We are pleased to announce that CanadiEM is now accepting applications for our Junior Editor program! If you are interested in learning more about Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAM) or becoming part of our virtual community of practice,1 this program is for you. The application deadline is October 31, 2023. We are currently looking for applications for our blogs, infographics, newsletter, and social media teams.
What are Junior Editors?
The role of a Junior Editor is very flexible. The main task is copy-editing and uploading article submissions to CanadiEM via our WordPress platform (you will receive training for this). However, Junior Editors are given the opportunity to join any section of the website. Our current needs include:
- 4-6 individuals to help with blog posts.
- 4-5 individuals to help with infographic production.
- 1-2 individuals (preferably medical students year 2-3) to help with our biweekly newsletter.
- 1-2 individuals to help with our social media team.
How did the Junior Editor program start?
We created the Junior Editor program in 2016 with the goal of fostering the skills necessary to actively contribute to FOAM in junior learners. It began with 10 participants, and has since grown rapidly, now including students and residents from coast to coast. Many Junior Editors have since graduated from the program and now hold senior leadership positions within the website.
Why join?
- Experience: This program provides learners with an opportunity to develop their writing and editing skills. Members also gain familiarity with technologies needed to navigate the modern online educational space. If interested, members can also learn how to create infographics, podcasts, and promote content through social media.
- Community: The Junior Editor program is home to over 100 different members. This community ranges from students to residents across the country and provides great networking and mentorship opportunities. Furthermore, being part of the CanadiEM team provides you the opportunity to collaborate with leaders in medical education throughout Canada!
Testimonials and Statistics
We conducted a recent survey that revealed that 86% of past and current Junior Editors felt the program had educational value, and 82% felt they got what was expected from this training and mentorship program.
Participants identified a number of ways in which their experience aided their future ambitions, including: skill development (e.g., WordPress training, podcast creation, infographic design), career development (e.g. networking, mentorship, ability to produce FOAM content), and a sense of community.
“The Junior Editor Program is a great opportunity to see first-hand the behind the scenes of a successful medical blog. Being involved in every step of the publishing process is great for developing lifelong digital skills. Furthermore, it is also a great opportunity to learn new things about emergency medicine, and to foster particular interests in EM education.”
“It has educational value from a medical standpoint and a publishing standpoint. I feel reviewing content is great to learn new material/brush up on previously studied topics. Additionally, learning to copy edit/how to work on the back end of a website was a great intro to publishing.”
The Call
If you would like to learn more about FOAMed and contribute to this medium, we want to hear from you! To apply, please complete the Google Form by October 31, 2023. You will be asked for your CV, a short outline (<250 words) describing your interests and relevant skills. We ask that you are able to volunteer at least 4 hours per month to this position during the upcoming academic year. This year we are asking you to apply for a single team that best suits your interests and experiences.
We look forward to hearing from you!
This post was adapted from a previous post by Kevin Durr and Sonja Wakeling.
- 1.Ting DK, Thoma B, Luckett-Gatopoulos S, et al. CanadiEM: Accessing a Virtual Community of Practice to Create a Canadian National Medical Education Institution. Cico SJ, ed. AEM Education and Training. Published online November 2, 2018:86-91. doi:10.1002/aet2.10199