WITNESS is looking for an intern to support its Program Director as well as other staff and consultants on our ‘Cameras Everywhere’ Leadership Initiative. This initiative focuses on addressing the challenges and opportunities for human rights work presented by ubiquitous video, and on identifying adjustments and modifications to the systems and infrastructure that facilitate video for human rights. More information on the program at: http://www.witness.org/cameras-everywhere.
This initiative includes research and engagement with relevant stakeholders in technology, human rights and media; the development of autonomous technology tools to address key challenges (http://www.witness.org/cameras-everywhere/witness-labs), as well as work focused on spreading key ideas around relevant digital media literacies for human rights. Currently we have a strong focus in two particular areas: looking at privacy, security and anonymity with visual media (placing a particular focus on the role of technology companies), and pushing for more trusted, authenticable citizen media as a source for evidence of human rights violations.
Program Management: The position also provides opportunities to gain experience in NGO management via work with the Program Director around areas of general program management, budget and workplan development and monitoring and evaluation.
An intern should anticipate that their time will be split roughly 70/30 between work on the ‘Cameras Everywhere’ initiative and general support to the Program Director in areas of program management. However, an intern with a strong preference to work in only one of these two areas will be also be considered.
Tasks include:
- Assisting with research into relevant issues in human rights, privacy, ethics, media practice, technology and social media;
- Assisting with the development of relevant internal and public documents and preparation for stakeholder meetings and conference presentations;
- Preparation for outreach and engagement on social media and in press around key issues;
- Under supervision, drafting blog entries on the ‘Cameras Everywhere’ initiative as well as other relevant video-for-change topics for inclusion on the WITNESS blog;
- Providing support to the Program management functions of the Program Director including developing budgets, management plans and monitoring program performance;
- Providing administrative support;
- Attending and contributing to staff and department meetings
All interns are expected to spend between 20-30% of their time engaged in administrative support.
Qualifications:
Potential interns should be graduate students. We look for a focus in studies on social-purpose technology, media, human rights, international relations, and political science.
Candidates should have:
- A background in human rights, technology, online or mobile social justice activism and/or video;
- Research experience;
- Previous experience within NGO or technology development environments
- Optional but an asset: Individuals with expertise working in one of these contexts: i) the technology industry ii) in legal contexts, particularly related to international human rights law, iii) the news media
General Information:
We require a minimum of two months commitment, for at least 15 hours a week. Internships are unpaid. Our offices are located in Brooklyn, NY, convenient to the Atlantic Terminal (2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, Q, N and R trains) and C (Lafayette) and G (Fulton) trains.
Application instructions:
No phone inquiries please. Please send applications by email to internship@witness.org including a resume and cover letter with the subject line "Cameras Everywhere".
