Could you be a Digital Media Creator?
Posted on behalf of: Student Communications
Last updated: Monday, 9 January 2023
Do you love creating digital content? Do you live on social media? Apply to become a Digital Media Creator!
Our Digital Media Creators are current Sussex students who create engaging content and share community and research stories on central University channels, working with the Social Media and Student Communications teams.
The Creators help to cover some of the biggest student events, activities and campaigns across campus and Sussex, from One World Week to Graduation, Brighton Pride and more! They’ve interviewed MPs on camera, helped communicate Covid-19 guidelines, published Instagram stories from the Brighton Marathon and developed content in partnership with Brighton Festival.
Why apply to become a Digital Media Creator?
If you’re interested in developing your creative media skills, you can apply to become one of our Digital Media Creators. There will be opportunities to share stories mainly through video content (long- and short-form) and photography.
It’s a casual, paid role with flexible hours, so you can earn extra money while you study. There's a minimum commitment of six hours per month, alongside a monthly meeting with staff and your fellow creators.
You’ll work closely with the Communications department and have opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and students from across the University. We’ll provide training and support to identify what you’d like to get out of the scheme. Plus, you’ll have opportunities to pitch creative ideas to us and tell us what you’d like to see online, or in student communications.
Since starting the scheme in 2017, many of our Digital Media Creators (formerly Digital Media Gurus) have gone on to work in social and digital media after graduating. You’ll gain transferable skills which are applicable throughout the creative industries and beyond.
How to apply
To show us your passion and flair for social and digital media, we want you to get creative.
In video form, please tell us why you would like to become a Digital Media Creator for the University.
You need to feature yourself at some point during the video, which can be up to one minute long.
You should have in mind the social media channels you are creating content for. This might mean shooting a vertical video for Instagram or TikTok, or creating a YouTube-style vlog. Pick whichever you feel most comfortable or excited about, remembering that this is an opportunity to show off your skills – whether that’s filming, editing or presenting (or all of them!)
Video submissions should be made via WeTransfer to socialmedia@sussex.ac.uk and must be named in the format: [surname],[firstname].
You will also need to send a covering email to Stephanie at socialmedia@sussex.ac.uk with:
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your name, course and year of study
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an answer to the question: “What is your favourite social media channel and why?” (up to 100 words).
Applications will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 15 January 2023.
Once we’ve reviewed all applications, we’ll get back to you to let you know if you’ve been successful in making it through to the final stage of the application. This will be a group workshop on campus from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Thursday 9 February 2023, where you will be given a brief and asked to come up with a creative storyboard.
If you can’t make this date and time for the group workshop, please let us know in your covering email.
Who we're looking for
We’re looking for candidates who are eager to share their student journey online, who like to try new things and experiment with new content formats. Don’t worry if you don’t have previous experience in a similar role – we’re happy to help you develop your content production or presenting skills if you’ve got the ideas and creativity.
We’re also happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments which you may require, at any stage of the recruitment and selection process.
To apply, you will need to be a University of Sussex student with either UK residency or a current Tier 4 visa.
If you're successful
If your application is successful, we’ll let you know after the group workshop stage. You’ll be invited to an induction and training half-day with the other new Creators. This is a chance for you to meet staff and your new colleagues, learn about the Digital Media Creator scheme and cover expectations and guidance about the role.
Your hours are flexible, with an expected commitment of at least six hours per month for planning, creating and editing content. You will meet monthly with the other Creators and your manager to discuss ideas for upcoming projects and to assign work.
Find out more about the Digital Media Creator scheme.