SoloJourno

Moments before I checked my email (and found a very interesting job posting from MediaStorm - see below), I had just finished reading an article by David Walker from June 2, 2009 which was posted on Photo District News (PDN) called: Multimedia Journalists Discover Life After Newspapers and subtitled: Non-profits, NGOs and corporations are looking for storytellers, and former newspaper photographers are answering the call.

As layoffs continue to decimate newsrooms all over the country, a pressing question for staff photographers is, what is plan B when the pink slip comes? How do you translate your photojournalism skills into some other means of earning a living?

A handful of former newspaper photographers with strong multimedia skills and some entrepreneurial drive are reporting at least one promising lead: the growing demand for story-driven video production from non-profits and corporations trying to build brands and markets through the Web in particular.

“NGOs and corporations are just now starting to see the power of multimedia stories,” says Brian Storm, founder of MediaStorm. “A pr message has no authenticity. It won’t go viral. Organizations are looking for a new way to get their message out, and journalists can play a role in that.”

Here’s the job posting via MediaStorm:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) based in Washington D.C. is ramping-up its communication outreach in the area of multimedia, interactive and video technologies. Key to this outreach is the use of visual story telling to illuminate the work of the Fund and how it affects populations around the World.

Effective immediately, the IMF has an opening for a full-time contractual multimedia storyteller. The position requires an experienced individual capable of producing photographs, video and audio using Adobe and Final Cut Pro applications to tell compelling stories concerning the work of the Fund.

Specifically the position requires capturing and acquiring content and composing stories for distribution to the Internet and Worldwide news media outlets. Some international traveled required. Full benefits provided. All tools provided including a recently constructed HD broadcast capable Multimedia Center.

Send inquiries and include contact information to Phughes@imf.org.

Via Mashable:

Mashable, the top social media blog, is seeking a talented and experienced editorial assistant eager to gain exposure to the online media space, with the desire to build a career as an online editor.

Responsibilities include:
- Provide general editorial support to senior staff, including copyediting and finding relevant links and images for articles
- Research stories
- Maintain relevant documents and calendars
- Assist with interview and panel preparation
- Work on special projects when needed

Requirements/Qualifications:
- Must be based in NYC
- 1- 2 years editorial experience
- Journalism background
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
- Strict attention to detail. Should have experience copyediting
- Hard worker with the commitment to put in extra hours
- Familiarity with WordPress and social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, etc

Submission directions:
- Submit your resume in PDF form only
- Provide links to your LinkedIn, Facebook and/or Twitter profile
- Provide links to three relevant articles written in the past 4 months
- 100 words or less about why you are perfect for this job

Check the job posting and apply online.

Mashable, the top social media blog, is seeking a talented and experienced editor based on the West Coast with a professional journalism background and at least 3 years writing and/or editing at an established news organization.

Via Mashable:

Mashable, the top social media blog, is seeking a seasoned investigative reporter based in the San Francisco Bay Area to research and report on news items.

Responsibilities include:
- Sourcing original stories about the tech and social media world
- Taking regular meetings with companies in the area and going to press events
- Speaking at events and participating in press interviews

Requirements/Qualifications:
- Based in San Francisco Bay Area
- 2-3 years at an established news organization doing investigative reporting
- Journalism background
- Strong understanding of the tech and social media world
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
- Strict attention to detail
- Hard worker with the commitment to put in extra hours
- Familiarity with WordPress and social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, etc

Submission directions:
- Submit your resume in PDF form only
- Provide links to your LinkedIn, Facebook and/or Twitter profile
- Provide links to three relevant articles written in the past 4 months
- 100 words or less about why you are perfect for this job

Check the job posting and apply online.

Via Mashable:

Mashable, the top social media blog, is seeking a talented and experienced editor based on the West Coast with a professional journalism background and at least 3 years writing and/or editing at an established news organization.

Responsibilities include:
- Writing and editing daily news related to social media
- Overseeing staff writers and editors
- Creating and managing editorial projects
- Speaking at events and participating in press interviews

Requirements/Qualifications:
- 3 years writing and/or editing at an established news organization
- Journalism background
- Strong understanding of the tech and social media world
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
- Strict attention to detail
- Hard worker with the commitment to put in extra hours
- Familiarity with WordPress and social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, etc

Submission directions:
- Submit your resume in PDF form only
- Provide links to your LinkedIn, Facebook and/or Twitter profile
- Provide links to three relevant articles written in the past 4 months
- 100 words or less about why you are perfect for this job

Check the job posting and apply online.

Via Knight Digital Media Center:

The Knight Foundation’s 2010 Knight News Challenge rewards big ideas for informing and inspiring a geographic community. Deadline is Oct. 15. Learn more during Live Chats Sept. 9 and Oct. 8.

MIAMI - The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is accepting applications for the 2010 Knight News Challenge, a contest awarding as much as $5 million for innovative ideas using digital experiments to transform community news. The deadline for applications is Oct. 15.

Do you have a big idea for informing and inspiring a geographic community? Does it include innovative use of new digital tools or processes such as social media, mash-ups or wikis? How about new ways to exchange information via hand-held devices like cell phones? Knight Foundation wants to know. “You invent it. We fund it!” is the 2010 contest slogan.

Open to community-minded innovators worldwide, the contest has just three rules. Projects must use digital, open-source technology, distribute news in the public interest and be tested in a local community.

“We want entries to push the bounds of the imagination,” said Gary Kebbel, Knight Foundation’s journalism program director. “But they don’t always have to involve the invention of something completely new. We’re also searching for innovative twists on familiar tools.”

This is the fourth year of the Knight News Challenge competition. So far, 300,000 people have visited the project web site, at newschallenge.org, a total of 7,000 people have entered and the foundation has picked 35 winners.

Read the full press release. For more on the News Challenge, visit http://www.NewsChallenge.org. For more on Knight Foundation’s Media Innovation Initiative, visit http://www.mediainnovation.org.