Got a beef with the Daily? If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em:

As the incoming editorial page editors for The Michigan Daily, we’re looking for opinion columnists and cartoonists for the winter term. Columnists publish a roughly 800-word piece on political or social issues once every two weeks, and cartoonists typically draw one editorial cartoon a week. Opinion columns and cartoons are open to both undergraduate and graduate UM students and are by no means reserved for current Daily staff members.

For columnists, we are especially interested in people who can write intelligently and passionately about local issues, whether here at the University or on city and state levels. We are also looking for people who will go out and do reporting for some columns by attending events or interviewing. Columns are more informative and more fun to read when the columnist offers something readers can’t just find by Googling.

Here’s what we need from you if you’re interested:
– A cover letter explaining who you are, why you want a column, and some
topics you’d like to discuss.
– Three sample columns of around 800 words.

If you’re thinking about drawing cartoons, you don’t have to be a great artist. What’s more important in an editorial cartoon is making a point in a clear, interesting and perhaps humorous way.

Our cartoonist application process is more informal – we’d like to meet with you and see two or three samples before the next semester begins.

Send your columnist application to opinion at michigandaily.com by December 31. If you’re interested in drawing cartoons, e-mail us as soon as possible to arrange a time to meet. The Daily’s conflict of interest policy prohibits us from considering the executive board members of most student groups or student government representatives. Please e-mail us if you have any
questions about this policy or anything else.

Sincerely,

Emily Beam and Christopher Zbrozek
Editorial Page Editors-elect, The Michigan Daily