Took me a while to pick myself up off the floor and recover after reading this “Features Editor Wanted” ad online. I guess the first step in getting what you want is just asking. Here goes (comments mine):

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• The features are mainly articles covering anything to do with fashion, music, beauty and/or lifestyle.

• Features editors will need to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the magazine’s subject.

Typical work activities
Typical work activities will vary according to the publication a features editor works on, but tasks may involve some or all of the following:
• generating topics for articles and encouraging a team of staff to do the same;
• holding regular features meetings/conference calls where the whole department generates new ideas;
• deciding which feature will appear in which issue;
• managing a team of staff and freelance feature writers;
• commissioning an in-house or freelance writer to write a feature;
• sending out briefs for work to writers (with a detailed summary of what is needed, the deadline, word count and fee, etc)
• editing features and ensuring they are good enough to print – this may include sending work back to the writer with queries or a request for a rewrite
• occasionally, researching and rewriting features/sections
• contributing to art desk and production desk discussions around format and illustrations
• proofreading all pages after the production team has set them out before going to press
• maintaining and raising the profile of the magazine
• networking with others in the industry
• attending seminars, conferences and trade fairs
• attending photo shoots

Ummm, what’s left for the others to do? And here’s the clincher…

Please note this is a start up urban magazine that has yet to hit the streets or the stands, we are not offering pay at this time, however you will be more than fully compensated for you time once the Magazine is flourishing.

Well, duh!

Unbelievable, huh? I know some writers are desperate to get into print, but this is silly (and if anyone thinks this kind of project is even going to make it to the printers, give me a call… I have a whole bunch of things I want you to buy). You think there’ll be any takers? At least it’s not as insulting as those ads asking us to write 800-word online articles for $4 each (the scary part is that you see the latter ads often enough, some folks probably are desperate enough to take them!).

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