Editorial Work Scholar

The Editorial Department includes the magazine and the book program. This opportunity would be in the book program. The goal of the department is to connect the photo community and its audience with a wide range of photography through print publications and e-books. We publish Aperture magazine, online-exclusive articles on Aperture.org, and approximately thirty books per year, including major monographs, catalogs to accompany exhibitions, limited-edition publications, books by emerging photographers, and collections of writings.

The Editorial Department is responsible for collaborating with photographers, writers, designers, and other institutions to publish photography and writing about photography. Each editor works with these collaborators on the sequence, content, and design, and helps shape a book, magazine, online article, e-book, or newspaper into an autonomous object.

The Editorial Department works with all the departments at Aperture to help fundraise for,

finance, design, produce, promote, and market our publications. This includes working with the

Sales/Marketing Department to gather promotional material, reviewing production budgets with the

Finance Department, or working with the Design Department on the presentation of images and essays in layouts and book jackets.

Interns have the opportunity to be immersed in a handful of publications. By the end of your time with the program, you can expect to know more than one publication inside and out and feel proud of your important contribution to the research, organization, and assistance on the project. Our goal is for you to learn how a book, magazine, or online article is produced from the inception process to publication. Along the way, it is our hope that this opportunity sharpens your attention to detail and professional communication skills—both experiences that will serve you in whatever field you choose to pursue.

This program is designed so that each intern works with a senior staff member one-on-one. In the beginning of each term, the department welcomes the interns and discusses the structure and

organization while also asking for specific tasks that each intern wishes to refine. Midway through the

session, staff and interns meet again to review the past month’s projects and discuss the overall program, examine ways to improve, and provide feedback. There is also an exit meeting in which interns are invited to share what they learned and evaluate the program overall.

In this position, you will be an important part of the editorial support system. Editors rely on you to assist them in being organized, to move book projects along toward completion, and for key research and other editorial tasks.

As an Editorial work scholar, you will support the editors and the publisher in the organization of images and texts for publication. Your job will be divided between general administrative tasks and project-related tasks.

Project-specific tasks:

•   Maintaining art logs

•   Preparing image caption in house style

•   Checking layout text corrections

•   Printing and routing layouts

•   Tracking payments for specific book budgets

•   Coordinating image permissions for reproduction

•   Researching stories, artists, and writers

•   Mailing materials to designers and contributors

General administrative tasks:

•   Sending check requests

•   Mailing complimentary copies

•   Sorting mail

•   Upkeep of the master binders and editorial table

General Work Scholar Responsibilities

•   Further develop knowledge of photography as well as Aperture’s mission, publications,

•   exhibitions, and programs

•   Participate in workshops and training sessions

•   Complete pre-, mid-, and post-term evaluations

•   Assist with mailings, as needed

•   Assist at the Aperture Foundation Benefit (Fall term) and Spring Party (Spring term)

•   Participate in jurying the Aperture Portfolio Prize (Spring term)

•   Work occasional events

A working grasp of the photographic field, excellent grammar and strong communication skills, the ability to multitask and take initiative, a high level of attention to detail and organization, as well as prior editorial experience will enhance a candidate’s application. Experience using Adobe Photoshop, handling physical artwork and digital files, and some knowledge of HTML preferred. Because of the nature of this position, applicants should have strong command of the English language. You will be required to come into our New York City office when needed.

We are open to new ideas, and also, let us know if there are projects that you wish to initiate, we are always open to discussions and your contribution!

Please send a resume and professional cover letter in one PDF attachment, and describe how your skills and experience meet the qualifications, to EditorialWorkScholar@aperture.org, using the following conventions:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. NO CALLS, PLEASE. Only applicants who meet our requirements for this position will be contacted.

 

Aperture seeks to build a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes all applications, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, cultural background, disability, age, or religion. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of our strategic thinking, and reflected in the selection of artists and writers that we publish, the engagement programs we present, and our ongoing work to diversify our staff and board.