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LFM: Massively seeks a new columnist and freelancers

Bree Royce
- Massively's Editor-in-Chief
Updated ·7 min read
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Hopefully you're prepared! (Pic from WoW Insider)

Yes folks, it's that time again: the time when Massively hops into the hiring channel and says, "Looking for more!" We're looking to hire fresh meat a new staff member and a set of freelancers for the site: a new multipurpose columnist and West Coast freelancers.

Here's the skinny on us: Massively is Joystiq's geeky MMO cousin. We're owned by AOL; we're all paid, remote contractors; and we uphold a strict set of ethical standards you won't find among our rivals. We focus on high-quality writing with fair sourcing and a mix of news and features. We employ actual copyediting and editorial oversight, so you won't see trainwreck English in every headline. In short, we are the MMO site the other sites use as an RSS feed.

These positions would be an awesome chance to break into paid gaming journalism if you happen to have just the right blend of availability, excellent writing skills, and passion for the MMO genre. If that describes you, then read on and apply!



Columnist


Massively is seeking a new multipurpose columnist. The ideal candidate possesses an expert level of knowledge and extensive experience with a wide variety of MMOs from multiple eras and is able to write about the genre in a timely, nuanced manner. He or she will propose and helm a weekly editorial column in addition to crafting previews and interviews for the site. This is a contracted staff position that pays per article at a confidential rate to be disclosed during the final hiring round.

Requirements

  • Snappy writing skills, clean grammar, and strong self-editing talent.

  • Willingness to meet a weekly quota of at least one 1000- to 1500-word MMORPG-relevant column per week on a fixed schedule with a hard deadline. This column must consistently demonstrate expertise in the genre. It should not be game-specific and should not overlap with any of our existing columns.

  • Willingness and ability to take on frequent but irregular assignments such as previews, interviews, reviews, and in-depth features in addition to the column, even for unloved games.

  • Flexible availability during daytime U.S. hours for infrequent online media events.

  • Broad knowledge of multiple MMOs, MMO history, and the modern MMO gaming industry.

  • Willingness to comply with network style and ethics standards.

  • Possession of a reliable gaming computer and internet connection.

  • Promptness and politeness when communicating via email, IM, and phone. We need you to be available via email throughout the day for coordinating articles.

  • Excellent html- and image-editing skills and basic familiarity with WYSIWYG blogging software.

  • Eligibility to work wherever you reside (that's 18 and up in the U.S.; non-U.S. applicants must have a bank account and accept payments by wire transfer or PayPal).

Plusses (tell us about these!)

  • Interest in livestreaming and video content for MMOs or MOBAs, particularly those we don't already cover heavily.

  • Interest in covering additional columns for games we do not already feature in a regular column (for example, Neverwinter or RIFT).

  • Familiarity with AP style guidelines and the Joystiq/Massively brand.

  • Proximity to a major con city like San Francisco, LA, New York, Seattle, Boston, Seoul, or Cologne.

  • Experience with the Asian gaming industry, social games, multiplayer ORPGs, MOBAs, MMOFPS titles, or other pseudo-MMOs.

  • Fluency in multiple languages (Korean especially).

To apply for our open columnist position, please email the following in an application to apply@massively.com:

  • Contact information, including your full name, full address, phone number, email address, and any instant messenger accounts at which you can be reached.

  • A paragraph explaining why you're awesome for this job and should be hired.

  • A paragraph discussing your gaming experience and gloat-worthy gaming and writing achievements.

  • An outline of your proposed weekly column, including its title and ideas for five sample articles (not five entire articles!). Please avoid single-game proposals or columns that overlap with our existing lineup.

  • An abbreviated sample column in the style of a typical Massively column (300-500 words in text only). If you are already published on the internet, you can substitute links to or abbreviate your best work if it happens to match our style (just tell us you're doing that).

  • Three links to Massively articles that you believe exemplify our best content (and why).

  • Three sample interview questions that you might pose after viewing this video.

Your application is your very first writing, following-directions, and critical-thinking test, so please don't make it easy to reject you. Do not include attachments, images, formal resumes, or excessive formatting. In the subject line of the email, include your full name and the title of the position for which you're applying (e.g., FIPPY DARKPAW -- Columnist). The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. EST on November 15th, 2013.

Massively is looking for San Francisco freelancers

If you follow Ask Massively, you're probably aware of Massively's ethics policy -- you know, the one that keeps us from accepting studio-funded trips to check out games in cities where we lack staff. That's where freelancers come in. This round, we're looking for multiple freelancers in Los Angeles and San Francisco to attend and write about local events. We are not seeking freelancers in any other location at this time. These aren't full- or part-time staff positions; you'd just be called on for these special events when they crop up. We can receive up to several invitations per month or none at all, so flexibility and daytime availability are a must (and this is why we like having several in key cities). We'd like to think it'd be a nice way for a local to get some industry experience, have some fun, and make some easy pocket money.


Requirements

  • Residency near Los Angeles or San Francisco and ability to travel into the one or the other city and its surrounding areas on your own. Travel expenses will not be reimbursed (but hey, they're tax deductible).

  • Availability during typical event timeframes. Most studio events take place during the day on weekdays. That's when we'll need you. A flexible daytime schedule is a must.

  • Strong writing and interviewing skills. You will be chatting with developers and writing up your experiences during and after events.

  • Professionalism. No really. You'll be writing for us immediately after events, not scooping up swag, shmoozing devs, or getting drunk at after-parties.

  • Experience with MMOs and the MMO gaming industry. You'll need to be a serious MMO gamer to write and ask questions about the genre with any authority.

  • Possession of a reliable computer and internet connection. You'll be writing up your articles and submitting them to us online.

  • Willingness to respond promptly to email, IM, and phone. We need to be able to get in touch with you quickly prior to and during events. Accessibility is critical.

Plusses (tell us about these!)

  • Familiarity with blogging software, AP style standards, and the Joystiq/Massively editorial voice.

  • Html skills, image-editing skills, video interview experience/equipment, and liveblogging experience.

  • Familiarity with "not so massively" games like MOBAs and MMOFPS titles.

  • Ambition to attend larger-scale local conventions in California (like GDC and E3).

You must be 18 or older and eligible to work in the U.S. This opening is for a freelance role, not a full-time or part-time staff position; it pays per article at a confidential rate to be disclosed to selected applicants.

To apply to become a West Coast freelancer, please email the following in an application to apply@massively.com:

  • Contact information, including your full name, full address, phone number, email address, and any instant messenger accounts at which you can be reached.

  • A paragraph explaining why you're awesome for this job.

  • A paragraph discussing your gaming experience.

  • A sample post in the style of a typical Massively news post (just the text).

  • Five sample interview questions that you might pose after viewing this video.

Do not include attachments, images, formal resumes, or excessive formatting. In the subject line of the email, include your full name and the title of the position for which you're applying (i.e., ANTONIA BAYLE -- West Coast Freelancer). The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. EST on November 15th.

We don't really care about degrees or resumes. Either you can do the job or you can't. Prove to us you can.


At the end of the application phase, the lead editors will review the submissions and select the best for further interviews. Because of the number of applications we receive for call-outs like these, we cannot respond to all submissions or acknowledge receipt of your work. Please don't contact us about employment beyond these specific roles. If you have applied in the past for different positions, especially if we contacted you and told you that you'd made it to our final round, please do apply again. And feel free to leave questions in the comments or send us a tip. Good luck!