Open Book Internship
September-December 2012
About
Us
Fresh
& Local. Open
Book showcases the outstanding range and quality of contemporary Canadian
writing, and celebrates Toronto’s nonstop literary scene.
Open
Book uses a broad range of communications to promote Canadian authors, books
and publishers. We maintain an ever-growing online presence which combines our
vibrant websites (www.openbooktoronto.com and www.openbookontario.com)
with active audience development (through social networking, newsletters,
contests, publicity, cross-marketing and advertising). We also promote Canadian
authors, books and publishers through innovative partnerships and our Education
Outreach program.
Open
Book was developed by the Organization of Book Publishers of Ontario (OBPO; www.obpo.ca)
to increase public and bookseller awareness about Canadian writers, books,
publishers and events—with a special focus on the books and authors published
by their member publishers (Canadian-owned, Ontario-based publishers). We are
currently funded by the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the Department
of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts. Open Book reports to
these funders as well as our “parent organization,” the OBPO.
Open
Book staff include Clelia Scala (Managing Editor), Erin Knight (Contributing
Editor for Open Book: Ontario) and Grace O’Connell (Contributing Editor for Open
Book: Toronto), and we also work closely with a web developer, a web designer,
regular contributors, photographers, videographers and of course, Canadian
authors and publishers.
Internship
Description/Overview
Open
Book is looking for an energetic online intern who is interested in Canadian
authors and Canadian publishing, who loves books and who can write. We look
forward to working with an intern who can take on responsibility, bring fresh
ideas and contribute to our website right away through writing and content
management. The internship runs from September 10th to December 7th, 2012.
The Open
Book team works in a “virtual office” set-up—we do not share an office space
but instead work together closely through our website, and through email and
Skype and phone meetings. The Open Book Intern will join this virtual office
environment, from their home office (or other online access point of their
choice).
The Open
Book Intern will work closely with the Open Book staff to assist in the
day-to-day operations and content creation for OpenBookToronto.com or
OpenBookOntario.com, as well as work on our Education Outreach program and
partnerships as needed.
Responsibilities
include:
• Edit and post our interview
series. Includes: formatting the interview and contacting authors and/or
publicists when the interview is online. Erin or Grace will provide the Intern
with the interview schedule, interviews and accompanying images.
• Create content for
OpenBookToronto.com or OpenBookOntario.com as needed. This will include
author/publisher/publishing-related profiles assigned by Clelia (with
interviews done by email or phone), profiles suggested by the Intern for Open
Book, news items, and more.
• Manage the Events page, adding
listings that are sent and contacting publicists and event organizers.
• Assist with the organization of
the Open Book online archives.
• Optional maintenance of a blog on
OpenBookToronto.com or OpenBookOntario.com about topics relevant to Open Book,
such as writing, reading, Canadian culture, working as the Open Book Intern,
etc. Please note, however, we do not publish book reviews. If there is a book
you love and would like to highlight, please consider a non-review format.
• Assist the Open Book staff with
other projects as they arise.
Timelines/Payment
We ask
that the Open Book Intern work at least 25 hours a week on the project. In
addition to valuable work experience, Open Book offers an honorarium of $1125
for a three-month internship.
Additional
Notes
• The Open Book Intern needs to be
comfortable working in a “virtual office” environment, working on their own
computer and with their own online access for the duration of the internship.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to
learn, HTML is necessary.
• The Open Book Intern should bill
Open Book for any phone charges related to their work on the project (monthly
or at the end of their internship, whatever works best for the Intern).
• The Intern will be set up with a NAME@openbooktoronto.com or NAME@openbookontario.com email
for the duration of their internship with Open Book.
To
Apply
Please
send a cover letter with your résumé to Open Book’s Managing Editor, Clelia
Scala, at clelia@openbooktoronto.com. The application deadline is
August 8th, 2012.
