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A quick note: This is a newspaper design job, not a graphic design position. It entails laying out stories and content generated by our local reporters on deadlines not building ads or other graphic design work. If your background is in editorial design, read on!
Do you love to design editorial content that is fun, imaginative and full of personality? That's our goal at the Observer Media Group: To deliver unique, hyperlocal content in a way that's relevant, informative and entertaining for our readers. We are constantly striving to surprise and delight readers with fresh stories and ideas, and we are seeking a designer who can use the foundation of our grid-based design to create packages that our audience can't wait to read.
A few years ago, we redesigned all of our papers with a Mondrian-inspired look that allows us to showcase stories and pictures in a grid to create movement and well-proportioned white space on every page..
Now we are looking for a talented, enthusiastic part-time page designer to join our editorial department to help us execute it in our newspapers each week. The right candidate sees design as a journalist, not just as an artist. They must have a passion for telling stories in a way that marries visual elements with text to create a total package that reflects the intent and tone of the story being told. We are not a design house — we want to bust out of templates, not adhere to them.
The ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of the print and newspaper industry and be knowledgeable in Adobe Creative Suite. Must be a self-starter who can work independently, but also enjoys being part of an energetic team and collaborating with reporters. The candidate should also have strong organizational skills, be able to work quickly and accurately under daily deadline pressure and be able to juggle multiple projects at once, all while injecting creativity into their designs.
This is a part-time position of up to 24 hours a week, with deadlines Monday through Wednesday and some occasional work required over the weekend to get ahead of those deadlines. Pay range is $20-$30 per hour, depending on experience and portfolio work.
Interested? Email a resume, your design portfolio and a note on why you are the ideal candidate for the position to Executive Editor Kat Wingert at [email protected]. Please put "PT Designer" in the subject line.
About the Observer Media Group
The Observer Media Group is a family-owned and operated multimedia company based in Sarasota, Florida. The company publishes 10 weekly newspapers and six magazines throughout Florida, along with five websites and mobile applications. Altogether, our newspapers and websites reach more than 400,000 readers weekly.
Here’s the job - Write stories that matter to our readers. Take photos that show them what’s going on in the community around them. Be flexible. In one week, you might cover local marine biologists’ efforts to protect sea turtles and manatees, attend a restaurant opening, interview a bestselling author, and write about a political roundtable.
It’s actually easier to tell you what you won’t be doing. You won’t be stuck in meetings or waiting for assignments.
Some stories will fall into your lap. Others you’ll have to go out and get. That means developing a list of sources, listening, caring, and learning about the people who live here.
You like to tell stories and take photos. You’re naturally curious about what you see going on around you and you’re eager to learn the skills to succeed in today’s fast-changing, complex media environment. But first and foremost, you’re interested in being a writer and refining your writing skills. This is the place to learn, because you’ll be working with editors who are passionate about writing and have studied the craft.
Big bonus points if you’re an avid reader and like Netflix documentaries or binge-watch Johnny Harris’ videos on YouTube.
We’re growing. At a time when other news outlets are struggling to keep the lights on, we’ve hit on a digital-first model that works. And we’ve come roaring back from the pandemic. The only thing slowing us down? We need more talented, passionate, creative writers and storytellers — like you. Here’s what separates the Observer from other newsrooms:
Beaches. Endless summer. Walkable, eclectic neighborhoods. A thriving arts scene. Sarasota and its surrounding area has something to offer no matter what you’re into. There’s the spring-break party scene on Siesta Key, the laidback vibes on Longboat Key, where you can spot dolphins playing off the coast … and in Sarasota the options for going out and dining are endless with fresh, authentic, diverse menus found all over the city. Oh, and did we mention the free trolley that stops just outside our building and will have you at the beach in less than 20 minutes? With a gorgeous library, museums, theaters (there’s a comedy club across the street), live music, open-air markets and block parties, you won’t run out of things to do.
If you've made it this far, then here's how you can improve the strength of your application:
Please email a link to your writing portfolio and/or three of your best writing clips, along with a brief cover letter explaining your interest in the job to [email protected].
The Observer Media Group is a family-owned and operated multimedia company based in Sarasota, Fla. The company publishes 10 newspapers throughout Florida, along with seven websites. Altogether, our newspapers and websites reach more than 400,000 readers each week. Our newspapers are consistently recognized with awards for our print products and website.
At the Observer Media Group, we believe in partnering with local businesses to offer them a large local audience and the most up to date media to grow their business.
If you agree, you could be the right candidate to join our team in sunny Sarasota, Florida. We are currently seeking a Multimedia Advertising Consultant interested in an exciting and lucrative sales career.
We are looking for an entrepreneurial salesperson who will tirelessly prospect and hunt businesses; discovering those who would benefit by connecting with Observer audiences across multiple platforms. If you have the skills to determine a client’s needs and provide customized solutions in any industry — then this might be the job for you.
This position focuses on media sales in one of the fastest growing territories in the Sarasota and Manatee market. That includes prospecting and hunting new business as well as growing advertising revenue with existing clients. Developing creative and effective marketing campaigns, coordinating and monitoring ads and effectiveness across multiple products. Ultimately, we translate customer goals into uniquely crafted, dynamic strategies.
This is an excellent position for an entrepreneurial salesperson who wants to join an inspiring, fun sales team at a well-respected company with the opportunity to grow into six-figure earnings.
At the Observer we say if you can dream it then you can do it, but you won't be doing it alone. There is a lot to offer your clients and a lot to learn, with innovative products in a digital landscape that is continuously refining and enhancing what you can offer your clients. You will have the support of the team, as well as weekly relevant training and one on ones, giving you all the tools you need to be successful.
We're looking for a self-starter, who is dynamic, fearless and focused. It is important to be a great listener and clear communicator with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. You must have a successful track record in outside sales, and a desire to win.
If you like challenges, high standards and beating the pants off your competition while having fun, this is the place for you. Our goal is to grow and improve ourselves while serving up great opportunities for businesses in our community. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic and has a strong desire to continue to learn and be a part of a successful, dynamic team.
Please email your resume, and a cover letter explaining why you’re the ideal candidate for the job to Advertising Sales Manager Penny Nowicki at [email protected] with the job title in the subject line.
If you’re looking for a stable company where you can try new things and continue to grow as an entrepreneurial Multimedia Sales Consultant, this is the place for you. We consistently win the Florida Press Association's award for general excellence, and we have been named the best newspaper in North America by the Local Media Association three times. In everything we do, we strive for excellence.
The #1 trait of our graphic designers is creative flair. But they also understand the principles of effective advertising design — being able to work with our advertising sales team to conceptualize and execute print and digital ads that generate response and create memorable brands for our customers.
Our designers must have a thorough grasp and flair for style and proportion; and how type, fonts and color work with images. In addition to advertising design, our designers also create brochures, media kits, posters, letterhead; business cards; and all varieties of digital ads — animated, videos, interstitial, etc.
Ideal candidates have a positive attitude; are able to work in a collaborative, team environment; and must be able to meet deadlines and work under deadline pressure.
We offer a competitive compensation plan, including full benefits, dynamic, fast-paced work environment; and the opportunity to grow professionally.
We currently have openings for a graphic designer in the Sarasota and Winter Garden locations.
Please send cover letter, resume and five samples of recent work to:
Caleb Stanton, Creative Director
[email protected]