photos, cartoons and other artwork, writing headlines.
• Assist the editor with the writing or idea generating for the editorial
• Coordinate and supervise columnists, including the student trustee, and cartoonists
• Ensure the staff box and letters policy are both placed on the pages.
• Write columns when needed
• Read and edit all copy for grammar and style. The copy should conform to standards of written American English and the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.
• Assume other duties as required

 Arts and Entertainment Editor

The arts and entertainment editor is responsible for layout and content of the arts and entertainment pages. The responsibilities are to:

• Layout pages for press, which includes fitting copy, writing captions, fitting and labeling photos, illustrations and other artwork, writing headlines.
• Communicate with the editor and adviser on story, column and feature ideas for the section.
• Communicate with the photo editor about needed photos and illustrations and upcoming stories
• Coordinate and supervise columnists, reporters and photographers (as needed).
• Write stories, columns when needed
• Read and edit all copy for grammar and style. The copy should conform to standards of written American English and the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.
• Assume other duties as required

 Sports Editor

The sports editor is responsible for layout and content of the sport pages. The responsibilities are to:

• Layout pages for press, which includes fitting copy, writing captions, fitting and labeling photos, illustrations and other artwork, writing headlines.
• Communicate with the editor and adviser on story, column and feature ideas for the section.
• Organize reporters and photographers to attend all sporting events with the help of photo editor
• Coordinate statistics, media, and information from sporting events with columnists to generate stories
• Write stories when needed
• Read and edit all copy for grammar and style. The copy should conform to standards of written American English and the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.
• Assume other duties as required

 Photo Editor

The photo editor is responsible for acquiring and editing of all photos needed for a publication. The responsibilities are to:

• Communicate with editors of each section for illustrations and photos needed for all stories
• Supervise and schedule all photo assignments with photographers or personally handle assignments if necessary
• Supervise staff in use of equipment: cameras, recorders, etc.
• Have all photo files edited along with any information needed with each image (people’s names, locations, and captions) turned in on deadline
• Check all photos for conformation to journalistic style, ethics and law.
• Fulfill other duties assigned by the editor

Copy Editors

Read and check all columns, news, charts, and photos for uniformity of design and for grammar and style conforming to the standards of written English and the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.

 Website Designer

The website designer manages the IV Leader site from functionality to aesthetics. The responsibilities are to:

• Learn the SNO site and all the relevant features needed to manage the website
• Control the overall design of the site in relationship to the staff
• Update and post all stories, photos, and statistics as created by the staff
• Work with the social media manager to keep a social media presence using all relevant mediums: website, twitter, flickr, youtube, Facebook.
• Assume other duties as required

Columnists

A columnist writes opinion pieces that go along with a section of the paper. A columnist writes about topics that are relevant to readers about arts, entertainment, sports, or any other topical things happening locally or nationally. A columnist can have a re-occurring section in each issue or write something different each time

Reporters/News writers

A reporter gathers all information on a news worthy event, including interviews, in effort to produce an objective news story that goes along with grammar and style of written English language and the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.

Sports Writer

A sports writer covers and writes a story on college sporting events in association with the sports editor. A sports writer can also write opinion or feature pieces on local or national sport topics.