Student Senior Writer (WS-ST3)

Job Title: Marcom Student Senior Writer (WS-ST3)

Classification: Student Employee (non-exempt)

Name and Address of Employer: St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN 55057

If the position requires the student to work off campus, provide the name and address here:

Department Name: Marketing and Communications 

Unit Number (5 digits): 16220

Length of Position: See Employment Authorization  

Contact Person/Supervisor: Writer and Editor

Wage Range: $12.00-13.00/hour

Description of the Position: (Purpose of the Position): 

The Student Senior Writer will serve as a lead student journalist within the Marketing and Communications Office, producing longer-form news stories and other marketing materials for the St. Olaf home page and alumni magazine, which are then also featured in the college's e-newsletters and social media channels. The Student Senior Writer also provides peer mentorship and supports the execution of multi-phase projects. 

Transferable Skills: 

• Leadership – Serve as a peer mentor to student writers by providing feedback on their stories, and helping to edit for grammar and St. Olaf Style Guide consistency 

• Communication – Collaborate with supervisors, faculty, staff, students, and external sources to produce accurate and engaging stories. Conduct interviews and communicate professionally in person, over the phone, and via email.

• Writing and Editing – Research, report, write, and edit news stories, feature articles, marketing materials, and other communications while adhering to the St. Olaf Style Guide (AP) and organizational standards. 

• Attention to Detail – Ensure accuracy in reporting by fact-checking information, proofreading copy, and verifying names, titles, dates, and other details before publication. 

• Organization – Manage multiple assignments simultaneously while meeting deadlines. Keep abreast of interview, revision, and publication schedules.

• Research – Gather information through interviews, background research, and document review to develop clear, compelling, and well-sourced stories. 

• Collaboration – Work closely with editors, photographers, the social media team, and campus partners to produce content that supports institutional storytelling. 

• Adaptability – Write for a variety of audiences and platforms, including web and print, while adjusting tone and style to fit each medium and story type. 

• Time Management – Balance multiple writing projects with competing deadlines while maintaining quality and accuracy. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Research, interview, and write news stories and marketing content highlighting students, faculty, staff, and campus initiatives. 

• Conduct interviews and gather quotes from a variety of sources. 

• Support student writers by mentoring their journalistic development. 

• Edit and revise articles based on editorial feedback. 

• Proofread content to ensure accuracy, grammar, St. Olaf style guidelines, and consistency. 

• Write headlines, photo captions, and social media copy outlines. 

• Attend campus events to gather information and produce content. 

• Collaborate with the supervisor throughout the drafting and editorial process.

• Meet deadlines while managing multiple assignments.

• Contribute story ideas. 

• Assist with special communications projects and other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications: (Education/Experience/Skills) 

• Prior experience as a student writer 

• Strong writing and editing skills 

• Adept at communicating with others 

• Comfortable conducting interviews with students, faculty, and alumni 

• Able to work independently, meet deadlines, and be detail-oriented

This job description is for general information purposes.  It is not intended to list all duties and responsibilities of the position.  This job description is subject to change at any time by St. Olaf College, with or without prior notice.