EIC Application

February 28, 2026 10:39 PM

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Application for the position of Editor-in-Chief of the Xaverian Weekly

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The application should outline your strengths in terms of managerial ability, writing and editing skills, as well as demonstrate your understanding of current initiatives (publications board, constitution, financial autonomy). It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with relevant resources (constitution, CUP resources), as well as engage with current staff members (current co-EICs, section editors, staff writers) in order to develop a plan for 2011-2012. You should also be familiar with Canadian Press style, and the Xaverian Weekly’s style guide. Discussion with myself (Tara), as well as members of the staff will facilitate general understandings of all of these issues, please feel free to contact me with any and all questions you may have.

The following is an excerpt from Appendix A of the Xaverian Weekly’s constitution, outlining the hiring policy of the Xaverian Weekly as well as the job description of the Editor-in-Chief:

i. All staff members of the Xaverian Weekly shall sign a contract outlining their job descriptions as well as the dismissal policy. This document shall inform the staff member about the terms of their honouraria. Should these terms change during the academic year, the contract shall be amended.

ii. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for acting as interim for any position that is unexpectedly vacated until a suitable replacement is found.

iii. When the position of Editor-in-Chief is being filled by two individuals, one of the two may report the other to the board if the job description is not being completed as agreed upon.

Terms of Reference of the Editor-in-Chief

• Ensure the regular publication of the Xaverian Weekly

• Ensure the implementation of the Bylaws of this (Xaverian Weekly’s) Constitution and adherence to the Policy Manual

• Read all content of the Xaverian Weekly prior to print and ensure content

conforms with the standards set forth in the Policy Manual, StFX Community Code, Nova Scotia and Canadian laws

• Write a weekly editorial of at least 400 words

• Be responsible for the managing the content of the letters section in conjunction with the Opinions Editor

• Advertise and ensure the hiring of all staff positions

• Host weekly general meetings open to volunteer writers, photographers, etc.

• Coordinate staff efforts on a weekly basis.\

• Act as the Xaverian Weekly’s liaison to all external organizations, including the StFX Students’ Union, StFX Students’ Representative Council, StFX administration, Canadian University Press, and the Xaverian Weekly’s printing company

• Act as the contact person for all external inquiries concerning the newspaper that do not fall within the jurisdiction of other editorial or staff positions

• Attend all meetings of the Staff and the Publications Board

• Ensure Board meetings are held at minimum once per semester

• Ensure that the newsroom is kept clean

• Dealing with all legal problems that may arise with respect to the Xaverian

Weekly

• Mediate disputes between staff members

• Provide adequate training to incoming Editor-in-Chief

• Provide a transition report to the incoming Editor-in-Chief

• Help ensure section editors’ deadlines are met

• Hold at least 15 office hours per week outside of the production schedule

• Hold monthly individual meetings with each staff member

• Inform staff of honouraria in the first individual staff meeting

• Manage online articles through CUP

• Perform any position that is not covered by another staff member

Ensure that a copy of the Xaverian Weekly is mailed to the former EIC on a regular basis

Please submit the following items prior to March 2nd:

1. Cover letter.

2. Resume outlining all relevant experience.

3. Detailed ‘platform’ describing initiatives and organizational strategies for next year’s Xaverian Weekly. Please focus on as many aspects of the day to day operations of the Xaverian Weekly as possible, including editorial content, production, students’ union relations, distribution and business.

4. 400-word sample editorial on an issue related to the students’ union that occurred this year, such as the chancellorship, campus police issues or environmental initiatives.

After reviewing your application, I will contact you to book an interview. Good luck!