GEN is expanding and seeking qualified writers and on camera talent to enhance it’s online content. Check out our job openings and let us know if you are the next GEN girl!
What is GEN?
Forget sugar and spice – The Girls Entertainment Network is redefining what girls are made of. Spearheaded by a female staff, GEN fosters a dedicated and diverse group of ladies who are, first and foremost, fans. Readers who frequent the site can expect content written by individuals whose knowledge of the greater enthusiast culture is on par with their own.
Although GEN’s primary focus is to offer a platform to females, everyone – male and female alike – is encouraged to participate in the latest conversations pertaining to video Games, comics, anime, gadgets, and cosplay as well as join our growing community of friendship and support.
GEN stands out among tech culture websites by breaking down gender stereotypes and showing the world that today’s ladies are taking control of the controller and digging through your comic collection.
What can I expect from GEN?
To get the obvious out of the way immediately, contributing to GEN is not a paid gig. At this point in time no one – including the head honchos – gets paid for their work. GEN is a labor of love for some and a launching point for a career in the various geek-culture fields for others. That is not to say that your dedication will go completely unrewarded. Listed below are several incentives for sticking with GEN.
Building your Portfolio: Perhaps the biggest reward for joining GEN is a chance to build your portfolio and network. Whether you use GEN as opportunity to hone your writing skills or to polish your camera presence, regular contributions help you grow in a professional capacity and make steps towards a potential career. A little bit of ambition, a bit of talent and a lot of hard work will eventually pay off.
Press Passes: Writing for GEN scores you press status at numerous enthusiast events across the nation. Press status not only negates any cost, but also allows you an opportunity to rub elbows with talent in your particular field through interviews, previews or demos and industry parties.
Perks: Other perks are relative to your particular area of coverage. At times several of the sections get free products to review. Once in a while GEN will score download codes for games or other swag. It is best not to join the GEN team expecting any of these perks, but from time to time they are available.
Friends: Without sounding all mushy, we can guarantee that joining GEN will introduce you to some amazing new people. Through online conversations or meeting up at events many of our girls have made lifelong friends and as a result always have a couch to crash on virtually anywhere in the nation.
What does GEN expect from me?
Joining the GEN family is a commitment we ask our staff to take seriously. While we don’t feel the required workload is overwhelming – the majority of our girls attending school or working full time do just fine – becoming a member of GEN will require daily attention. But don’t worry…it’s not as scary as it sounds.
CURRENT JOB OPENINGS:
Public Relations/Marketing
The public relations and marketing specialist is primarily responsible for promoting GEN on social networking websites. This means promoting news stories, original features, interviews and contests on sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Digg. The PR/marketing specialist will additionally be responsible for updating GEN pages on the aforementioned sites. Updates include adding friends, posting bulletins and generally keeping the profiles active.
When the situation calls for it, such as with a complete website redesign or a particularly important contest, the PR/marketing specialist will need to create a press release to disseminate to appropriate outlets. For this reason, creating a master contact list for publishers, developers, artists and other talent is required. The public relations/marketing specialist is also responsible for getting in touch with potential sponsors, sending out marketing materials and general advertising concerns.
Graphic Designer
The graphic designer is expected to help editors, writers and hosts with graphics for recurring columns, site-wide events or one-time features. They must also be willing to work on promotional materials and advertisements for GEN. The graphic designer must be able to respond to requests within a few days time, permitting that the writer gives advance notice.
Tech Director
The tech director must have a broad understanding of website programming and be able to customize/update WordPress. The Tech director also must have the ability to troubleshoot and respond to errors in a timely manner. Any technology-related concerns are to be sent to the tech director.
Editor - (Anime/Manga, Gaming News)
Editors are understood to be the head of their sections and as such are the public voice of their genre. Editors are solely responsible for contacting publishers, developers and other industry professionals for their writing team. This allows each section to have a unified voice and keeps us from bogging down important contacts’ inboxes. If a writer has worked repeatedly with a contact prior to joining GEN, an editor can grant them permission to maintain communication. However, editors must be cc’ed on all press-related emails.
Some sections choose to send links of their coverage to companies when they go live. If your section decides to do so (which we recommend), this is the editor’s responsibility. It reflects poorly on GEN if more than one person forwards our coverage, as it exposes a lack of communication on our end.
In addition to contacting industry professionals, editors must be able to maintain regular communication with those in their sections. Ideally an editor should be able to check their email at least once a day to distribute information, answer questions, and resolve conflicts. Editors also must be in contact with other section leads to disseminate information about website changes, upcoming contests and site-wide collaborations. A bi-weekly meeting may be required of editors to discuss GEN with other staff members.
In terms of content, under normal circumstances editors are expected to write 2-4 pieces per week. This number does not account for extenuating circumstances. If an editor finds herself or himself in such a situation the only action needed is to communicate the issue. Editors are also responsible for the content and quality of their writing team, and should remain watchful for spelling and grammar issues along with the copy editor. Editors also must discuss areas of improvement with their team if it ever becomes an issue, and should be able to give direct and honest advice to those in their section as maintaining a high level of quality in our coverage is a priority.
Writer - (Gadgets, Anime/Manga, Gaming News, Collectibles)
Writers make up the bulk of GEN’s staff and are responsible for keeping fresh content on the main page. Writers must work closely with editors to plan coverage and should establish “writing beats” so that there is no overlap in coverage. Writers should cover news, previews and reviews, conduct interviews, create original features and post media as needed. If you are a designated review or news writer, disregard the above. All stories that you wish to have featured in the scroller must be approved by your editor.
Contacting industry professionals to access assets, set up interviews or talk coverage is strictly prohibited unless given permission by your editor. Your editor is the public face of the genre and will do that work for you for reasons mentioned above.
In terms of content, under normal circumstances writers are expected to write 3-4 pieces per week, which can vary in length from a few paragraphs to a few pages, context considered. This number does not account for extenuating circumstances. If a writer finds herself or himself in such a situation the only action needed is to communicate the issue.
Communication is key between writers and editors, and as such writers ideally should be able to check their email once a day. If you will be off the grid for an extended period of time, let your editor know in advance.
Video Editor - (Los Angeles based)
Similar to other editors, the video editor is solely responsible for contacting publishers, developers and other industry professionals for appointments and interviews. However, because hosts cover content from all categories on GEN, the video team editor must work closely with other section leads to ensure that video content complements written content instead of duplicating it. If a host has an idea for an interview they would like to set up, or need permission to film in a specific area, contact the video editor first.
The video editor must have experience with editing software such as Adobe Premier or iMovie and be willing to make custom intro/outro clips for event coverage. They must also be willing to teach the basics of video editing to the hosts in their section. Finally, the video editor must maintain a standard of quality and unity in all video content, meaning some form of template must be implemented.
Host - (Los Angeles based preferred but will negotiate)
Hosts are unique in that they are very comfortable in front of the camera and possess the ability to think on their toes. Hosts are not tied to one specific area of expertise, and must be comfortable speaking or presenting a line of questioning on all of the subjects covered on GEN.
Hosts don’t submit content as often as writers or editors, primarily because their work is tied to events such as San Diego Comic Con, the Consumer Electronics Show or the Electronic Entertainment Expo. For this reason a host should ideally be located in a central event hub such as Los Angeles or New York, or have the ability to fly/travel frequently.
As GEN evolves, hosts may take on more regular roles through weekly programming. Till then, hosts (and writers) are encouraged to use their own video equipment for reviews, previews or interviews. Hosts are not limited to video work, but like contributors, they must run written work by the appropriate section head before posting to avoid duplicate topics.
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To apply, please send a writing sample or video sample (1000 words or less or under 3 minutes for video) to jobs@girlsentertainmentnetwork.com.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Well, if I were a female, I would definitely apply.
June 13th, 2009 at 2:49 am
It should go without saying, but please ensure your writing samples are relevant to the position you’re applying for.
June 14th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Question. For video editors we can send in our demo reels as long as it’s within the time limit, right?
June 15th, 2009 at 9:24 am
That is correct, Angelidia
June 16th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Good luck to all applicants!
July 25th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Have the spots been filled?
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Question(s) for the graphic designer position:
What kind of work are you looking for in a portfolio specifically?
Do I send the portfolio to the same email as listed? (Asking since it mentions writing and video samples)
Thanks for your time.