Call for New Reporters!

EDIT: We are extending this call to February 29th. Plus we are now allowing applicants who have been blogging for less than 3 months. Please review the call again!

We especially seeking scrapbookers and multi-media artists with a strength in papercraft. Digital and hybrid artists are also encouraged to apply!

It's about that time... Craft Critique is growing by leaps and bounds! In the past six months we have doubled our subscribers and more companies are contacting us wanting to have our reporters review their new newest craft products. Frankly, we can barely keep up! We need YOUR help. We are seeking new reporters to help us for the coming year, and we hope to increase our support staff as well. Please feel free to forward this post to your crafty pals who you think would be a great addition to our team!

What's in it for you? Besides being a ton of fun... Increased traffic to your blog; Craft Critique is a place where all our reporters can connect and share readers, introducing new traffic to each other's blogs! Being a reporter for Craft Critique can be a wonderful stepping stone if you have aspirations of writing professionally or building a craft related publication resume. Many of our reporters are stay at home moms, and their work with Craft Critique is helping to fulfill their desire to connect with other adults in a professional atmosphere.

CC reporters can receive Press credentials to industry events in exchange for their reporting of the event... free stuff! Our reporters occasionally receive complementary products to review. Craft Critique is a new and growing collective. We have high aspirations for the future and growth opportunities may be availible! Craft Critique reporters retain ownership of their articles, projects and photos and may use them in other publications.

Our goal for the coming year is to bring our staff to a total of 20 or more! So we have MANY open positions. We are looking for a variety of reporters. Must have basic knowledge in blogging and how to post to a blog, digital photography and good writing/communication skills. Crafting skills must be above average. Knowledge of the use and personal preferences of crafting products and tools is a must. All entrants must have a craft related blog or website. Must be a resident of the United States or Canada.

We are looking to fill the following positions:

Basic Staff Reporters: Individuals that have talents in the arena of paper, stamping and scrapbooking. At this time most of our reporters are stampers... so we are especially in search of individuals who have experience with scrapbooking. Reporters will have the opportunity to review products gifted to them to review and also products from their own collection of tools/product. Must submit 2-3 articles per month. Reporters may suggest products and tools to review. Requested Essay Submission: write a review of your favorite Die cutting equipment, Paper Trimmer or Circle/Shaper Cutter. See Submission Specifics below for what to include with your submission.

The following positions are for "Specialty Reporters". Specialty Reporters will be required to write one article per month. Must be self initiated in selecting their own topics and article submissions. Reporters will be required to coordinate product reviews in coordination with the Vendor Coordination staff. You will not be financially compensated but may receive free products to review.

Digi-scrap Specialty Reporters: We are looking for at least one reporter with Digi-scrapping experience. May also serve as our Website Coordinator (see position listed below under Support Staff). Requested Essay Submission: write a review of your favorite Digi-Scrapping kit. See Submission Specifics below for what to include with your submission.

Knitting/Crochet Specialty Reporter: We are looking for one reporter with Knitting and Crochet skills. Requested Essay Submission: write a review of your favorite Knitting or Crochet Tool. See Submission Specifics below for what to include with your submission.

Fabric/Sewing/Stitching Specialty Reporter: We are looking for at least one reporter with skills in embroidery, sewing, and related fabric crafts. Requested Essay Submission: write a review of your favorite fabric craft related tool, product or book... other than your sewing machine. See Submission Specifics below for what to include with your submission.

Jewelry Specialty Reporter: This individual must have skills in basic Jewelry making. Skill set need not include soldering, lapidary and metal work... but those basic beading skills common to the at home crafter. Knowledge in polymer clays a plus. Requested Essay Submission: write a review of your favorite jewelry related tool, product or book. See Submission Specifics below for what to include with your submission.

The following positions are for "Support Staff Positions". These individuals will act as core support staff for our reporters. They may also serve as reporters. These are volunteer positions as are all Craft Critique "jobs". You will not be financially compensated for your participation but you may receive free products to review.

Website Coordinator: This individual must have basic website programing skills; enough skill to add links, graphics and changes to the website on a regular basis and create said graphics. This individual will update the website on a regular basis in coordination with other support staff. This will include a complete redesign of the blog and possibly assist with a switch to a new blog host. Graphic design, Web-design, Digi-scrapping and other craft experience a plus. We would love to offer this position to an individual who owns his/her own business in blog support, website or graphic design who could benefit from exchanging their services for promotional links from Craft Critique. We would also hope that this individual would also be our digi-scrap reporter... but we are exploring all possibilities. Requested Essay Submission: Please write a short detail on the unique skills you bring to this position and how you might be able to improve or enhance the Craft Critique Blog.

Assistant Vendor Coordinator: assist the existing Vendor coordinator in contacting possible vendors about product reviews. Knowledge of the papercrafting/scrapbooking market and sales or marketing experience a plus. Requested Essay Submission: write a short detail on your skill set specific to this position and possible reviews you'd like to see featured in future posts. Tell us how you would approach possible vendors about having their products reviewed on Craft Critique.


Submission Specifics for all entries:

Email your submission to sarah@craftcritique.com before 2/29/08. New reporters will be notified by 3/15/08.

Your article, projects and photos need not have been created especially for this submission/call. Feel free to submit previously published work for our review, as long as we are free to use it. Your essay/article and photos may be published in a future post on Craft Critique. By submitting to this call you grant Craft Critique the limited use of your essay/article and photos for posting to our blog. You will retain ownership of your article, projects and photos.

If you are applying for multiple positions you may do so in one email. Please include an additional essay for each position you are applying for.

Please include the following personal details with your submission. Feel free to copy and paste the following section directly into your email. Forward all questions to sarah@craftcritique.com

Position or positions you are applying for:

Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Blogs:

Forums and online communities you frequent:

Primary Craft Skills (skills you have expertise in):

Secondary Craft Skills (skills you have some experience with, but perhaps not expertise):

Professional Craft Companies Associated with; list those craft related companies you may own, work for, be on a design team with, or be otherwise professionally associated with. Please include basic details about the nature of those relationships.

Why would you like to be a reporter for Craft Critique? Let us know briefly why you'd like to be a part of our team.

Anything else we need to know? Feel free to let us know anything else that would help us get to know you better!

Information to include with your submission article: Be sure to include the name of the product/tool/book and where it was purchased, the price you paid (US or Canadian) and recommended retailers (if any) for purchase. List and describe product pros and cons and how the reviewed product compares to other similar products you have tried. Include a photo of the product (it's ok to use photos found online at manufacturer or retailer websites, just list where the product photo is from if you did not take it yourself). At least one photo of a project completed with the product is a must.

Please include your photos as .jpg attachments. Within the article, list where the photos should appear by name. Please include no more than three photos with your submission.