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Digital Communications Fellowship
Are you passionate about how social media can advance social change? Are you interested in shaping public policy conversations with game-changing ideas and innovative research presented through compelling visuals? If so, we encourage you to apply for our 2016 Carol Jean and Edward F. Newman Fellowship!
Who we are:
The Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) is a progressive think tank dedicated to building a more equitable, ecologically sustainable, and peaceful society. We believe progress occurs when people and movements come together to act on powerful ideas based on equity, peace, and the protection of our planet. Since 1963, we have been challenging corrupt power structures that undermine a true democracy. Today, we are uniting people and movements around real, transformational change through independent research, networking across issues, and visionary platforms.
We are looking for our next Newman Fellow who will help bring our transformational, intersectional, movement-building work to growing communities of online supporters.
Who you are:
You share IPS's vision that everyone has a right to thrive on a planet where all communities are equitable, democratic, peaceful, and sustainable. You are a budding activist/organizer who is interested in exploring a lasting career in social justice and want first-hand experience in the role of strategic communications in advocacy and organizing.
You have:
- Excellent written, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Experience in managing social networking accounts, particularly Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- Experience in graphic design, including previous experience designing infographics, sharegraphics, memes, etc.
- Experience with image or photo editing softwares (experience with Adobe Creative Suite a plus).
- Strong connections with progressive movements and/or familiarity with core IPS issues and values.
- A bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Design, or related field.
What you'll do:
- Under the supervision of the Communications Director, implement communications plans for engaging with IPS audiences through social media, online publications, etc.
- Create visual (infographics, sharegraphics, memes) and written content for IPS's social networks and websites.
- Work with Communications Team and other IPS staff to identify opportunities for expanding IPS audiences and organizing efforts online.
- Assist with communications campaigns in response to breaking news and developments related to IPS's issue areas.
- Work with Development Team to identify opportunities for maximizing effectiveness of online fundraising efforts.
- Design/layout IPS reports and IPS promotional materials.
What you'll get:
You'll be part of a team of smart, sharp communications professionals working together to increase our reach and widen the audience for our work. We work alongside IPS's nationally renowned policy experts to ensure our research and analysis are reaching key decision-makers, and more and more people are educated with our game-changing ideas.
The Newman Fellowship is an opportunity for emerging leaders to develop critical skills needed to serve as the next generation of progressive activists, organizers, or public scholars. Not only will you receive mentorship from IPS's Communications Director and other IPS staff, you will also be exposed to our work with core allies and the broader progressive community, and have opportunities for professional development.
Annual compensation for this entry-level fellowship is $37,000 (before taxes), paid semi-monthly. You will also receive excellent benefits including generous vacation, paid holidays, 403(b) plan upon hire, fully paid health insurance, fully paid life insurance, fully paid long-term disability, optional short-term disability, direct deposit, and flex time.
What we expect of you:
The selected fellow is expected to commit full-time to the 12-month fellowship term. The Fellowship can be extended up to 24 months pending agreement between the Newman Fellow and the Communications Director. The selected Newman Fellow should be able to begin theirfellowship term between July 25 - August 1, 2016.
Please send the following materials in a single PDF to apply@ips-dc.org with "Newman Fellowship" on the subject line.
- A cover letter explaining your interest in communications work and any related experience.
- Your resume, including three references.
- Writing sample(s) not exceeding 2 pages in length.
- Graphic design samples.
IPS is strengthened by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and much more. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQIA community, and other groups that have historically been subject to discrimination.
Please submit materials by Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Due to the large volume of applications, only applicants moving on to the next round will be contacted by the Search Committee.
State brutality is integral to the electoral cycle in Yoweri Museveni’s Uganda. There are campaign beatings, ballot beatings and post-election beatings. Ugandans this week witnessed pre-swearing-in beatings. They can expect swearing-in beatings, after which there is every chance there will be post-swearing in beatings. Then, the election cycle over, the country shall revert to ordinary beatings.
President Jacob Zuma’s continued disregard for the constitution, rule of law, independence of the judiciary and authority of independent institutions is increasingly translating into the lawlessness currently dominating KwaZulu Natal, where the police, courts and state security are used to protect political interests and suppress valid public discontent; where state torture and police criminality are endemic.
This essay looks at the complex relationship between the personal and the political in queer/LGBTIA+ organizing in Africa. It considers how current modes of organizing impact the connection between professional activism and grassroots participation and explores some of the consequences of these two intersecting factors for activist praxis.
Organic farmers from Machakos, Kenya, say that fertiliser and seed companies even deploy their own extension officers and agro-dealers in the villages, who aggressively advertise the use of their products. When their promises prove false, nobody compensates the farmers for their losses.
The Canadian mining magnate is just one in a long line of Westerners who ask the world to believe what they say but ignore the actual results of what they do — a “spin-sploiter” publicly professing humanitarian ideals all the while exploiting Africa.
Isn’t it the height of hypocrisy for a British politician to label Nigeria as fantastically corrupt? Britain built its economy on the wealth looted from colonies such as Nigeria. Today, British politicians collude with their thieving Nigerian counterparts to spirit away money that is then invested in London and other Western cities. Cameron’s neo-colonial moralism fools no one.
Between September 2015 and January 2016, African-Brazilian activist Rafaela Araujo visited Azania/South Africa on a share/ study program. She was hosted by eBukhosini Solutions – a community-based company specialized in Afrikan centered education and youth/community empowerment. She spent most of her time studying English, getting to know the situation of Afrikan people in South Afrika and assisting in eBukhosini’s activities. She also undertook some speaking engagements in neighboring Namibia. 
The Mandela that now stands erect in Ramallah has been incorporated into the zeitgeist of this city, particularly the rich and beaming neighborhood of massive white-stone villas and luxury cars. It would have meant much more if it had stood in the center of Gaza, a city that is withstanding an ongoing genocide.
Swaziland’s big-spending absolute monarch King Mswati III is spending millions of dollars on a new personal jet and other luxuries, while many of his poor citizens rely on food aid to survive.
The importance of sports has not been sufficiently appreciated by African governments for it to be integrated into their national development plans. There is no doubt that sports could play a critical role in attaining peace, development and stability.
Ban Ki-Moon’s term as UN Secretary General ends this year and already political jostling is underway ahead of the selection of the new head of the world body. There are strong indications that favour a woman candidate. And how has Africa positioned itself for the unfolding contest?
The university suspended and permanently discontinued several students on claims that they had attacked a professor, without giving them a fair hearing as required by the institution’s regulations and natural justice. And then a number of the affected students were brutally attacked by officers from the national security services and detained in an unknown destination.
A new workers federation is being formed in South Africa that is intended to toally change the face of popular organising. Based on the principles of independence, concerted mass action and worker control, the new federation starts with a membership of 1.1 million workers drawn from 51 affiliates.
The State of the Union Coalition (SOTU) calls out for submissions of articles from journalists working in the 10 African countries SOTU has membership; Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Tunisia. The competition is open to African journalists reporting on Human Rights and Governance issues in the print and digital media. Deadline: 31st May 2016 at 11:59 (GMT +3).