Beat Registration Form for Sections
The Ubyssey is transitioning to a beat reporting structure. Like virtually all professional newsrooms, we are going to give each reporter a subject that they commit to covering. All Staff in Arts & Culture, News, Sports, and Features are eligible to register for a beat. If you are in Research or Humour, send a message to Spencer and Elena.
The beat structure can be found
here, along with definitions for what each beat will cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's happening in the summer?
All of our sections will be funded on a 0.5 FTE basis. We will publish on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until September rolls around. If you're around in the summer, you can cover your beat; if not, you can pick things up again in the fall.
What happens to the beats that aren't assigned to a specific reporter now?
We aren't going to complete the transition all at once. Current staff are our first priority, and whatever has not been assigned to them is what we will begin hiring for in May and in August through September.
Are there any new expectations associated with the beat system?
We are moving away from the Contributor-Staff model that relied on the Contributing Journalist Program to prepare journalists as generalists before specializing. Going forward, everyone will apply directly to a section based on our needs for a specific beat. Essentially, there will be no Arts Contributors or News Reporters, only Music Critics and Senate Reporters.
Roughly, we assume there is at least one story in each beat as we have defined them per week. We say roughly because it's impossible to tie beats to a number: there are more games than concerts and council meetings, but game analyses (published in Sports) don't usually have a newsgathering process that extends beyond the intensity of a game, for example. Our report and editorial practices are co-constructed by our aspirations and our environment.
What if I want to report on other things, too?
Occasionally, you can still do this. But it's worth noting that most of the time, reporters choose to stay focused on a topic or two. By devoting yourself to a single thing, you'll become an expert in that particular segment of our report and be able to write more elaborate, detailed, and pressing stories than if you divided your finite attention across an indefinite number of topics. There is a reason that if you choose to work at any newspaper after The Ubyssey, you'll likely be placed on a beat.
More importantly, our current practice perpetuates a 'parachuting' style of reporting that can feel extractive to sources and readers. A consistent, reliable face goes a long way.
What if I get bored of my beat?
We can always talk about this. If you want to switch beats, arrangements can be made. We'll just have to make sure to plan for a replacement to be identified so the news goes on after you've pivoted to something else.
We don't expect you to get bored with your beat, though. The beat system empowers each reporter to pursue
enterprise stories—the type of stories we all want to do but that otherwise aren't organized internally well enough to pursue. With beats, your creativity and domain-specific expertise come to the forefront of our editorial process.
Which section do you want to report for?
Arts & Culture is getting split into two sections, administered by the same editor. On the website and in the print newspaper, arts stories will be presented separately from culture ones.
Only fill this out for one section.
Please rank the News beats you're interested in.
Please rank the Arts beats you're interested in.
Please rank the Culture beats you're interested in.
Please rank the Sports beats you're interested in.
In a few sentences, explain your top choices and a few stories you might want to write in each of the beats you're excited about potentially covering. Interpret "top" choices however you wish.
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