Application for KSV Columnist

Position Description
The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition is seeking youth columnists for the student-run LGBTQ news source, the Keystone Student Voice. KSV Columnists are responsible for writing one editorial each month, sharing their opinion on an LGBTQ related topic of the writer’s choosing. This position is an excellent opportunity for young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians to have their voices heard. Applicants should have excellent writing skills, knowledge of journalistic ethics, and a deep understanding of queer issues. The KSV encourages young leaders working in niche areas of the larger community to use this opportunity as a platform for addressing under-represented themes, such as pressing issues within queer people of color and trans Pennsylvania communities. This position requires a time commitment of approximately five hours a month.

Applications Accepted on a Rolling Basis

Duties and Responsibilities
• Remain informed and up-to-date on queer news and issues
• Write editorials as assigned
• Meet deadlines as given
• Understand journalistic ethics and queer issues
• Provide reputable sources for articles
• Be available for contact by PSEC staff
• Understand basic word processing

About the Keystone Student Voice
The Keystone Student Voice is an online, youth-written queer news source reporting on issues which matter to Pennsylvania youth. KSV posts have generated upwards of 5,000 readers and broken national headlines. Topics reported upon in the KSV include queer issues specific to Pennsylvania schools, such as the formation of high school GSAs and gender-neutral housing in universities; legislation which will affect queer Pennsylvanians; profiles on youth leaders in the community; and opinion-editorials. Articles from the KSV have been quoted in news sources such as The Advocate and Philadelphia Inquirer, and republished in LGBTQ publications throughout Pennsylvania, including the Central Voice.

About the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition
PSEC is an entirely youth-led and youth-run organization dedicated to advocacy across the Keystone state on safe schools and issues relating to LGBTQ youth. Comprised of leaders from youth-led organizations across Pennsylvania, we work in educational institutions and local communities on behalf of LGBTQ young people.

Please direct all questions regarding the position to Victoria Martin, PSEC Director of External Communications, at vmartin@pennsec.org.

KSV Columnist Application for 2013 – 2014

KSV Columnist Application
  • Name*Full Name
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  • Current Location*
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  • Phone Number*Cell Phone Number
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  • Email Address*
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  • Your School*
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  • Graduation Year*Expected Graduation
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  • Briefly list your relevant experience in journalism*
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  • Please explain why you would like to write for the Keystone Student Voice*200 word max.
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  • Column Themes*Please list two ideas you have for your column's theme, and why the focus areas are important to you. 150 word max.
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  • Writing Sample*Please submit a writing sample of an editorial you have written (500-1000 words). It can be something that has been published in a school newspaper or from a class, but should demonstrate your ability to be clear and persuasive in your writing. Upload
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    • If my application is accepted, I will dedicate the necesary resources to ensure on-time and high-quality editorials for the KSV.*
      Yes
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