SPARK is an acronym for Students Promoting Awareness of Research Knowledge. Since 1995, this innovative student writing program has been generously sponsored by The Chronicle-Journal, Northwestern Ontario's largest newspaper.
Each year approximately six students are hired by Lakehead's Office of Communications to work as part-time writers. The students are given assignments to interview faculty and to write stories detailing research projects on campus. The stories are then published on our website, in campus publications like this one, and in The Chronicle-Journal.
STUDENT WRITERS NEEDED
$12/hr
"The SPARK program encouraged me to write concisely and with the reader in mind. SPARK helped me to develop my writing style and practice my interviewing skills. Passion is definitely an element that our professors show and this is reflected in their unique projects at Lakehead."
– Jayal Chung
The Office of Communications is looking for students to take part in an innovative writing program called SPARK — Lakehead (Students Promoting Awareness of Research Knowledge)
Goals of SPARK — Lakehead
1. to help students develop skills in writing and interviewing
2. to assist the University in promoting research projects currently underway
3. to raise awareness about the importance of research and its benefits to society
How the Program Works:
The student will be assigned a research story and asked to interview a faculty member on campus. The story will be edited by the Editor of Publications and checked for accuracy by the faculty member concerned. The student will be paid approximately $120 for one 500-word story requiring a maximum of 10 hours of preparation time.
The Ideal Candidate will have:
- excellent writing skills with good knowledge of spelling and grammar
- interviewing experience
- good interpersonal skills and a willingness to learn
- an ability to meet deadlines and to work well with a minimum of supervision
How to apply:
"Working for the SPARK program gave me the opportunity to find my own voice and develop my writing and journalistic skills. I met interesting new people, chatted about all kinds of cutting-edge research and re-discovered parts of the campus community that I wouldn't ordinarily have had time to connect with. I highly recommend it: SPARK will make you remember why you chose Lakehead!"
— Colin Anderson
Send 2-3 samples of written work along with a covering letter including your address and phone number to:
Frances Harding, Editor, Publications
Lakehead University
955 Oliver Rd., Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1
telephone: (807) 343-8193 fax: (807) 346-7770
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