Assistant Editors

Love reading about nature? Have a keen eye for detail? Why not join us as an Assistant Editor of NHSN’s journal, North East Naturalist

About this opportunity

Containing research, art, social history and observations from naturalists across the North East, North East Naturalist has been published by NHSN since 1831. It is one of the longest-running natural history publications in the UK.

We’re looking for assistant editors to assist the editor and editorial team in creating an appealing, engaging, and accurate publication that inspires wonder in North East nature. To do this, you’ll edit manuscripts in line with NHSN’s copy guidelines, suggest amends, share ideas, and write supporting content that engages readers with nature.

This role is fully flexible and can be carried out remotely.

Time commitment

NHSN publishes two editions of North East Naturalist each year, one in Spring (April-May) and another in Winter (December). Planning and preparation for these start earlier and editing begins approximately 2-3 months in advance. It is envisaged that this role will take around 10-12 hours for each edition, spread over 2-3 months.

Main activities 

• Reviewing and editing text for North East Naturalist 
• Suggesting text amends in line with NHSN’s focus on accessibility and engagement
• Making recommendations to the editor for larger changes to the publication
• Sharing ideas with the editorial team aiming to continually improve the publication

About you

• You’ll have a keen eye for detail, especially grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• You’ll love to read the work of other naturalists
• You’ll have good writing skills
• You’ll have some knowledge of North East natural history
• You may have some experience reviewing professional publications

What we’re looking for 

No specialist nature knowledge is required for this role, just an enthusiasm for natural history and a passion for delivering written work to a high standard of accuracy. You’ll care about the little things and have a good eye for detail, as well as an enthusiasm for generating appealing and engaging content.

What the role will do for you 

• You’ll receive full training and support associated with the role. 
• You’ll gain great experience to add to your CV.
• If you’re a student, volunteering as an Assistant Editor will count towards NHSN’s Student Award Scheme
• You’ll receive an advanced look at exciting articles and informative papers
• You’ll meet new people, make new friends, and form part of a diverse team, passionate about nature. 

This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to a long-standing and respected publication while contributing to NHSN’s vision of engaging more and a wider range of people with North East nature.