OFFTHEBUS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

If you're interested in getting involved in OffTheBus, there are many ways to do it! Below's a list of just some of the roles you can play. If you have any questions, ping us at campaigntrail@huffingtonpost.com.

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Core Correspondents

We're currently accepting applications for campaign correspondents to cover the presidential campagins. Our correspondents' work will be featured prominently on OffTheBus, and will regularly be cross-posted on HuffingtonPost.com. As a core correspondent, you'll be asked to: create at least two original pieces of content per week; pieces are to be at least 500 words or 3 minutes for AV contributors; and participate weekly in an editorial conference call.

If this interests you, apply by writing to campaigntrail@huffingtonpost.com with "Correspondent" and your zipcode in the subject line. Make sure to include a writing sample.

"On the Scene" Field Monitors

Required skills: You need a videocamera or camera, and fast feet and eyes.

Time commitment: If you live in a key state (Iowa, Nevada, South Carolina, New Hampshire), all the better, but you'll need to donate even more time. Depending on the activity level in your state, you'll probably need to attend one to two campaign events a week.

Sign up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com with "Field Monitor" in the subject line.

Report your experiences using our OffTheBus Campaign Monitor Report Form.

 

 

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Bloggers and Beat Writers

Do you like to write? To analyze? You'll be the public face of our OffTheBus coverage.

Required skills: You need to be a proficient writer, and up-to-date with campaign news and information.

Time commitment: OffTheBlog bloggers are responsible for writing one blogpost a week, and beat writers are responsible for two and/or covering their beat. 

Sign up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com

Database volunteers

Needed: 3 people

Skills: Experience manipulating data using SQL, converting data from one format to another, manipulating text with regular experiences and scripts.

Required Time commitment: 10-20 hours around Oct 15th. An occasional hour here and there up until then to plan and prepare.

Sign Up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com  with Database volunteer in the subject line. Introduce yourself and note your skills/experience.

 

FEC Report Researchers

Team size needed: 30

Skills: Tenacious use of Google, online newspaper archives and other sources -- intense curiosity and ability to self-direct.

Required Time commitment: 10-20 hours around Oct 15th. An occasional hour here and there up until then to plan and prepare.

Sign Up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com with FEC Report Researcher in the subject line.

 

Wiki Gardners

Team size needed: 7

Skills: Familiar with use of wikis (like wikipedia), attention to detail, and, if possible, some fact-checking experience.

Required Time commitment: Your task will be checking the wiki on a regular basis for formatting problems, vandalism, etc... and cleaning it up. The time commitment needed will depend on how many people we have to work on this task.

Sign Up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com  with Wiki Gardner in the subject line and then tell us about your experience using wikis.

Debate Chat room moderator

Team size needed: 2

Skills: Greet people in an online chat room, make sure that peoples' questions get answered, and help them get oriented to the tasks at hand.

Required Time commitment: We'll need your help in the evening of some upcoming debates from about 6pm - 10pm (eastern time).

Tasks: Greet people in an online chat room, make sure that peoples' questions get answered, and help them get oriented to the tasks at hand.

Sign up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com  with Debate Chat Room Moderator in the subject line, and tell us about your experiences moderating.

Forum moderator

The forums are one place where OTB volunteers coordinate and discuss their work. Forum moderators are necessary to keep those spaces on topic and civil.

Team size needed: 2

Skills/Task: Politely keep people on the topic of particular forums and direct them to "no topic" discussions if they just want to chat; Consistently monitor forums for possible "trolls" (people who's goal is to disrupt the forum); Report problems to OTB staffers.

Required Time commitment: This is an ongoing volunteer activity, and will require half an hour a few days a week.

Sign up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com with Forum moderator in the subject line.

Campaign and candidate trackers

This is our team that monitors the campaigns and candidates online.

Required skills: Candidates campaign online and offline, and we want to keep track of what they're doing. You'll need to sign up for a candidate's email list and track every email, as well as read all of their blogposts, website updates, and press releases. 

Time commitment: This is an ongoing task that will take approximately 30-45 minutes a day, and then an hour at the end of the week for a candidate/campaign report.

Sign up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com  with "Tracker" in the subject line.

Campaign Event Tracker

Team size needed: 1-2

Required skills: Research, perseverance, and attention to detail. Your work will support our "On the Scene" Field Monitors by finding out when and where local events are occurring.

Time commitment: This will require monitoring the campaign events' centers and email lists, and identifying upcoming events. You'll need to read through the listings every day, and post events for our Field Monitors.

Sign up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com with "Event Tracker" in the subject line.

Blog Readers

Team size needed: 3

Do you keep up with blog conversations about the election? Do you have a good sense of the OffTheBus editorial perspective?

Required skills: You need a good sense of the OffTheBus editorial perspective. You also need to be up-to-date with campaign information and news. You'll help us identify blogposts that should be cross-posted at OffTheBus, and shared with our bloggers/reporters.

Time commitment: This is a daily task, but will be shared by the team.

Sign up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com with "Blog Reader" in the subject line. 

Media Monitors

Are you a TV junkie? Are you constantly taking in the news - reading the newspaper daily, watching TV all the time, and more.

Required skills: You need to be detail-oriented, organized, and be able to multi-task. We need you to monitor local and state media, and document how those media outlets cover the election. You'll also need a good sense of the OffTheBus editorial perspective so that you can pick out local and state coverage we should link to on our site and share with our bloggers/reporters. Depending on your time and resources, you can chose media outlet types, like TV, radio, Internet, or print.

Time commitment: This volunteer work requires an hour a day, including some time in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

Sign up: Send an email to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com with "Media Monitor" in the subject line.

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