7/18 Update: Thank you to everyone who submitted something for either position. The spots are filled. I will announce them at a later day. Again, thanks to everyone for taking a chance and showing interest to volunteer at this site.
Just as the New Jersey Devils are trying to strengthen their roster for the 2017-18, we at All About the Jersey are doing the same. We’ve added Jeff and Alicia to focus on Binghamton. But we need more and so we are asking you, the readership – the People Who Matter, whether you like to help to continue to make this one of the best Devils blogs around, All About the Jersey. We’ve had great responses and great writers come from the community. It further justifies that this site’s mission statement is the correct one. We’re going to continue to go that way.
We are looking for volunteers for the following roles: News Writers and Dedicated Preview/Recap Writers.
Role #1: News Writers
During the day and sometimes the evening, news happens. And in this fast-paced world, people want and need places to react and discuss that news. Whether it’s a signing, a trade, a press release, a suspension, an injury, or a call-up. These are just some of the common events for hockey teams during the season and the offseason. As this is All About the Jersey, we want to provide that place through posting the news and providing a pithy, intelligent reaction within that post. Chris and Steve have done a very good job at this for the past few years. But we need more help to provide timely posts when the news does happen.
So if you’re able to do make posts during the day, if you follow Devils/hockey news regularly, and you’re open for communication, then this may be for you. Ideally, I’m looking for two volunteers for this position.
If you are interested: Email me an example of what you'd write for a news story during the day. Don't pick the new numbers, something recent would work for this. Show me you can link to news, write something brief (let's say about 500 words), and a brief description stating your availability during the day (this is crucial). Please put the following in the subject line: 2017 Writer - News Writer - (your username on this site). Example if I were doing this: 2017 Writer – News Writer – John Fischer.
Role #2: Dedicated Preview/Recap Writers
The other role is for previewing and recapping games. I enjoy doing both, but in an effort to diversify the content at this very blog, I’m breaking away more and more from previews. I will still do recaps in general. Devin has been excellent in stepping in for previews and to recap games that I am not able to view or attend. But in order to help him out and to cover the situations when both Devin and I are unavailable for various reasons (they happen), we could use more people for this role. You do not need to preview or recap games like Devin or like me. There are a few guidelines to follow, and I’m not looking for someone who will write a super-short, AP-style preview or recap. There should be some content in it; but for the most part, most of it will be up to you. Ideally, I’m looking for two volunteers for this position.
If you are interested: Email me an example of what you would write for a game preview or a recap. Also email me what your availability is, and a brief description of your passion for Devils hockey. Please put the following in the subject line: 2017 Writer - Dedicated Preview/Recap Writer - (your username on this site). Example if I were doing this: 2017 Writer - Dedicated Preview/Recap Writer - John Fischer
General Requirements
Regardless of the role you’re interested in, all those who want to be involved with this site must follow these general requirements:
#1) Be a New Jersey Devils fan. This is a site built on passion and fandom. For reasons I don’t really get, there may be a few who think that they can use this site as a platform for some other endeavor or their own personal soapbox. This is and always be a site by the fans for the fans of the Devils. So it is required that you are a fan of the New Jersey Devils. Not the Devils and some other NHL team. (This actually happened one year where a Rangers fan had a go at this. It didn’t work out, obviously.) Not the Devils as a passing interest. Not the Devils as an attempt to "be somebody" and "make a name for yourself." You need to be a fan and accept that this site is really All About the Jersey.
#2) Be a registered and non-banned user. If you haven't registered for AATJ, then please, sign up as soon as you can. It's free, it gives you access to join 300+ other blogs on the SBN network, and you can join their respective communities. If you've been banned, then I’m sorry, but I don't think this is going to work out at all. After all, if you can't follow the rules of this site, I don't see how you can follow direction on how to make a post or when things need to be posted.
#3) Be available - and honest in your availability. With these roles, there's going to be some variability in terms of when something has to be posted or something has to be done for the site. It'll make more sense when I explain them, but this isn't going to be a simple once-a-week thing. You won't be expected to write essays, but I do expect you to be honest in terms of when you can make posts and honor commitments and when you can't. I get that life gets in the way and I will respect that. I understand that more than anyone, but being able to communicate that ahead of time is always better not communicating it at all.
#4) Develop and share your passion. You don't have to be a perfect writer - I'm definitely not - but you will have to take this seriously to a degree. Again, no one comes here to read what they could read in the AP or hear from some lame pundit espousing the same narratives over and over. One of the big reasons why AAtJ is regarded as it is because that the posts are written well enough, arguments are backed up with facts, the writing is respectful to the reader (and the player, you notice it's not just "Ben Lovejoy sucks," it's "Ben Lovejoy sucks because..."), and content is regular. That's what I strive for on the site, that’s what I want to continue.
#5) Be willing to be active with the community. The readers, who are generally respectable and can be made to behave as needed, aren't afraid to tell you what they think. I or the other writers may even disagree with what you write; but readers definitely will if they do. If you present a good argument, then it should hold up on its own; but ideally you should comment with the other users to explain your point further or just to further discussion along. That's what makes a site like this so different than just a series of essays.
#6) Be able to communicate. This is a blog on the Internet. It is vital that you're easily reachable by e-mail and you're able to keep open communication with me and the other writers. Occasionally, there may be matters to discuss among all writers or perhaps there's something I or someone else want to pass along your way. Maybe I need to tell you something, so I need to know if you're going to see that and recognize it. Maybe something's come up and real life requires that the blog gets ignored (which I would understand), so I'd like to know you'd actually tell me ahead of time. Therefore, being able to be communicate is crucial.
#7) Be willing to write under your real name. If you're selected for any position, then I want you to write under your real name. If you write something worth reading, then it's worth knowing who wrote it. It is better to have the world appreciate your work by name than by some pseudonym. Do not register a new account; I have and will work with support for changing the name on your current account should you be accepted.
#8) Don't post your entry here. I'll explain the submission process in a little bit. This isn't an open audition and given the more specific nature of the positions, I'll be making the decisions. That said, I won't post anything from what I get, so please don't do the same.
#9) No attachments. If/when you apply, just put everything in the email. I will not be looking at any attachments.
How This Will Work
So you followed (and met!) the requirements and you're interested in one of these positions. That’s great and I thank you in advance for your interest. The position itself tells you how to apply specifically for it. My email address is in the masthead of this site. Again, follow the directions for how to title the email and remember, I'm not going through attachments. Put it all in the email itself.
I will be making decisions first come, first serve. So don't delay too long before applying. That said, you will wait a little bit. I'm not going to be looking at anything before Thursday, July 13, 2017. Do not send me anything until July 13, 2017. I want those interested to think about it for a few days, confirm with themselves whether they can put in the time, and make a good submission. I know it's the summer and so some of you are more available than usual, but I need these positions for the season that runs from September through April. Again: think about whether you want and can take the role, take the time to put something together, and put in something good.
When I find volunteers for the position, I'll update this post marking it as filled. I know I'm demanding quite a bit and all I can provide is a platform and the right to say that you’re a part of being one of the best sites on the entire Internet about the New Jersey Devils. Thank you in advance to everyone who will apply, and thank you to everyone for starting or continuing to read this site. There may be a call for more volunteers later, but this will do for now. Don’t worry, we’ll get back to sticking to the Devils – which is what we do best and what this site is for. And we’ll get back to it starting today.