Come join the Info Hub!

The Germantown Info Hub is a community journalism project that seeks to share information and stories of and for residents of Germantown, Philadelphia. We are a collaboration between a community advisory group, researchers and student journalists at Temple University and Jefferson University, community outreach specialists and volunteers, and media partners. We grew out of a research study asking residents about their community news and information needs and how they imagined a better relationship with local news.

We are honored by the generous support the Independence Public Media Foundation has given to the Germantown Info Hub and our sister community media project, Kensington Voice, via Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication. Thanks to this support, we are looking to make the project stronger and more sustainable. We’ll be creating a new website, holding more regular community discussions and workshops, and gathering more information and stories that respond to questions you have about Germantown. To do this, we’re seeking to fill the positions below.

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter that describes why you are interested in the position you are applying for and your relevant qualifications: andrea.wenzel@temple.edu. Please also email with questions about any of the positions. Formerly incarcerated people, LGBTQ people, immigrants, and people of color are encouraged to apply. Please apply by July 26th.

1. Project Coordinator

The project coordinator position will be a full-time employee of Temple University and the official job posting will be posted by Temple shortly. What follows is an unofficial preview…

The successful project coordinator will manage an innovative community journalism project working to test a model for local journalism that shares power with residents and offers more nuanced neighborhood narratives. As project coordinator, you will be embedded in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood and work closely with community and student journalists to develop and edit stories of and for Germantown. These stories will grow from a cycle of engagement which you coordinate — working with colleagues who use community organizing strategies to engage residents in sharing ideas and facilitating regular community discussions and workshops. You will also communicate regularly with Info Hub’s media partners, including city-wide organizations, as well as hyperlocal outlets focused on issues in Germantown.

What You’ll Do

Who You Are

• You are a proactive self-starter and creative-thinker with experience in journalism.
• You have a passion for local news that is community-centered and solutions-oriented, and an awareness of solutions journalism and engaged journalism strategies, including community organizing practices.
• You are comfortable and excited to work with diverse populations and to be part of a new initiative committed to making journalism more inclusive.
• You have experience writing and editing journalistic stories, and using social media to extend their reach.
• You are highly organized and pay attention to detail, but also flexible and able to adapt to changing realities and needs.
• You are aware of local issues impacting Philadelphia neighborhoods.
• Experience with team management a plus.

This position is 40 hours/week, with occasional evening/weekend commitments. The successful candidate will reside in Philadelphia. While they can largely work virtually from the location of their choice, they will be expected to spend time in the Germantown neighborhood and to meet regularly with other members of the Info Hub team in Germantown.

2. Community Reporter

The successful candidate will be an experienced reporter committed to community-centered and solutions-oriented reporting. As community reporter, you will be embedded in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood and report on key community issues. You will work with Info Hub colleagues to ensure that your reporting responds to issues raised by community members through outreach activities, ranging from accountability reporting to community profiles. Your stories will contribute to a model of local news that applies engaged and solutions journalism practices to offer more nuanced neighborhood narratives.

What You’ll Do

• Reporting to and working with the project manager, develop and write at least two weekly stories for the Info Hub including solutions-oriented stories, accountability stories, and community profiles.
• Work with Info Hub team to ensure that stories are part of a community engagement process where ideas often come from residents’ suggestions, and stories are circulated back to residents through social media, texts, face-to-face outreach, and community discussions.
• Occasionally work with community contributors to assist them in developing and editing stories.
• Participate in Info Hub community conversations and team activities as needed.

Who You Are

• You are an experienced reporter committed to sharing community stories.
• You have a passion for local news that is community-centered and solutions-oriented, and an awareness of solutions journalism and engaged journalism strategies.
• You are comfortable and excited to work with diverse populations and to be part of a new initiative committed to making journalism more inclusive.
• You have experience writing and editing journalistic stories, and using social media to extend their reach.
• You are highly organized and pay attention to detail, but also flexible and able to adapt to changing realities and needs.
• You are aware of local issues impacting Philadelphia neighborhoods and Germantown in particular.
• Experience working with communities and awareness of community organizing strategies a plus.

This independent contractor position will be between 20–40 hours/week, with occasional evening/weekend commitments. Exact hours and compensation will be determined at the time of hire and will be commensurate with experience and availability. The successful candidate will reside in Philadelphia. While they can largely work virtually from the location of their choice, they will be expected to spend time in the Germantown neighborhood and to meet regularly with other members of the Info Hub team in Germantown.

3. Community Organizer

The successful candidate will coordinate outreach and community engagement for the Info Hub. As community organizer, you will be embedded in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood and have a deep familiarity with community issues. You will use organizing strategies such as one-on-one’s, tabling, and door-knocking to build relationships with residents and stakeholders in the Germantown community. You will work with Info Hub colleagues to ensure that residents’ ideas for stories and community discussions are shared with community and student journalists and media partners, and you will contribute occasional community stories of your own. Your work building relationships between residents and local news media will contribute to a model of community-centered journalism that applies engaged and solutions journalism practices to offer more nuanced neighborhood narratives.

What You’ll Do

• Reporting to and working with the project manager, develop and coordinate a strategy for community outreach and engagement.
• Develop and organize a schedule for weekly face-to-face tabling at relevant community events and spaces, ensuring that all sectors of the neighborhood are engaged, with an emphasis on areas that have historically been marginalized.
• Work with Info Hub team to ensure that community members are engaged in a process where story ideas often come from residents’ suggestions, and stories are circulated back to residents through social media, texts, face-to-face outreach, and community discussions.
• Identify and occasionally mentor community members interested in volunteering or contributing content.
• Develop and write at least two stories a month profiling a community member or covering a local event.
• Participate in Info Hub outreach, community conversations, and team activities as needed.

Who You Are

• You have experience working with communities and a familiarity with community organizing strategies and tactics.
• You are comfortable and excited to work with diverse populations and to be part of a new initiative committed to making journalism more inclusive.
• You are aware of local issues impacting Philadelphia neighborhoods and Germantown in particular.
• You have a passion for local news that is community-centered and solutions-oriented, and an awareness of solutions journalism and engaged journalism strategies.
• You are comfortable using social media to share content and organize events, and using programs like Google docs and sheets to share information and enter data.
• You are highly organized and pay attention to detail, but also flexible and able to multitask and adapt to changing realities and needs.
• Experience with journalistic writing, event planning, and coordination/management a plus.

This independent contractor position is 16 hours/week, with occasional evening/weekend commitments. The successful candidate will reside in Philadelphia. While they can largely work virtually from the location of their choice, they will be expected to spend time in the Germantown neighborhood and to meet regularly with other members of the Info Hub team in Germantown.

4. Community Outreach Specialist

The successful candidate will conduct outreach and community engagement for the Info Hub. As an outreach specialist, you will be embedded in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood and have a deep familiarity with community issues. You will use community organizing strategies such as one-on-one’s, tabling, and door-knocking to build relationships with residents and stakeholders in the Germantown community. You will work with the Community Organizer and other Info Hub colleagues to ensure that residents’ ideas for stories and community discussions are shared with community and student journalists and media partners, and you will contribute occasional community stories of your own. Your work building relationships between residents and local news media will contribute to a model of community-centered journalism that applies engaged and solutions journalism practices to offer more nuanced neighborhood narratives.

What You’ll Do

• Reporting to and working with the community organizer, develop and execute a strategy for community outreach and engagement.
• Conduct weekly face-to-face tabling at relevant community events and spaces, ensuring that all sectors of the neighborhood are engaged, with an emphasis on areas that have historically been marginalized.
• Work with Info Hub team to ensure that community members are engaged in a process where story ideas often come from residents’ suggestions, and stories are circulated back to residents through social media, texts, face-to-face outreach, and community discussions.
• Identify community members interested in volunteering or contributing content.
• Develop and write at least one story a month profiling a community member or covering a local event.
• Participate in Info Hub outreach, community conversations, and team activities as needed.

Who You Are

• You have experience working with communities and a familiarity with community organizing strategies and tactics.
• You are comfortable and excited to work with diverse populations and to be part of a new initiative committed to making journalism more inclusive.
• You are aware of local issues impacting Philadelphia neighborhoods and Germantown in particular.
• You have a passion for local news that is community-centered and solutions-oriented, and an awareness of solutions journalism and engaged journalism strategies.
• You are comfortable using social media to share content and organize events, and using programs like Google docs and sheets to share information and enter data.
• You are highly organized and pay attention to detail, but also flexible and able to multitask and adapt to changing realities and needs.
• Experience with journalistic writing, event planning, and coordination/management a plus.

This independent contractor position is 8 hours/week, with occasional evening/weekend commitments. The successful candidate will reside in Philadelphia. While they can largely work virtually from the location of their choice, they will be expected to spend time in the Germantown neighborhood and to meet regularly with other members of the Info Hub team in Germantown.