applicants

We are Demotix and we are looking for a full time developer to become Demotix too.

Demotix (from demos/?????, meaning ‘people’) is a street journalism website and newswire. www.demotix.com

We’ve been called “Journalism for the 21st Century” (Telegraph), the HuffingtonPost thinks we “may change the way news is reported”, and TechCrunch reckon we’re “reinventing the newswire”.

Founded to promote freedom of speech and freedom on information around the world, Demotix enables professional freelance and amateur photojournalists and reporters to share their stories with the world and license their images to the global mainstream media.

Demotix, which launched in January 09, has over 4,000 active contributors from (we think) every UN-recognised country around the world, and some that haven’t.

The site has been written using the LAMP stack, specifically Drupal 6, in our short life so far we have :

• Won the Media Guardian Innovation Award 2009.
• had images smuggled out of North Korea.
• Some of the best coverage in the world of the recent Middle East protests.
• Front pages of the New York Times, Guardian, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal and elsewhere
• Been featured on Reuters, Bloomberg, Wired, Guardian, BBC, CBC…
• Licensed our images and video to newspapers, websites, broadcasters and publishers all around the world.
• In March ’11, Demotix announced a global distribution agreement with Corbis Images, the world’s largest picture library.

We want to continue getting better, which is where you come in.

We are looking for a full time developer to join the London office to work on the day to day improvements to the site, large scale technical projects as well as periodic releases and other technical matters.

- Responsibilities –

• Software development using PHP5, MySQL, and the Drupal API.
• Theme layer tweaks and improvements to the existing site (CSS/Jquery etc)
• General bug hunting and fixing.
• Working with and evaluating 3rd party applications and services.
• Working closely with external development teams and management to help steer the technical direction of the site.
• Facilitating the London editorial and sales teams in their day to day use of the site.

- Knowledge, Skills and Experience –

• Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn/get stuck in.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, or equivalent in experience.
• PHP and MySQL programming/coding knowledge/experience.
• xhtml and CSS fundamentals for proper mark-up (cross browser).
• Self-motivated and able to work independently, but also good at collaboration, taking direction and working with others.
• Able to communicate both verbally and written at high level in English.

- Added bonus, in order of importance –

• Drupal experience
• Javascript experience, especially JQuery.
• Linux, Apache server administration knowledge / Cloud knowlage
• Database (MySQL) administration.
• An “eye” for design / photography
• Experience of the print / broadcast world.
• Able to speak more than one language.
• SCRUM experience.
• News obsessive

- Money –
We are a small scrappy company and thats just the way we like it (for now). We have budgeted between £25,000 and £30,000 for this position, where you fall on that scale will be dependent on your experience.

- Next step – First off – * STRICTLY NO AGENCIES PLEASE *

If you are interested, we want to know a little bit more about you. In your application email, as well attaching your CV, please also answer the following questions :

• A sample website you’ve built / been involved with.
• Your IDE/editor of choice.
• The operating system you use the most.
• What areas of your current skills your most interested in improving/developing.
• Why do you want to work with us?
• Available start date.
• Salary expectations.

• Drupal only: * What is your Drupal.org user ID (if you have one). * A Drupal module you like and why (not in the top 10 most used, or top 100 if your feeling clever).

Please send your applications to jobs@demotix.com with the subject line “enthusiastic developer”.