Leadership Roles and Applications

The Media Planning Board is responsible for selecting top-level student leadership roles at media outlets under their purview. These roles include:

• Editor-in-Chief, Alice
• Editor-in-Chief, The Crimson White
• Editor, Marr’s Field Journal
• Editor-in-Chief, Nineteen Fifty-Six
• Editor, Southern Historian
• Assistant Editor, Southern Historian
• Station Manager, WVUA-FM

2025-2026 Application Details

• Applications for Marr’s Field Journal, Southern Historian and WVUA-FM roles are due on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 by 5 p.m.
  • Interviews with the Media Planning Board are tentatively set for Wednesday, March 5 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
• Applications for Alice, The Crimson White, and Nineteen Fifty-Six roles are due on Friday, March 7 by 5 p.m.
  • Interviews with the Media Planning Board are tentatively set for Wednesday, March 19 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. If needed, interviews will continue on  Wednesday, March 26 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

These positions are open to any UA student enrolled in undergraduate or graduate study. Graduate students on .5 FTE assistantships may not be able to accept additional pay. Please contact Jessie Jones, Director of Student Media, with questions.

Job Descriptions

Editor-in-Chief, Alice

The Editor-in-Chief has overall oversight for the editorial content of Alice magazine. This student leader oversees the lifestyle magazine for young women at the University of Alabama and is responsible for all its editorial content for the print editions, website, and social media content.

The Editor-in-Chief sets the goals, tenor, and tone for the magazine, which produces a print edition each Fall and Spring.

Specifically, the editor-in-chief:

• Oversees production of the magazine
• Hires editors and makes final decisions concerning personnel matters, including disciplining, hiring, and firing student journalists.
• Ensures designers follow the magazine’s style sheet.
• Approves the publication’s layout, design, style, and tone.
• Edits written content for accuracy, fairness, spelling, and grammatical errors.
• Fact-checks information in articles and stories.
• Provides suggestions for edits to junior and senior editors.
• Writes letter to the editor for each issue.
• Works closely with editors to help them succeed.
• Develops and manages budgets for the editorial team.
• Represents the publication’s editorial team at campus events.
• Makes final decisions about which stories, articles, and photographs will appear in magazine.
• Conducts weekly meetings with editors and contributors.
• Maintains a professional relationship with the adviser and all members of the staff at UA Student Media.
• Works to resolve disagreements between editors and student journalists.
• Along with the managing editor, ensures payroll and contributor payments are within budget and that student journalists are fulfilling their job requirements.

Position Requirements

• Must be a registered student at The University of Alabama in good standing.
• Must have an overall 2.0 GPA.

Terms of Appointment

• One year, from May 1 through April 31. May be reappointed to additional terms.

Editor-in-Chief, The Crimson White

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the overall oversight of the student newsroom at The Crimson White. This student leader is responsible for all news content for print editions, electronic newsletters, TheCrimsonWhite.com, and editorial social media content.

The Editor-in-Chief sets the goals, tenor, and tone for the news organization. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for newsroom operations, management, and human resources. The EIC is also responsible for working with UA Student Media professional staff, as well as the student sales and marketing teams regarding advertising and fundraising.

Among the Editor-in-Chief’s detailed responsibilities:

• Newsroom Operations
  • Ensures the news organization and its student leaders produce a fair, accurate, and balanced report in print, online, and on social media platforms.
  • Approves editorial content for electronic newsletters, print editions, and social media posts.
  • Guarantees editors (news, culture, sports, and op-ed) meet their deadlines and provide newsworthy coverage to students, faculty, staff, and the Tuscaloosa community.
  • Ensures the newsroom embraces all platforms for distributing news, including print and digital applications.
• Newsroom Management
  • Conducts weekly budget meetings and leads CW Editorial Board meetings.
  • Ensures student journalists attend meetings and meet other minimum requirements to remain a staff member in good standing.
  • Works with news designers on layout and design and has final approval on any aspect of news content or design on all platforms.
  • Along with the managing editors and adviser, works with the advertising department and its adviser to determine the page count and layout of the print edition.
  • Works closely with desk editors, including conducting weekly check-ins, to help editors perform their jobs to succeed in their positions.
  • Serves as the spokesperson and campus representative of The Crimson White.
  • Maintains a professional relationship with the adviser and all members of the staff at UA Student Media
• Human Resources
  • Works to resolve disagreements between desks and student journalists.
  • Addresses complaints and deals with all outside agencies and individuals who interact with the newspaper.
  • Along with the managing editor, ensures payroll and contributor payments are within budget and that student journalists are fulfilling their job requirements.
  • Hires editors and makes final decisions concerning personnel matters, including disciplining, hiring, and firing student journalists.
  • Along with the managing editor, ensures payroll and contributor payments are within budget.
• Advertising
  • Works with the advertising department when questions arise about advertisements.
• Fundraising
  • Works with UA Student Media professional staff to support fundraising efforts.

Position Requirements

• Must be a registered student at The University of Alabama in good standing.
• Must have an overall 2.0 GPA.

Terms of Appointment

• One year, from May 1 through April 31. May be reappointed to additional terms. 

Editor, Marr’s Field Journal

The Editor of Marr’s Field Journal is responsible for all editorial aspects of the magazine, including the staff and editorial policy. The editor also assists with business decisions and keeps informed of all business activities.

Specifically, the Editor:

• Recruits, trains, and supervises editors, staff members and editorial assistants.
• Oversees the operations of all editorial staff and arranges for continuity in those operations.
• Directs the solicitations of manuscripts and the reading of submissions, the selection of poetry, fiction, reviews, interviews, and other material to appear in the journal in print or online.
• Directs the production of the journal: typesetting, layout, design, and printing.
• Direct the circulation of the print journal and digital content.
• Directs promotion, campaigns, and advertising.
• Helps formulate budget and oversee expenditures.
• Helps secure funding: grant applications, patrons, supporting subscribers, etc.
• Makes staff aware of and enforces UA policies and UA Student Media guidelines.

Position Requirements

• Must be a registered student at The University of Alabama in good standing.
• Must have an overall 2.0 GPA.

Terms of Appointment

• One year, from May 1 through April 31. May be reappointed to additional terms. 

Editor-in-Chief, Nineteen Fifty-Six

The Editor-in-Chief has overall oversight for the editorial content of Nineteen Fifty-Six magazine. This student leader oversees the magazine by, for, and about Black students at the University of Alabama and is responsible for all its editorial content for the print editions, website, and social media content.

The Editor-in-Chief sets the goals, tenor, and tone for the magazine, which produces a print edition each Fall and Spring. Specifically, the editor-in-chief:

• Oversees production of the magazine
• Hires editors and makes final decisions concerning personnel matters, including disciplining, hiring, and firing student journalists.
• Ensures designers follow the magazine’s style sheet.
• Approves the publication’s layout, design, style, and tone.
• Edits written content for accuracy, fairness, spelling, and grammatical errors.
• Fact-checks information in articles and stories.
• Provides suggestions for edits to junior and senior editors.
• Writes letter to the editor for each issue.
• Works closely with editors to help them succeed.
• Develops and manages budgets for the editorial team.
• Represents the publication’s editorial team at campus events.
• Makes final decisions about which stories, articles, and photographs will appear in magazine.
• Conducts weekly meetings with editors and contributors.
• Maintains a professional relationship with the adviser and all members of the staff at UA Student Media.
• Works to resolve disagreements between editors and student journalists.
• Along with the managing editor, ensures payroll and contributor payments are within budget and that student journalists are fulfilling their job requirements.

Position Requirements

• Must be a registered student at The University of Alabama in good standing.
• Must have an overall 2.0 GPA.

Terms of Appointment

• One year, from May 1 through April 31. May be reappointed to additional terms.

Editor, Southern Historian

The Editor is responsible for all editorial aspects of the journal: including the staff and editorial policy, solicitation and selection of articles and production. The editor also assists with business decisions and keeps informed of all business activities.

Specifically, the Editor:

• Recruits, trains and maintains editors, staffs and editorial assistants.
• Oversees the operations of all editorial staff and arranges for continuity in those operations.
• Directs solicitations of manuscripts, the reading of submissions, and the selection of articles to appear in the journal.
• Read all manuscripts that receive favorable response.
• Directs the production of the magazine: type setting, layout, printing, including arranging for cover art.
• Works with the assistant editor, the editor oversees circulation, promotion, funding arrangements, budgeting and the ordering of supplies.
• Directs web/electronic media.
• Helps formulate budget and oversee expenditures.
• Makes staff aware of and enforces the University and Media Planning Board policies and guidelines.

Position Requirements

• Must be a registered graduate student in History at the University of Alabama in good standing.
• Must have an overall 2.0 GPA.
• Must be able to devote at least 20 hours per week.
• Should have served for one year in some capacity on the staff or the staff of another journal.
• Should demonstrate an academic interest in Southern History.
• Must be given full release from teaching duties in the History department and must have the support of the department.

Terms of Appointment

• One year, from June 1 through May 31. May be reappointed to additional terms.

Assistant Editor, Southern Historian

The Assistant Editor is responsible for all non-editorial aspects of the journal: promotion, circulation, budgeting, funding, and expenditures.

Specifically, the Assistant Editor:

• Directs campus sales, subscription drives, sales to libraries, bookstores and other.
• Directs promotional campaigns including subscriptions, supporting subscriptions, on and off campus awareness campaigns to increase visibility.
• Directs acquisition of funds: writing grants, securing gifts, soliciting patrons, request of University funds.
• Formulates and maintains budget and directs expenditures with the Editor.
• Oversee basic office operation and inventory.
• Maintain the current subscription database and consignment agreements with various establishments.
• Assist the editor in the publication process as directed.

Position Requirements

• Must be a registered graduate student in History at The University of Alabama in good standing.
• Must have an overall 2.0 GPA.
• Must be able to devote at least 20 hours per week.

Terms of Appointment

• One year, from June 1 through May 31. May be reappointed to additional terms.

Station Manager, WVUA-FM

The WVUA Station Manager is a student management position, which is responsible for supervising the WVUA station staff.  The Station Manager will be in charge of the overall management of the station, recruiting and training a student staff, working within the confines of a budget and complying with FCC regulations. The position is not a music director position but, instead, is intended to oversee a station that meets the needs of its audience in music, news, sports and public service.

Specifically, the WVUA-FM Station Manager should:

• Understand and impart to incoming staff member’s basic FCC regulations and obscenity and indecency rules.
• Understand Emergency Broadcast System tests, station I.D. program logs and the FCC public file.
• Motivate, attract and train student staff members; mediate conflicts as appropriate.
• Shape the station’s programming schedule and content development while collaborating with the program director, music director, sports director and general manager.
• Develop and implement promotions and marketing strategies through collaboration with the UA Student Media Marketing Team and the general manager.
• Build and maintain strong connection with the campus and local communities by establishing partnerships, developing community-based programming and organizing outreach initiatives to promote the station’s involvement and impact on the community.
• Maintain an understanding of the technical side of radio, sufficient to assist in training.
• Maintain regular office hours for an average of 12-15 hours per week.
• See that station shifts are maintained with students who possess adequate training and preparation to manage their responsibilities.
• Work with the general manager in conducting weekly staff meetings.
• Work regularly with the UA Student Media Assistant Director and the UA Student Media Operations Coordinator to see that revenue and business administrative goals are met.
• See that supplies are ordered and office procedures maintained.
• Understand and follow the guidelines in the station operations manual.
• Assume additional responsibility as needed for overall station operation and management.

Position Requirements

• Must be a registered student at The University of Alabama in good standing.
• Must have an overall 2.0 GPA.
• Must have knowledge of FCC regulations governing non-commercial radio, knowledge of station sign-on and power up procedures and an understanding of public radio.
• Should have knowledge and experience with non-commercial radio; experience with college radio would be useful.

Terms of Appointment

• One year, from May 1 through April 31. May be reappointed to additional terms.