Zipping through piazza Santa Croce on my bike before the crowds arrive, I remember that I need to detour via the Ferragamo museum to find out about their upcoming children’s tours for my events listing in the paper—perfect: I’ll cycle along the Arno to reach the office today rather than my usual foray through the hidden backstreets of the centro storico.
Latest Ferragamo releases folded away, I head for the office, making note of a new exhibition space opening in a café on via del Parione—contemporary art? That’ll make a good entry in the What’s New column.
I haven’t even picked up my morning pastry and already the buzz of collecting news for the paper has begun. Must keep on top of all the Florentine goings-on: after all, the press never sleeps!
Pastry by my keyboard, I finally make it to my inbox—what’s the excitement for today? An interview with a new artist who is giving away his art on the streets of Florence (and, it later turned out, also giving away bottles of wine bearing his art as an introduction to himself at interview—much appreciated by the team over lunch).
What else? Corri la vita is coming up (reminder to self: must sign up) as well as exotic dance nights at Auditorium Flog in Rifredi, Italian cinema seminars hosted in English by the newly reopened Spazio Alfieri, an exhibition of pop art by the great Andy Warhol at Pisa’s Palazzo Blu—the Top 10 Events column seems to be writing itself today. Excellent: once I’m on top of my translations for one of TF’s clients, there’s time for a leisurely lunch with the rest of the office before my afternoon appointment: the press screening of acclaimed Florentine director Cinzia T.H. Torrini’s latest documentary.
The film turns out to be a lovely break in the hustle and bustle of my day, giving snippet interviews with a number of artisans in their workshops as they talk about their crafts and histories, and I enjoy writing a script for a web video before filming the introduction on camera in via Tornabuoni.
Back in the office, there’s just time to follow up on an invitation to a preview of an upcoming exhibition before brainstorming feature article ideas for the next issue with Helen, the managing editor, and discussing our Halloween crowd-sourced piece on Florence’s phantoms—some real gems there from our Facebook and Twitter followers.
On my way back out the door, I pop my head over the team graphic designer’s desk and wheedle the promise of a spooky ghost over piazza del Duomo to go with the next Facebook post, then I’m off on my bike again, this time to meet a potential new feature writer in Sant’Ambrogio. Having given the go-ahead to a couple of our regular feature writers for an article on fall fashion and a photo feature on bronze casting in Pistoia, I’m looking forward to hearing this new writer’s ideas; working with writers is one of the best parts of the job, second only to writing my own pieces and pulling the paper together with the team moments before it hits the press. Then, of course, there’s the excitement of being au courrant on all the fantastic events going on in the city: my social calendar has really taken off over the two years I’ve been at The Florentine.
I shall be sorry to leave this job—it has been such fun, always stimulating and on the go, being an important part of the local community and in touch with curators and events organisers all over town. It has made all the difference to getting the most out of living in Florence, but sadly my time here has come to an end. I will leave with great memories of working within a close and dynamic team, and I hope my successor will enjoy being part of The Florentine as much as I have.
Are you our ideal candidate?
YOU HAVE
– excellent writing and editing skills
– lived in Florence for at least six months
– educational or work experience in the fields of online, print or broadcast journalism
YOU ARE
– a native English speaker and have excellent Italian speaking and written skills
– legally able to work in Italy
– able to identify newsworthy events for our target audience
– able to plan and publish social media content
– extremely organized, motivated and able to meet deadlines
– able to work well with others, edit their work constructively and have your work edited
– eager to represent the newspaper at press conferences, events and other public relations opportunities in the English- and Italian-speaking communities in Florence
Send your CV and writing samples by November 14, 2013 to redazione@theflorentine.net.
Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
