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Jobs
Editorial - NOW HIRING: ARTS EDITOR! The Portland Mercury is currently hiring a full-time ARTS EDITOR to join our fun and energetic editorial staff. Considered one of the most innovative media outlets in the country, the Mercury is looking for a writer/editor filled with passion, hustle, and the desire to share their love for—and critiques of—the Portland arts scene. This is an excellent position for a strong, engaging writer with a literary or fine arts degree. A background in journalism isn't required, but it doesn’t hurt.
Qualified applicants must possess the following:
• Previous and demonstrable editing and management experience (working in an arts-related field is a definite plus).• Snappy, smart writing paired with a passion for digging deep into the arts scene (including books, theater, visual art, comics, podcasts, comedy, and more). Must respect and be interested in all forms of culture, from highbrow to low.
• Must be extremely organized and able to write reviews, blog daily, and manage freelancers. Also must have a demonstrated ability to devise and execute fresh, Pulitzer-worthy story ideas with little to no handholding.
• An ability and desire to build relationships within the art and performance community.
• Extra points for proofreading skills, a love of reading, social media expertise, a flexible schedule, and a thick skin (needed for writing honestly about those you may run into on the street).
• And of course: enthusiasm, professionalism, people skills, and a good sense of humor!
• We especially encourage applicants who are women, people of color, and/or members of the LGBTQ community to apply. The Portland Mercury is an equal opportunity employer.
This is a full-time position with competitive salary and benefits in a profitable, stable company. Evening and weekend hours are sometimes required. Interested applicants should send us a résumé, links or PDFs to at least three published pieces, and a cover letter that won't bore us to death. Email everything to artseditorjob@portlandmercury.com. Snail mail won’t be accepted. Sorry!
Deadline for applications: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 by 5 pm.
Sales - The Portland Mercury is always looking for experienced, and sometimes not-so-experienced, account executives for the sales team. If you are highly organized, have excellent communication skills, are self-motivated and goal-oriented then you might be a good fit. Previous experience with commission-based print/media sales is a plus but not a deal-breaker. If you think you have what it takes then send your resume and cover letter to salesinfo@portlandmercury.com.
Submissions
Writing - The Mercury rarely publishes unsolicited articles, although you are free to send them with the knowledge that, if published, they would almost certainly need to be revised to suit the format of our paper.
We are also open to queries for brilliant, original feature articles that will be of deep fascination to our readers. If you would like to submit a query, please send a description of your topic, a brief outline of the ways you hope to approach it, a suggested length for the piece, and an explanation of why the story would be a smash hit with our readers. We receive many unsolicited submissions, so don't be offended if we don't immediately respond! Please no phone calls. Email your queries to Managing Editor Erik Henriksen (erik@portlandmercury.com).
Art - The Mercury hires freelance photographers, illustrators, and comic artists all the time, so feel free to send work samples for consideration. Same for cover submissions. No promises, and if you don't hear back from anyone it simply means we are very busy (feel free to keep trying, but try not to be annoying about it). Please no phone calls. Email website addresses or low-res samples to Art Director Kathleen Marie (kathleen@portlandmercury.com).
