Jobs + Intern

Narrative Change Fellow 

 

About Us:

The Oxford American (OA) is a nonprofit literary arts and media organization devoted to exploring the complexity and vitality of the American South through excellent writing, music, and art. We produce a quarterly magazine, a podcast, and live events. Founded in 1992, the OA is the recipient of the James Beard Award, National Magazine Awards, and the Whiting Literary Magazine Prize, among others.

The OA is launching a web-first publication to complement the quarterly print edition. The new editorial arm of the organization will focus on timely dispatches from the South, offering nuance, context, and narrative to stories underreported in the traditional news cycle.

About This Role:

The OA welcomes applications for a new fellowship, based in Arkansas. The Narrative Change Fellow will be dedicated to telling stories that contribute to narrative change in Arkansas and the American South. The role requires writing and editing responsibilities. The position is paid, full-time, offers health benefits during its nine-month term, with the possibility of renewal.

The Narrative Change Fellow will focus on human-interest stories and Southern culture to challenge dominant narratives about the American South. The fellow will explore how policy meets people in Arkansas, and around the region.

Funding for the inaugural fellow is made possible by the support of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation as part of their Here to Thrive campaign.

Responsibilities Include:

• Writing at least one piece per week for publication on OxfordAmerican.org

• Soliciting and editing Southern-based writers for publication on OxfordAmerican.org

• Fact-checking and image researching for OA’s online coverage

• Contributing to the planning and development of OA’s digital offerings

• Collating and operationalizing analytics and SEO

• Supporting the OA’s Digital Editor and liaising with OA interns

Location:

We welcome applicants from Arkansas, the immediate area around Arkansas, and those who would relocate to Arkansas for the fellowship timeframe.

Compensation:

$31,000 for the 9-month term; health benefits; flexible work and reporting schedule.

How To Apply:

Email jobs@oxfordamerican.org with the subject line, “Narrative Change Fellow–[Last Name]” 

Include the following materials:

• Cover letter

• Résumé

• Three (3) writing samples, annotated or introduced with context. We want to know how this portfolio represents you.

Additional Information:

The OA is committed to empowering voices underserved by the publishing arena; applicants of color and/or those who identify as underserved or disabled are encouraged to apply. We invite applicants to voluntarily disclose any lived experiences that distinguish them for this role.

 

Editorial Internships

The Oxford American offers a comprehensive editorial internship program.

We have full-time and part-time positions available and offer a stipend of $2,500 per term. Internships begin in January, June, and September, though the program provides some flexibility for starting dates, and the opportunity for interested interns to extend their terms. For the near future, internships will be remote.

We accept applications for all terms year-round but please note the following deadlines: 

• April 15 for internships starting in June

• August 21 for internships starting in September

• November 15 for internships starting in January 

Interns are a vital part of the Oxford American’s print and digital production teams. The duties of an intern include evaluating manuscript submissions, participating in the planning of issues, fact-checking and proofreading stories, drafting posts for social media, and creating and maintaining digital content for the website. Interns are encouraged to participate in our off-site concerts and readings, generate article ideas, and to write for oxfordamerican.org. 

Applications should include a detailed cover letter, résumé, and one writing sample of up to 5 pages in length. Your sample could be one long piece or a collection of short pieces. (Samples can include critical and/or creative work, though a substantial portion should be prose.) Please specify the term for which you are applying. 

Submit your application using this form. Simply create a Submittable account and follow the instructions to attach your materials.

Thank you for your interest.