Submit

Are you a journalism student keen to give your work more exposure? Or perhaps you’re just a member of the community who would like to see more coverage of a particular issue on campus? If so, feel free to submit your work to the Desert Lamp. We are happy to accept news or opinion pieces of any length. If you are interested in news reporting but don’t know what to cover, please refer to our calendar page for an index of news-worthy events coming up on campus. We reserve the right to edit all unsolicited pieces for grammar and content.

FAQ

1) What sort of topics should I write about?

As stated above, feel free to consult our calendar for news-worthy events. The ASUA senate, Faculty senate, and Graduate student council all meet regularly and provide great opportunities for you to simultaneously learn more about the inner workings of campus governance while also brushing on your reporting skills. Then there’s also the staple issues of tuition, fees, and general administrative malfeasance. Also, Tucson bar reviews. Seriously.

2) Can I submit a reporting assignment I completed for my journalism class?

Yes!

3) Will I receive financial compensation for my work?

Due to our high, ahem, overhead costs, the Desert Lamp will not be able to financially compensate you for your contributions. But don’t let this deter you! Submitting your work to the Lamp does confer other, non-financial benefits that are by no means trivial. If you are currently a journalism student, there is simply no substitute for publishing your work in the public sphere and exposing it to public scrutiny. Not only will you be contributing to the campus dialogue in a significant way, but the increased sense of accountability will improve your writing and the quality of your research.

Additionally, if you are planning on applying for internships or jobs in the near future, it is worth noting that prospective employers will invariably request a collection of your best clips. Being published on a reputable news source (yes, even humble blogs like our own can be reputable news sources) will certainly help your case.

4) Do I have to be a student in order to contribute?

No, though we certainly do encourage students to contribute and take an interest in the cheerless imbroglio that is our fair university

5) Should I follow any other guidelines, stylistic or otherwise? 

Just one: write drunk, edit sober

Please email all submissions to: desertlamp[at]gmail[dot]com