Design on the edge of innovation with NYT

The New York Times is looking for a full-time Web designer for its news development team.
The designer will help explore innovative methods for offering news online. The Web designer will aid in diverting from typical linear storytelling through maps, dynamic graphics, searchable databases, visualizations and other interactive features.
Candidates should have strong design skills and the technical ability to execute them. Applicants should have a thorough knowledge of HTML, CSS and Javascript. All potential hires should also be aware of cross-browser and front-end development issues and have a grasp on Web accessibility and how to design for users' needs. Experience in Flash, ActionScript or Ruby on Rails is a plus when applying.
View the job posting and apply online here.

IMAGE CREDIT: nytimes.com

The humanity behind the business

Earlier today, I posted an entry about Forbes' struggle to endure and how it has impacted employees. I then discovered a great example of a journalist finding humanity within a business story.
Simon Owens of Bloggasm kindly directed me to a piece about Steve McGookin, a Forbes journalist who took a severance package last year and is now attempting to hack it as a street performer in the New York subway system.
McGookin is using his time between journalism jobs not only to pursue other interests but to hone his reporting as well, blogging about his experiences at The Beat Below the Street.
Owens' article highlights the common struggle of journalists in an uncertain industry. Ownes and McGookin show that creativity and original journalism aren't confined to traditional media organizations and that opportunity is everywhere.
View the blog entry here.

Innovation in job loss

The Boston Globe ran an interesting online story today about airline design innovation.
The story tells how Emil Jacob, a man who recently lost his job at an economics consulting company, came to invent and patent a new airplane seating system to create less cramped conditions for passengers riding coach.
At a time when bad news keeps on coming for the economy and job market, this story highlights the opportunity one man made of his unemployment to follow other interests and better the services of an industry.
Finding positive stories in a dark economic time is a true challenge for business journalists. Yet if it is done well, journalists can give much-needed hope and inspiration to their downtrodden readers.
View the story here.

What stories have you written covering the positive repercussions of the recession? Comment and let us know.

Making lemonade out of newspaper dispensers

The New York Times recently ran a story on artists and entrepreneurs capitalizing on the newest casualties of the struggling news industry-newspaper and flyer dispensers.
The dispensers have been transformed into everything from flower planters to digital displays that show the front page morning news.
Perhaps media organizations should take the cue and think of ways to make their products and distribution more environmentally and socially beneficial.
View the story here.

What do you think about the dispenser makeovers? Comment and tell us!