BMJ Editorial Scholar

Central London or virtual

Would you like to take a year out of medical school or before you start as a doctor and spend it as an editorial scholar at The BMJ? You will work with The BMJ’s international team of editors and be supported by one of our senior clinical editors to lead BMJ Student, the student section of The BMJ.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have clinical experience and a passion for communicating ideas effectively. You must be motivated, creative, and preferably have experience of medical or general journalism. You must be a medical student or newly qualified doctor.

In this role you will:

• Be trained in journalism and editing

• Commission, peer review, select, and edit articles

• Be involved with publishing the journal for print and online

• Have the opportunity to write your own articles for BMJ Student as well as other sections within The BMJ

• Promote content and engage with medical students on social media

• Plan and produce episodes for The BMJ’s student podcast Sharp Scratch

• Maximise the potential of The BMJ’s student offering

The salary for this full time 12 month fixed term contract is £27 146 (€32 619, $35 455).

Testimonials

As a BMJ Student reader since day one of medical school, it’s been an incredible experience to work as the editor of BMJ Student, looking after the written and multimedia content that BMJ Student produces. Echoing my predecessors, you will acquire a wide range of skills while being supported by a talented team of people at The BMJ. The landscape of medical publishing is changing rapidly and it’s truly an exciting time to be involved with the journal right now, with an opportunity of leaving your editorial footprint at the journal. I highly recommend this role to any curious medical students interested in communicating with a wider audience, with the vision of working towards a healthier world for all. Pat Lok, editorial scholar 2021-22 (Anglia Ruskin University)

As the editorial scholar you have a unique opportunity to work with so many different amazing people, who are all experts in their own field, and learn from them directly. The role also allows you the flexibility to explore your own personal interests. My year out from medical school has been hugely beneficial in developing writing and editing skills, but also communication skills in a variety of different settings (from content creation to contributing in meetings)—and through many different mediums, including podcasts. Working at The BMJ gives you a bird’s eye view of medicine and the culture behind the profession, and as the editorial scholar you become the student voice in the organisation, who is responsible for the output of the student section of the journal. Despite being the only student working in the editorial team, the role allows you to connect and work with a variety of medical and healthcare students from across the globe. Nikki Nabavi, editorial scholar 2020-21 (University of Manchester)

My time as editorial scholar (2019-20) has been one of the highlights of my career so far. The role allowed me time to hone my medical writing and editing skills, and develop new ones in podcasting, social media communications, leadership, and teamwork. The role is easily adaptable to your specific interests and the team is so friendly (and not intimidating in the slightest). Being at The BMJ for a year gave me the confidence to apply for and secure an academic foundation post and I look forward to continuing writing and editing as part of my career. Anna Harvey, editorial scholar 2019-20 (King’s College London)

I learnt lots about writing and editing, yes—but also about how to promote and sustain BMJ Student, how to make a podcast from scratch, and how to be an effective manager for the interns. As the only medical student in the team, I could shape content that I thought important and useful for us, while being trained and supported by experienced colleagues. I got involved in the education section and the wellbeing campaign too, and since leaving the post have worked for BMJ OnExamination. Laura Nunez-Mulder, editorial scholar 2018-19 (Cambridge University)

How to apply

Please submit the following combined into one document:

• A covering letter (maximum 400 words) stating why you would be suitable for the position

• Your CV

• “Editor’s Choice” article (around 600 words), linking together a minimum of four articles which you think would interest students from The BMJ or BMJ Student. (Examples from March and January)

• Proposal for one article aimed at medical students. Explain why the topic is important, relevant, and interesting to our readers and outline what the article would cover. Please present your ideas as a bullet point plan that is as detailed as possible.

Please upload all documents as one single PDF.

Application deadline is 5pm on Monday 2 May 2022

Interviews will be held in the week commencing Monday 9 May via Zoom or similar platform.

We would like the successful applicant to start in August 2022.

We anticipate you will be working remotely most of the time. If covid-19 permits, there will be the opportunity to spend time in The BMJ office in London, but this will be finalised nearer the time.

For further information, please contact Navjoyt Ladher, clinical editor (nladher{at}bmj.com) or Pat Lok, editorial scholar (plok@bmj.com).