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Information for joining the ThreeWeeks in Edinburgh team in 2010
Deadline for applications is now Friday 14th May 2010.

Click here to download an application form.

Click here to browse ThreeWeeks in Edinburgh 2009 coverage.

We recommend reading the information below before filling out your application form.

If you have reviewed for ThreeWeeks before and want to apply to rejoin the team, check the information for returning writers on this page here.

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INTRODUCTION

ThreeWeeks is the biggest reviewer at the world's biggest arts festival - the Edinburgh Festival each August. Each year we review over 1800 shows from all of the various festivals that take place in Edinburgh in August, taking in theatre, comedy, music, musicals, art, dance and literature.

ThreeWeeks is built on the back of a unique media-skills programme involving students and aspiring journalists from across the UK, who have the opportunity to review, write, sub-edit, plan, design, podcast and photograph for the paper.

Participating students have the chance to put into action the skills they have gained from their media course, or from being involved in their student newspaper or radio station, benefiting from ThreeWeeks' high profile and reputation, earned from reporting at the Edinburgh Festival for fourteen consecutive years.

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HOW IT WORKS, WHEN IT HAPPENS + HOW TO APPLY

All positions on the ThreeWeeks team are voluntary and you need to get yourself to Edinburgh for at least five days in August. But you will receive free training and coaching from UnLimited's team of professional journalists and editors, have the opportunity to see tens of festival shows for free during August, and will see your work published in one of the most trusted festival publications.

We are currently recruiting Reviewers, Sub-Editors, Admin Assistants, Production Assistants, Book Correspondents, Art Correspondents, Special Correspondents, Podcasters and Photographers for Edinburgh Festival 2010. More details about what each of these roles involve is given below.

Reviewers and Correspondents need to be in central Edinburgh by 6pm on Tuesday 3 August for a compulsory Logistics Meeting. Reviewing then takes place in Edinburgh from the morning of Wednesday 4 to the evening of Monday 30 August.

Reviewers are not obligated to be in Edinburgh for the entire reviewing period, nor are they expected to necessarily review every day. Reviewers tell us what days they are available, and at what times, and we schedule them shows to fit this availability. However, Reviewers must be available to review at least one show on at least five days during the reviewing period. We recommend Reviewers only staying in Edinburgh for a short period (ie around five days) do so at the start of the reviewing period when more shows are available to review.

Successful reviewers can also apply to join the ThreeWeeks Features Team, and conduct and write interviews with performers at the Festival. If you are interested in this area you should say so on your application form.

Sub-Editors, Admin Assistants and Production Assistants need to be in Edinburgh by the morning of Sunday 1 August, because Sub-Editor Training and an Editorial Team Briefing will take place for those people that afternoon and work will begin on the morning of Monday 2 August. Sub-Editors and Assistants will also attend the Logistics Meeting on Tuesday 3 August at 6pm.

Ideally Sub-Editors and Assistants will be in Edinburgh until the evening of Sunday 29 August, although this is not compulsory, and interested people unable to commit to the whole month should still apply. Both Subs and Assistants will sign up to shifts for the whole month, according to their availability, at the Team Briefing on Sunday 1 August - most shifts are based around usual office hours, with one late start/late finish shift. Sub-Editors will normally do approx 4-6 shifts per week, while Assistants will do 2-3 shifts per week.

Podcasters and photographers need to be be in Edinburgh by the morning of Sunday 1 August because Podcaster Training and a Photographer Briefing will take place that day. Podcasters and photographers should also attend the Logistics Meeting on Tuesday 3 August at 6pm.

The only compulsory date for ALL team members is Tuesday 3 August, when everyone must attend a one hour logistics meeting at 6pm in central Edinburgh. This meeting is compulsory - if you can't attend it you can't take part, sorry.

All new Reviewers, Correspondents and Sub-Editors must also attend a one-day Reviewer Training Workshop before starting to review. There are three workshops to choose from, two in Edinburgh, and one in London. Details of these workshops are given below.

Those Reviewers also appointed to the Features Team also need to attend an Interview Training Workshop. There are two workshops to choose from, one in Edinburgh and one in London. Details of these workshops are also given below.

Click here to download an application form to join the ThreeWeeks team at Edinburgh Festival 2010. Fill out your answers on the Word document, change the file name to your name (rather than threeweeksed_appform10.doc) and email to recruitment@unlimitedmedia.co.uk.

The deadline for applications for Festival 2010 is now Friday 14th May.

You should receive an immediate response from our email system to confirm receipt of your application. If you do not receive this responder within 24 hours you should re-email your application. Once you have received this responder you will not hear from us again until after the closing date for applications.

Interviews will be conducted by phone during April and May. We aim to have the team in place by the end of May, though final appointments may be made in June.

Please note: After the application deadline you will receive at least one 'bulk email' from ThreeWeeks. Some webmail systems, and especially Hotmail/Windows Live, treat some of our bulk emails as spam. To ensure you receive these emails please put unlimitedmedia.co.uk on your 'safe list'.

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WHAT PAST THREEWEEKS REVIEWERS SAY

"Being part of the ThreeWeeks review team was a valuable experience in developing my media skills within a fascinating working environment. More importantly it is one of the most enjoyable, action-packed and ultimately bizarre adventures I have ever had the pleasure to embark on!"

"The whole experience was just amazing, it is something I now fully recommend to everyone I meet. The experience of working with ThreeWeeks is something I will never forget and I can't explain how valuable and important the experience was to me. Thanks again!"

"Working for ThreeWeeks gave me my first chance to write in a non-student publication, the experience was invaluable".

"ThreeWeeks is an absolute gift of an experience; creative, challenging and emotional, it leaves you exhausted and proud".

"It was a priceless experience, which has put gold ribbons on my writing. Thank you".

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WHAT DIFFERENT ROLES ENTAIL...

REVIEWERS

ThreeWeeks has a team of 80 reviewers who between them review more or less everything at the Edinburgh Festival – that's over 1800 shows! Each reviewer tells us which genres they are comfortable reviewing, and when they are available to review (what time slots on what days). They will then receive a daily review schedule which will include details of the show or shows they are to review that day (assuming they are available). This system means that reviewers can fit their reviewing around part-time jobs, though those who are able to review full-time will obviously see more shows and get a fuller experience.

Reviewers need to be in Edinburgh on Tuesday 3 August for a compulsory Logistics Meeting. Reviewing then takes place in Edinburgh from Wednesday 4 - Monday 30 August. Reviewers are not obligated to be in Edinburgh for the entire reviewing period, however reviewers must be available to review at least one show on at least five days during the reviewing period. There is no maximum number of days - reviewers who want to review every day during the reviewing period are welcome to do so, providing they continue to submit their reviews on time (by midday the day after they see a show).

We recommend reviewers only staying in Edinburgh for a short period (ie around five days) do so at the start of the reviewing period when more shows are available to review. Reviewers planning on being in Edinburgh mainly in the latter half of the festival should note they still need to attend the compulsory Logistics Meeting on Tuesday 3 August, and that many of the shows with three week runs will be reviewed in their first week.

The genres we recruit reviewers for are: Theatre, Physical Theatre, Comedy, Musicals, Dance, Contemporary Music, Classical Music and Folk/Trad Music.

Successful reviewers can also apply to join the ThreeWeeks Features Team, and conduct and write interviews with performers at the Festival. If you are interested in this area you should say so on your application form.

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CORRESPONDENTS

Books
Book Correspondents cover the Edinburgh International Book Festival which takes place between Saturday 14 and Monday 30 August. They deal directly with the Book Festival press team, and organise review schedules with each other. The aim is to review as many talks and events at the Book Festival as possible. Many Book Correspondents review Fringe shows between Wednesday 4 and Friday 13 August before concentrating on the Book Festival from Saturday 14 August.

Art
Art Correspondents review the many exhibitions that take place as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival and also within the Fringe and International Festival. They deal directly with the Art Festival's publicist and, elsewhere, with gallery press contacts, and organise review schedules with each other. The aim is to review as many exhibitions as possible. Because most exhibitions are only open in the day time Art Correspondents need to be available during office hours. There is also the option to review Fringe shows in the evenings.

Special Correspondent
Special Correspondents cover extraordinary events, shows which defy categorisation, and which are generally categorised under such genre labels as Talks & Events. Shows covered by past Special Correspondents include city walks, meditation sessions, art workshops, the Silent Disco, confession, a minutes silence and 'Sing-A-Long-A-Joy-Of-Sex'. The Special Correspondent is scheduled shows to see by the main scheduling team, who pick out all the wierd stuff. There is normally time for this reviewer to see some more conventional theatre, comedy and/or music too.

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EDITORIAL TEAM POSTS

The editorial team includes Sub-Editors, Admin Assistants and Production Assistants. These people need to be in Edinburgh by the morning of Sunday 1 August, because Sub-Editor Training and an Editorial Team Briefing will take place that day, and work will begin on Monday 2 August. All these roles are based in the ThreeWeeks Edinburgh office.

Sub-editors
Sub-Editors are responsible for managing and formatting reviews, scheduling reviewers and booking tickets, liaising with venues, publicists and reviewers, uploading content to the ThreeWeeks website, dealing with phone calls and email, and generally helping the ThreeWeeks Editors.

Ideally Sub-Editors can be in Edinburgh until the evening of Sunday 29 August, although this is not compulsory and interested people unable to commit to the whole month should still apply. They will sign up to shifts for the whole month, according to their availability, at the Editorial Team Briefing on Sunday 1 August. Most shifts are based around usual office hours, with one late start/late finish shift. These are basically full-time roles, Sub-Editors will be expected to do approx 4-6 shifts per week.

Although the role involves a lot of admin and logistical tasks, being a ThreeWeeks Sub-Editor is an invaluable experience for anyone who is serious about a career in journalism or aspires to work in an editorial role. Nothing hones your written style like reading and processing hundreds of reviews, and many of our best writers became so because of their sub-editing experience. It is also a brilliant way to find out how producing a daily media works, and to make contacts across the Edinburgh Festival.

It is possible to be both a Sub-Editor and a Reviewer - many Subs schedule in shows to review around their Sub-Editor commitments. If you are interested in both roles you should say so on the application form.

Admin Assistants
These people help out with general admin jobs at the ThreeWeeks office in Edinburgh, helping deal with ticket requests, email queries, and venue and publicist liaison, and generally supporting the Editors and Sub-Editors.

Ideally Admin Assistants can be in Edinburgh until the evening of Sunday 29 August, although that is not compulsory and interested people unable to commit to the whole month should still apply. They will sign up to shifts for the whole month, according to their availability, at the Editorial Team Briefing on Sunday 1 August. These are basically part-time roles, Admin Assistants will be expected to do approx 2-3 shifts per week.

This is another role which exposes you to the inner workings of a media company and the Edinburgh Festival, and is excellent experience for anyone considering a media career.

It is possible to be both an Admin Assistant and a Reviewer - many Admin Assistants schedule in shows to review around their office commitments. If you are interested in both roles you should say so on the application form.

Production Assistants
These people assist the Design Editor on the production of the daily and weekly print editions of ThreeWeeks and the website and eDaily. Tasks will include some basic layout in InDesign and Dreamweaver, and some simple Photoshop work. Some previous knowledge of these applications is an advantage.

Production Assistants work on average four hour shifts on the days they are available. Production work takes place daily between Monday 2 and Monday 30 August, though Production Assistants do not necessarily need to be available during that entire period. Assistants will sign up to shifts for the whole month, according to their availability, at the Editorial Team Briefing on Sunday 1 August.

This is a great role for anyone considering a career in graphic design, especially in a media environment, giving you the opportunity to work alongside some very experienced editors and designers.

It is possible to be both a Production Assistant and a Reviewer - many Production Assistants schedule in shows to review around their office commitments. If you are interested in both roles you should say so on the application form.

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PODCAST TEAM

ThreeWeeks' podcasters create audio interviews with Festival performers which are edited and made available to download as MP3s via the ThreeWeeks website, and also incorporated into the ThreeWeeks iDaily podcast.

We are looking for aspiring broadcast journalists to join our podcast team with skills and/or enthusiasm in the following areas:

• Interviewing/Presenting
• Sound editing
• Content production (ie arranging interviews, liaising with performers etc)

While some podcasters may want to specialise in one of these areas, we encourage people to get involved in all three, arranging, conducting and editing their own interviews.

Podcasters need to be in Edinburgh by the morning of Sunday 1 August as Podcaster Training will take place that day. Recording will begin on Monday 2 August and continue until Sunday 29 August. Podcasters will arrange their schedules in liaison with the ThreeWeeks Website Manager. They do not need to be available for the entire production period, though should be available to undertake at least one interview on at least five days during that time.

It is possible to be both a Podcaster and Reviewer - if you are interested in both roles you should say so on the application form.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

We are looking for student photographers interested in capturing the Festival and its key events and performers on film. Pictures will be used in both the daily and weekly print edition, and in the electronic eDaily.

Photographers need to be in Edinburgh by Sunday 1 August because a Photographer Briefing will take place that day. Photo shoots begin on Tuesday 3 August. We continue to attend and stage shoots until the end of the festival, though the first ten days are by far the busiest.

Photographers do not need to be available all day every day, and will arrange their own schedules with the Photo Editor.

It is possible to be both a Photographer and Reviewer - if you are interested in both roles you should say so on the application form.

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IMPORTANT DATES: INTERVIEWS

Interviews
Interviews will be conducted by phone during April and May. We aim to have the team in place by the end of May, though final appointments may be made in June.

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IMPORTANT DATES: TRAINING SESSIONS

All new reviewers, correspondents and sub-editors will need to attend a one-day Reviewer Training Workshop, which take place on the following dates:

Edinburgh, Saturday 12 June
London, Saturday 19 June
Edinburgh, Saturday 31 July

Those Reviewers also appointed to the Features Team will also need to attend a one-day Interview Training Workshop, which take place on the following dates:

Edinburgh, Sunday 13 June
London, Saturday 20 June

Training for Editorial Team members and Podcasters will take place in Edinburgh on Sunday 1 August. There will also be a briefing for Photographers on Sunday 1 August.

Don't forget, EVERYONE needs to be available for the Logistics Meeting at 6pm on Tuesday 3 August in Edinburgh.

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TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION & TIME COMMITMENTS

To review for ThreeWeeks you will need to be in Edinburgh on Tuesday 3 August for the Logistics Meeting, and then be available for some or all of the period Wednesday 4 to Monday 30 August to see shows.

You can travel to Edinburgh by train, plane, bus or car. Advance train and plane tickets for August travel normally go on sale in mid-June and start at about £40 for a return journey (obviously, there is a very limited number of such priced tickets available). Standard rate return tickets for London to Edinburgh are approx £40 (Megabus), £50 (National Express bus), £110 (train), £140-£240 (plane).

Unfortunately we are unable to offer accommodation in Edinburgh, although we encourage reviewers who are looking for flats to connect via the team Facebook Group and look for flats together - and we can point you in the direction of helpful agencies and websites. The cost is normally £400-£500 a room for the month, although many reviewers share rooms which halves that cost.

Many Reviewers ask us about time commitments. We recognise that many Edinburgh or Glasgow based Reviewers may also have part time work during August, while others may be working at venues or be involved with shows. To this end we operate a flexible 'availability' system whereby Reviewers can fit their reviewing around their other work, and through which Reviewers can request days off. Obviously the more time a Reviewer is able to give to the project the greater experience they can get from it. Editorial team roles, and especially the Sub-Editor roles, are less flexible - check the information given in those job specs.

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ABOUT THREEWEEKS

• ThreeWeeks has been discovering, championing, supporting and enabling cultural innovation at the Edinburgh Festival for fourteen years.

• ThreeWeeks was created in 1996 by then Edinburgh University students Chris Cooke, Geraint Preston and Alex Thomson.

• Having managed a number of venues at the Edinburgh Fringe, Chris felt that too often the most exciting and most innovative performers and shows at the Festival were missed or ignored by the mainstream media.

• To rectify that problem, Chris, Geraint and Alex set about building a media platform specifically designed to discover and champion cultural innovation at the Festival - focusing in particular on the shows and performers ignored by the mainstream press. And so ThreeWeeks was born.

• From the start ThreeWeeks also aimed to give student journalists a fantastic opportunity to gain skills and experience in reporting on the arts. In the late nineties Chris worked with fellow editors Caroline Moses and Christabel Anderson to develop a dynamic media training programme around ThreeWeeks. In 2009 over 150 students took part in this programme.

• In 2000 Chris and Caroline decided that in order to truly discover cultural innovation at the Edinburgh Festival, ThreeWeeks needed to review more or less everything being performed. To this end Caroline developed a scheduling system that meant that, despite working with a volunteer review team, we were able to see more shows than any other publication at the Festival. In 2009 ThreeWeeks reviewed in excess of 1800 shows in 25 days, this year we will see even more.

• As well as seeing more shows than any other media, ThreeWeeks aims to get its coverage of the Edinburgh Festival out to as many people through as many media as possible. In 2009 this included a weekly newspaper and daily reviews sheet (distributed all over Edinburgh), daily email-bulletin, podcast service and the website, www.threeweeks.co.uk. By providing such wide coverage in so many places, ThreeWeeks has become the leading reviewer at the Edinburgh Festival.

• In 2006, for the first time, ThreeWeeks branched out of Edinburgh to take its ethos and approach to the Brighton Festival. Four years on ThreeWeeks has become the leading reviewer at this exciting arts festival too.

• ThreeWeeks is now managed and run by UnLimited Media – the content, communication and consulting company owned and run by Chris Cooke and Caroline Moses. UnLimited runs numerous projects and media platforms 365 days a year – all designed to discover, champion, support and enable cultural innovation.