Campaign Intern

Deadline: Rolling application 

About the Advocacy Arm

Access is at the forefront of efforts to advocate for an open and secure internet that supports and encourages free expression, access to information, and the realization of other rights. The Advocacy Team directs an action-focused global movement of 400,000 users from over 185 countries, which mobilizes online and offline to protect and maintain an open and secure internet. Using this leverage, we seek to affect change to ensure that real people everywhere have the ability to freely, fully, and safely participate online.

Access is one of the leading digital rights organizations fighting for internet freedom and user rights. In just the past few months, Access has had a hand in stopping the sale of Western-produced surveillance equipment to Syria, rallying the international human rights community around SOPA and the PROTECT IP Act in the US, defeating a rights-abusing copyright bill in Colombia, and getting India’s government to backtrack on censoring sites like Facebook and Google.

By drawing on our collective technological and policy expertise, we engage the Access community in a comprehensive manner to defend and extend the digital rights of users at risk around the world.

About the Internship

Campaign interns will work principally with the members of the User Engagement team and the Executive Director to devise and execute campaigns in response to current and emerging threats to digital freedom, liaising with staff on the Policy and Tech arms as needed. Amongst other tasks, campaign interns will:

• Identify campaign opportunities and theories to affect change
• Conduct background research and fact-checking for campaigns
• Monitor new and traditional media sources, and
• Craft campaign and petition texts to be used on Access’ website and sent to our members.

Campaign interns may also be tasked with developing material targeting the news media and Access’ global membership, including communicating through social media, blog posts, and newsletters.

Qualifications

Successful applicants will be bright, highly motivated scholars with strong academic records and an interest and aptitude for public policy, political communication, digital freedom, public organizing, and human rights. Campaign interns will be actively involved in crafting Access’ message, and as such, must be self-starters with proven research and analytical skills, strong writing and editing abilities, the capacity to multitask in a fast-paced environment, and a passion for technology, democracy, and human rights issues. A technical background and fluency in a foreign language is a plus, but not required of this position.

While it is preferable that interns be located in the New York area for the duration of their internship, since most of Access’ work is conducted virtually, qualified applicants will be considered from locations worldwide. The start and end dates of this internship are negotiable.

Time Commitment

• One full academic term (usually 3 to 4 months)
• 15-20 hours per week (more if desirable; negotiable depending on specific circumstances of candidate)

Application Requirements

To apply, send a copy of your CV, a cover letter explaining your interest and qualifications for the position, and two references (only one may be academic) to internships@accessnow.org. Please place “Campaign Intern – [Your Name]” as the subject line.