[SIGCIS-Members] "computers and society" position at Encyclopaedia Britannica

[Thomas Misa]

>>

>> The science and technology group in Encyclopaedia Britannica's  
>> editorial department, of which I am group leader, has an opening in  
>> an area that I like to call "computers and society."   Our HR  
>> department has posted the job opening at the Web sites of  
>> organizations such as the History of Science Society and the  
>> Society for the History of Technology, but so far we've had no  
>> responses.  I've decided to take a more active role in the job  
>> search by contacting academics associated with programs in the  
>> history of society and technology, particularly in the area of  
>> electronics and electronic media.
>>
>> It has occurred to me that academic programs such as yours might  
>> have a number of graduate students who would be willing to consider  
>> an editorial job with a reference publisher.  If your department's  
>> policies permit, I will be happy to send you our HR department's  
>> brief job description, along with my own perhaps less cryptic  
>> description, for you to disseminate or post at your institution as  
>> you see fit.
>>
>> I look forward to your response.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Robert Curley
>> Senior Editor, Science & Technology
>> Encyclopaedia Britannica
>> Tel.:  (312) 347-7913
>> Fax:  (312) 294-2162
>> E-mail:  rcurley at eb.com

> Attached is our HR department's job description, which describes in  
> a general way the company's expectations of a candidate for any  
> associate or assistant editor's position, with a few added comments  
> regarding general science background. The description is heavy in  
> the day-to-day responsibilities of the job, but light in the subject  
> area.
>
> As I prefer to describe it, the editor would be responsible for  
> maintaining and enriching EB's coverage of the technical aspects of  
> computers and information technology, but what I'd especially like  
> is somebody who actively thinks about the impact of IT on the modern  
> way of life. The editor would formulate what EB has to say, for  
> instance, about the digital divide, and not just the microprocessor.
>
> To that end, EB has many technical articles on electronics and  
> telecoms, from the telegraph to the transistor. We also have many  
> biographies and a growing number of articles on computer and  
> electronic companies. In recent years we've been expanding our  
> biographies and historical articles in the area of computer history,  
> from Charles Babbage's Analytic Engine to Sergey Brin and Larry  
> Page's search engine. We're also trying to expand into more popular  
> or social aspects of the computer revolution, publishing articles,  
> for instance, on virtual communities by Howard Rheingold and on the  
> history of computer games by Henry Lowood.
>
> The editor would be responsible for commissioning new or revised  
> articles from such authors, so far as annual editorial budgets  
> allow. But the editor would also do quite a bit of his or her own  
> updating and new writing, depending on his or her expertise and the  
> level of detail needed. The editor would work with our illustrators  
> and photo editors in obtaining drawings and photographs for  
> articles, and he or she would work with all other departments in our  
> editorial workflow that are responsible for moving articles from the  
> editor's computer to our online and print publications.
>
> Though possibly coming from an academic background, the editor would  
> have to know that EB is a business, and that efficiency and  
> scheduling are central to the organization of our work. We're proud  
> to produce a quality product, but we have to produce a marketable  
> product, and so editors must know how to place reasonable limits on  
> projects and move them along to the customers.
>
> I believe the attachment states that applicants should send their  
> resumes directly to the email address Staffing at eb.com, citing the  
> specific position being applied for. But if there are any questions  
> related to my comments above, please feel free to contact me.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Rob Curley
>
> Senior Editor, Science & Technology
> Encyclopaedia Britannica
> Tel.:  (312) 347-7913
> Fax:  (312) 294-2162
> E-mail:  rcurley at eb.com
>