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Writer
UCI Series Concepts
Class Specifications - D.10
Senior Writer - 7703
Writer - 7704
Assistant Writer - 7705
May, 1972
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SERIES CONCEPT
Writers perform writing and editing duties in the preparation of
informational materials for the press, broadcasting media, and University
publications; and perform other related duties as required.
Writers interview members of the faculty and of extension and research
staffs to obtain information; read, evaluate, and abstract articles,
booklets, and other material; write and disseminate news releases;
write radio and T.V. narratives; prepare copy for informational material,
mail circulars, or catalogs; read extensively to acquire background for
writing projects; may assist in research and writing of reports, articles,
and monographs; may write grant applications; and may edit copy
and manuscript for form and content and examine galley and page proofs.
CLASS CONCEPTS
Senior Writer
Under general supervision, incumbents perform work of considerable
difficulty and responsibility (1) in the writing of news releases, radio/T.V.
scripts, and other types of informational materials, and/or (2) in the
writing and editing of reports, articles, monographs, grant applications,
and/or advertising cop,.
Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and
responsibility are:
Information writer in the campus Office of Public
Affairs, with responsibility for preparing and
disseminating, to the communications media, news
and feature articles on research, teaching programs
faculty appointments, special events, and
student and administrative activities and programs,
as assigned.
Sports information writer in the campus Department
of Intercollegiate Athletics, with responsibility
for gathering and disseminating, to the communications
media and to other colleges, news and feature
articles on intercollegiate sports teams and events.
Program publicity writer responsible for writing and
distributing feature articles and publicity far
educational programs, books, and the theater.
Research program writer in a large research activity
responsible for writing, editing, and disseminating
new releases and reports of research activities.
The Senior Writer, although partially responsible in some cases for
training and reviewing work of writers at a lower level and of clerical staff,
is not essentially a supervisory class. Factors which distinguish the
Senior Writer from the Writer are (1) degree of supervision received;
(2) responsibility for initiating and expanding the scope of news coverage;
(3) responsibility for liaison with media representatives and information
sources; and (4) degree of authority to make independent judgments on
newsworthy materials and to make commitments of manpower to writing efforts.
Writer
Under supervision, incumbents perform journeyman work of average difficulty
in the writing and editing of informational materials as described
in the Series Concept. The majority of time is devoted to routine
writing tasks, performed within well-established guidelines, with
supervisory review of written materials before release or publication.
Out-of-the-ordinary assignments are subject to supervisory-direction, before
final commitments are made to provide writing of stories and events and
to obligate manpower to writing efforts.
Assistant Writer
Under close supervision and in a trainee capacity, incumbents assist in
writing and editing informational materials, such as described in the
Series Concept.
NOTE: In the absence of the writing duties outlined in the
Series Concept, positions responsible for editing
grammar, spelling, and punctuation and/or limited
rewriting to improve syntax are to be classified in
the Clerical Administrative Series.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Senior Writer
Graduation from college with a major in journalism, communications, or
another subject area related to writing, and professional writing
ability demonstrated by at least two years of professional writing
experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Writer
Graduation from college with a major in journalism, communications, or
another subject area related to writing, and professional writing
ability demonstrated by at least one year of professional writing
experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Assistant Writer
Graduation from college with a major in journalism, communications, or
another subject area related to writing, and demonstrated writing
ability; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
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