The European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) seeks interns for three months field internships, associated to the research project on Diversity and Media. The deadline for applications is 1 March.
Public media is a crucial factor for enabling pluralism and intercultural dialogue, for increasing the levels of tolerance towards and understanding of diversity, and for encouraging inter-community cooperation. At the same time, media could become a tool for manipulation, for increasing the levels of distrust and xenophobia, for challenging societal achievements and the peaceful coexistence within a multicultural society.
Therefore, by examining the structural and cognitive projection of diversity in media, the research aims at identifying and reflecting upon successful practices of and challenges to social cohesion within plural cultural societies.
The research aims at addressing the intercultural dialogue as projected through media. The focus of the project currently falls on Europe (the Council of Europe and the OSCE states).
With the assumption that a dialogue needs two active parties, the project has two focal points:
- The official (majority) public media and their approach to diversity (and the relations with the minorities)
- The minority media outlets, their approach to diversity, and their relations with the majority
During the first stage, the project aims at mapping:
- National public (majority) media – the most influential opinion makers in the respective country
- Minority media outlets – active in the respective country
- Major events in the majority-minority relations within the timeframe 1990–2014
In its second phase, the research will address:
- The perspectives on diversity as projected by the majority media
- The perspectives on diversity as projected by minority media
The field internship
Since not all media outlets have online versions and some of the research activities might require work in public libraries or archives, ECMI seeks field interns.
Interns will be expected to work from their home countries or countries where they currently reside and to be fluent of the language of the country they would like to do a research on. Fluency in one or more of the minority languages for that particular country will be an asset.
The main task of the interns will be to assist the principal investigator Dr Zora Popova, Head of the ECMI Culture & Diversity Cluster in data gathering and processing of information.
Recognition of internship
Upon their successful performance, interns with be provided with all the necessary documents certifying completion of a full-time three-month-internship with ECMI. If intern needs to cover a longer period, such can be agreed additionally.
Letters of recommendation will also be provided when the research output presented in the end of the internship meets the required standards. All additional issues will be discussed and agreed on an individual basis.
Payment
ECMI internships are unpaid.
ECMI believes that the field intern format will suit students and young professionals who are interested in gaining practical research experience, in developing their professional skills under the methodological guidance of the ECMI experts and in the possibility for publishing their research findings with ECMI.
Additional benefits of the field intern programme are both saving costs entailed in a resident internship as well as increased flexibility in terms of time, according to individual needs.
Successful interns will become a part of the ECMI interns’ network and will be considered for further ECMI initiatives and research opportunities as ECMI field media experts.
Application process
Application by electronic mail only; no phone calls accepted. The deadline for applications is 1 March.
Interested applicants should submit an application via email with the reference in the subject line “Diversity and Media Internship Programme”, containing the following attachments:
- Filled in application form:
- Applicants must indicate clearly the country they would like to cover if accepted. Candidates are allowed to indicate more than one country in their order of preferences
- Applicants must indicate their language skills and level of fluency
- Please specify the preferred period for completing the internship (three months)
- Please explain your motivation (350 words max!)
- Please provide names and contact details (including e-mail addresses) of two referee
- Curriculum Vitae (indicating clearly prior research experience)
Emails should be sent to Maj-Britt Risbjerg Hansen (hansen@ecmi.de). Further information on the Internship Programme available on the ECMI’s website.
Download these guidelines in pdf
Download the application form
Successful interns will become a part of the ECMI interns’ network and will be considered for further ECMI initiatives and research opportunities as ECMI field media experts. Photo: ECMI Flickr Archive.
Source: ECMI InfoChannel @ European Centre for Minority Issues.
