Do you live in San Francisco? Do you want to write for Engadget?
By Laura June 
posted July 12th 2010 2:42PM
posted July 12th 2010 2:42PM
Oh sure, you love gadgets -- but do you have the chops to write about them? We'd love to know if you think you do, because we're looking to actually pay people to do this stuff. Professional writing experience isn't necessary (though it doesn't hurt), but what we really care about is that you can write skillfully about gadgets with wit, concision, and authority. And being obsessed with Engadget is good, too. We're looking for an editor in the San Francisco area.Want to apply? Read on.
Here's what you need to send to apply:
Writing
- Three sample posts written in the Engadget style.
- "The Engadget style" doesn't mean a generic-sounding blog voice -- think about how your own writing style and voice can shine through while still fitting Engadget.
- These sample posts can be about whatever you want, but they should seem like they could have been written by one of our writers (but without all the typos and gross inaccuracies).
- We won't be using these on the site, we just want to get a sense of how well you can do this stuff.
- Your favorite related gadgets (and why) of all time.
- Give us a few words about how you think Engadget differs from other technology pubs out there.
- A few words about yourself. (Please note, due to legalities we can't hire minors.)
- Your contact info.
- How much time per week you can commit to blogging. If it's less than thirty hours a week then you probably shouldn't bother. Be realistic, okay?
- Any other questions you may have about the gig.
- Don't just send us stuff you wrote elsewhere, we're not asking for clips.
- Don't send attachments or resumes.
We also apologize, but the sheer volume of applications makes it difficult to respond to everyone. If we're interested we'll get in touch, and thanks in advance!
Please remember: You must live either in San Francisco or a short (very short) drive away. When we need writers in other places, we'll put out another call!
To apply to Engadget, please send us an email at jobsATengadgetDOTcom
@shishi
Well done good Sir.
I'd love to write for Engadget, but I live in Honolulu. Any options for me?
No, yes
How much is the pay?
Just got back from the Berkeley/San Fran area visiting my sister. I figure one of these days you'll need somebody from Iowa, so I'll wait for that posting. I'm sure everybody wants to know the latest technology they are sticking in John Deere gadgets, eh? :)
@Dorf lol i thought john deere was based in Moline, IL?
@kongmw
HQ is in Moline,which is on the Iowa/Illinois border. They have a large location in Waterloo, Iowa where there are several locations including the Deere Waterloo Works which contains the Foundry, Drivetrain and Tractor and Cab divsion, and the Power Systems & Deere Engine Works where they crank out both tractor and marine engines as well as the Product Engineering Center.
Wow, can't tell I'm a country boy....
To bad I live in the Northeast, I was a reporter (and photographer/editor/layout designer - they make you do everything these days) for two years, but had to give it up and get a better job because newspapers are dying and also pay crap lol. Otherwise I would apply, sounds like fun.
Do we really need one more San Fran tech blogger in this world?
@TXToast
how many San Fran bloggers are there in this world?
@Psyclotr0n A LOT.
I live in Honolulu, HI (just like the other guy)... any hope for me/us?...
Any chance of Engadget looking for some bloggers in Toronto, Canada? You're missing out on the Canadian perspective!
@hastings
Toronto, Canada FTW.
We need Engadget Canada and I volunteer my services free of cost for the 1st year and then we will talk…
PS: I'm not a RIM fan so don't expect me to be biased abt any small thing that comes out of Waterloo, okay?
It's 2010, this is an internet site, and the job is for a writing position. So why in hell would the candidate need to live in a particular city and actually come into an office everyday? If there's one position that can easily work remotely, it's a writer.
@brianbot5000
Hmmm my guess is that a lot of the conventions, events, etc., that need to be covered are in the SF Bay Area? It's more convenient (and cheaper) if you're local and don't need to fly to the events.
San Francisco locals only? Really? With all the modern communication technology that we have today, it seems that this is easily a telecommuting job.
@R
You fail to understand the full scope of things. Think of this scenario, if there's a press event in San Fran, it's way easier to deploy a local journalist to the event instead of flying say.... Nilay Patel all the way from the East Coast. They don't just sit at computers all day... contrary to popular belief.... lol
@Plazmic Flame
Atlanta has a crap ton of conventions and is home to the headquarters to alot of companies but they do not even have a editor in the southeast
You do one in Ohio ill do it
if i live in NYC can i preface everything i post with how i like coffee and bagels and am the wittiest fucker to ever blog the interwebs?
@Psyclotr0n +1 it enrages me every time I read that, completely unrelated.
I'm a card-carrying gadget fanatic, daily Engadget reader, and would positively -love- to write for them; unfortunately, I fail the distance requirement: I live in southern Florida, some 3,000 miles away. Other disqualifiers include a stubborn ambivalence toward the iPhone--frankly, I can give or take it; however; I have an intense personal dislike of AT&T, which would prevent me from ever obtaining one. I'm a loyal Big Red subscriber and will not even entertain the possibility of owning an iPhone until the device comes to Verizon--if it ever does.
Oh, well. I'll keep participating in the forums, though.
What about DC!
I think the position is for me. However, I think travelling from London each day may be too long a commute. But then again, I guess I can communicate wit the head office via FaceTime.
The thought of writing for Engadget is really intriguing. Too bad it's currently only in SF.
I don't think anyone applied because they couldn't figure out the which parts of the email address given at the end of the article were supposed to be replace with actual punctuation marks... ?!
You couldn't pay me enough to live in the Bay Area, sorry.
@LANjackal
Yea, house prices are so high here, nobody can get paid enough to live here.
all i need is a tub in embarcadero, wonder the days by LED lamp...searching for an honest phone
I'm in Sonoma, why don't you send me some crapgadgetry, and I'll review it.
Qualifications:
I went to the TWiT cottage for the Windows 7 release party.
@LloydChiro
Well, best to Leo and Dvorak for us all, then. Old LL's been on quite the roll of late, what with his re-convening of all former TechTV-ers to his fold (not counting K Rose of course).
Doin' the TWiT baby, doin' the TWiT, alright...
Still waiting for you guys to ask for a Scotland editor....
hey i live in san rafael!! and i LOVE gadgets and the like. but my wittiness could need some improvement... hmm maybe i should do this.
I wuld hrt 2 rite 4 ngdgt!!!!! I spll real gud - & my garmmr is top natch. I wuld evn pay u 2 let me rite 4 u. But what is a "gadget"?
I live in Sacramento, CA, which is about a two hour drive away (Not taking consideraton for traffic on I-80). However, I would rather read about then write on the latest tech and gadgets.
@FlareSama
cool story!
@Psyclotr0n Thank you! You should attend my book signing coming up soon. More of my cool stories will be available for purchase!
I'd move to San Fransisco to write for Engadget!
I dunno... run your business the way you see fit, but requiring SF location in a high tech world is a tad old school. Hell, I'm a software manager for a fortune 5 software corp located in SF and I handle high level executive escalations and hard to crack cases all the while telecommuting out of Texas. I get what I need done without leaving the house. If a lot of people in high tech can do this, why can't your new guy?
I'd be really curious why engadget requires a SF locale for this kind of job... kinda strange IMHO. Seems to me if the talent is right, you wouldn't give a shit were they lived.
@bobomatic
Good question. Perhaps it would be a good question to ask Adam Curry - after all, he made the decision to commute from Guildford UK to SF every other week or so, when he had the podcasting tiger by the tail. He certainly didn't enjoy the commute, so why do you think he did it :) ?
I personally think that SF has become a cultural center for le nouveau technologie fantastique, and in the instant-on world of blogging at this level, the call-ins don't get the scoop.
I just don't see this gig as a process of studied authorship and perfect copy mastered over many days (as nice as that might be in many cases). The business reality is "be on the deck plates when it happens."
@Matty K
Yup, you're probably right... in my world I see less and less influence from the bay area but what do I know. I work with developers who can't wait to catch the next relocation out of SF because of the cost of living. Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, etc.. all have their value. Like others have posted before.. finding and paying for talent in the bay area is expensive so I would surmise, in the end, engadget is gonna get what they pay for.... which is probably why we've seen this ad posted a second time in as many weeks.
@bobomatic
Well, I also work with developers and I appreciate your position. Frankly, most of the kinds of developers that would want to work in this sector that are relocating seem to be going to Austin TX, not that I'm really familiar with what's going on there. All the same, I'd have to say that it's awfully soon to be characterizing the Bay area as becoming irrelevant.