The Forward Seeks Politics Bloggers

“The Forward seeks motivated journalists to contribute to its politics blog, MitzVote. Launched in time for the midterm elections, MitzVote will continue to cover Jews in American politics as momentum builds toward the 2012 elections. The Forward seeks to build a dependable cadre of knowledgeable, experienced freelancers across the country to contribute short pieces about politics on both the local and national levels — anywhere Jewish voters, candidates, issues or trends become newsworthy.”

For more information and to apply, visit JournalismJobs.com.

Yiddish Book Center Seeks Director of Communications & Visitor Services

“The Yiddish Book Center is seeking a creative, energetic and experienced Director of Communications and Visitor Services (Director of Communications) to provide leadership and management for the direction, planning and execution of all communications strategies, publication, and web-based initiatives to expand the Book Center’s audience and membership and to enhance the institution’s national profile. The Director of Communications will create a strategic plan for communications, both print and online, to promote the values and mission of the Book Center. In addition, this individual will oversee and improve the visitor experience on-site. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as an integral member of the senior management team, the Director of Communications will work to develop the Book Center’s identity and expand and engage new audiences. The Director of Communications supervises a Communications Associate and the docent program. In addition, the Director engages and supervises consultants in design, editing, and other areas. This individual must work closely with development, membership and education departments to design all collateral material and effectively promote all initiatives. The Director of Communications will be responsible for the redesign and ongoing oversight of the Book Center’s flagship magazine, Pakn Treger.”

Source: JewishJobs.com. Go there for more information/to apply.

Nonfiction Contest: New Writing on the Old World

As you may know, on my other blog, I limit contest announcements to competitions that do not charge entry fees. For contests interested in specifically Jewish content, however, there’s a more limited pool of information to share, so I (reluctantly) expand listings to fee-charging programs.

Here’s a new one to share with you:

The Summer Literary Seminars SLS Jewish Lithuania/Litvak Experiences Program is pleased to announce a new non-fiction contest: East-European Roots: New Writing on the Old World, held this year in affiliation with Tablet Magazine, an online magazine providing a “new take on Jewish life”, and judged by Philip Lopate.

The theme for the contest is Eastern European Histories: people’s roots and ancestral heritage.

The contest winner will have their work prominently featured online in Tablet Magazine. Additionally, they will receive free airfare, tuition, and housing to our 2011 SLS Jewish Lithuania/Litvak Experiences Program.

Second-place winners will receive a full tuition waiver for the 2011 SLS Jewish Lithuania/Litvak Experiences Program, and third-place winners will receive a 50% tuition discount.

A number of select contest participants, based on the overall strength of their work, will be offered tuition scholarships, as well, applicable to the 2011 SLS Jewish Lithuania/Litvak Experiences Program. Read the full guidelines.

Note that there is a $15 application fee, and the application deadline is March 15, 2011.

Good luck to anyone who enters this competition!

Notes from Around the Web

  • While I was in Jerusalem earlier this month, I issued an Internet call for help. Basically, I wanted info on area bookstores.  Thanks to some generous advisors, I ended up at the very same bookstore profiled in Jonathan Kirsch’s terrific blog post:  Steimatzky’s at the Mamilla Mall.
  • The Jewish Book Council wants to hear from you! And you may even win free books for your time/words.
  • A new Shalom Sesame is on sale (just in time for Chanukah orders, too).
  • Book event alert! Quiet Americans and I will be appearing at the National Museum of American Jewish Military History in February!
  • Very useful post on The Whole Megillah, re: book publicity (esp. for children’s book writers, but every writer will find some advice nuggets there).
  • Mat Zucker’s “Spare Me Your Shekels” essay is a thought-provoking, if disturbing, contribution on The Nervous Breakdown.
  • Racelle Rosett’s short story, “Shomer,” made me cry. Consider yourself warned.
  • Shabbat shalom!

    Writing Contest to Award Round-trip Flight to Israel

    Received an email from StandWithUs yesterday about a new writing contest that will award the winner a round-trip flight to Israel. The contest is being held to help launch the organization’s Divest from Terror campaign. Entrants are asked to read an article, review the accompanying photos, and submit a piece (300 words or less) that describes “how you would launch a high-impact, global campaign demanding reforms in countries that violate human rights, promote terrorism, and threaten world peace.” There is no entry fee. Deadline: December 31, 2010.