Do you enjoy digging into the facts? Do you have an insatiable desire to write and geek out about Zelda? We want to hear from you! We are looking for volunteer News Writers and News Editors. Zelda Universe is one of the largest and longest running online Legend of Zelda fan communities. If keeping up with the latest on everything Zelda and sharing positive news about gaming sparks passion inside you, Zelda Universe is a great place to do that. Read on to find out how you can take the first step to consider joining the News Team.
The Roles of the News Team
Zelda Universe is looking for News Writers and News Editors.
As a News Writer, your goal is to write news articles about The Legend of Zelda and Nintendo that are timely, informative, and fun. A news article is short and produced fairly quickly, usually in one to seven days. You have a sense of urgency and a good knack for spelling, grammar and format. Attention to detail and checking more than one source for accuracy, if possible, are also important to you. As a News Writer, you will communicate and work together with other members of the News and Publications Teams. You might help out in other Publications areas as the need arises, such as writing a Feature or a Column piece. Sometimes, you will have the opportunity to write articles about gaming events like Nintendo Directs! These special events happen at random, but are exciting to cover when they do happen. You might be able to travel to these types of events as a reporter, but it is not required.
As a News Editor, your goal is to do everything the News Writer does and encourage other News Writers in the Team to do the same. You also help edit their articles and publish them to the site. The News Editor has excellent command of the English language. You have the ability to see potential inside every article, and can shape a draft much like a potter transforms a piece of clay. (For Link to break, of course.) You have good organizational skills, which are important for using Zelda Universe’s filing systems effectively and finding news topics as they arise. As a News Editor, you also set a good example as a Team leader. You enjoy seeing News Writers grow in their craft. You understand the value of constructive feedback in writing. Sometimes, you will need to coach News Writers with constructive feedback, but you will always do so in private and with respect. The News Editor reports to the Lead News Editor and other Zelda Universe Leaders.
How to Apply
If you are interested in either of these positions, please send us your application to jobs@zeldauniverse.net with the subject header “News Writer / Editor Application.”
Please include:
- Your name
- Your age
- Your resume (or an overview of your qualifications and work experience)
- Any social media accounts you’d like to share (Discord, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
Please also provide at least one of the following:
- Writing samples (articles, blogs, essays, fictional works, etc.)
- Mock drafts of Zelda-related news pieces. (You can draw from past E3 Zelda game reveals, for example.)
It may take a little while for us to select the most suitable applicants, so please don’t feel discouraged if we don’t respond straight away. It may take up to a week or longer before we select you.
We’re very professional about what we do here, but we also have a ton of fun while doing it! We have a highly talented and very friendly team ready to welcome you.
We’d like to reiterate that all members of the Zelda Universe staff are volunteer positions. We do this for our love of the Legend of Zelda and to share in that passion for the series alongside the countless other fans around the world.
General FAQ
Q: How does the News Team operate at Zelda Universe?
A: All of the written content you see on the Zelda Universe site is published with WordPress. You do not need to know WordPress to join the News Team. It is very easy to learn and we will teach you! We will set you up with your own WordPress account to use for Zelda Universe. We can also set you up with your own Zelda Universe Forums account if you wish, though it is not required for News.
Zelda Universe uses Trello and Tettra to coordinate all of our drafts, projects, and ideas. Each team has its own Trello board, including the News Team. We will set you up in Trello, too. The News Team manages each news topic as a Trello card to help keep track of its lifecycle up to publication.
We use the instant messaging software Slack as the primary form of communication for our teams. Slack is similar to Discord or Skype in format and is user-friendly even if you never heard of it before. If you can send text messages, you can use Slack. Several experienced Zelda Universe members got their start here as a News Writer. As part of Publications, it is common for the News Team to communicate with the Features Team, the Columns Team, and the rest of Publications. We are a fun-loving group of fans at heart. Cross-pollinating shenanigans are encouraged.
Q: What equipment will I need for this position?
News Writers and Editors need a computer with a working internet connection and a browser / operating system that is able to update to the latest version of Slack. (This Slack web page breaks it down into more specific details.) Otherwise, that’s it! A smartphone that can also download the Slack and Trello apps are helpful, but not required.
Q: I LOVE TO WRITE BUT I DON’T HAVE MUCH PAST EXPERIENCE. WILL I STILL BE CONSIDERED?
A: Yes! While we’re interested in seeing any previously published works or articles applicants may have, there are still many ways you can demonstrate your writing abilities. You can send us any blogs, essays, fictional works, or any pieces you are proud of.
If you’re still short on samples, we are also very interested in seeing any mock articles you can produce for the site. Just take a look at our previously published articles on the home page to get a feel for our format, and give it a shot!
Q: I REALLY WANT TO GIVE THIS A SHOT BUT I ALREADY HAVE A JOB AND / OR TAKE CLASSES. CAN I STILL APPLY?
A: Yes, you absolutely can! As long as you feel you will be able to meet the minimum requirements of the position you are applying for, we strongly encourage you to apply. Zelda Universe is entirely volunteer operated. Being one of the largest fan communities in the world, many of our members have grown with the site and are in diverse backgrounds and walks of life. Some of us juggle jobs, school assignments, obligations, and families of our own, but we’re still here simply because we can’t stop talking about The Legend of Zelda and we love doing what we do for our community.
Q: WHAT ARE THE PERKS OF WRITING FOR ZELDA UNIVERSE?
There are two common reasons why people join our team: fun and experience.
For fun: Writing is always fun, and so is sharing what you wrote. If you’re a Legend of Zelda fan who loves to share their thoughts in a creative way, writing for Zelda Universe is the perfect way to do that. There is an endless variety of different topics to let your imagination run wild writing about.
For experience: As one of the oldest and largest Legend of Zelda communities out there, Zelda Universe has thousands of regular readers and social media followers. For those of you looking to gain some experience in the field of writing, this is an opportunity to practice your skills and learn how to report, interview and write content for a large audience. It’s a great way to experiment with different forms of writing and discover your narrative voice. It’s also a good opportunity to learn about WordPress and see the video game industry from a professional perspective.
Building a resume and portfolio of work is essential for those seeking work in all writing-centered and creative fields, and our staff is more than happy to help you improve your writing as you go. The more you write, the more confidence you will gain and feel good about your craft to meet your personal goals.
Q: JOINING ZELDA UNIVERSE SOUNDS LIKE FUN, BUT WHAT IF I’M NOT INTERESTED IN WRITING?
That’s no problem! There are still plenty of other areas you can consider helping out in, such as design, media, web development, forums and more. Check out what positions are open on our volunteer page, or inquire us with an email to jobs@zeldauniverse.net.
Q: I’M INTERESTED IN APPLYING BUT I’M JUST TOO BUSY AT THE MOMENT. CAN I APPLY AT ANOTHER TIME?
Of course! We accept new volunteers all year round. If you want to volunteer at a later time, you can look for open positions on our volunteer page.
Q: I APPLIED BEFORE BUT DID NOT GET ACCEPTED… SHOULD I TRY AGAIN?
You certainly can. Whether it’s for the same type of position or if you want to try something else, simply send an email to jobs@zeldauniverse.net with the desired position in the subject line and follow the “How to Apply” directions above. It’s worth a shot!
Q: I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THAT HASN’T BEEN ADDRESSED HERE.
If there is anything else you would like us to clarify regarding the positions described here, please send us an email to jobs@zeldauniverse.net with the subject line “Application question.”
Thanks for reading, and best of luck to all of our applicants!
