The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and the MIT Center
for Civic Media seek a fellow to join Media Cloud
<http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/research/mediacloud>, a project led by Yochai Benkler
<http://benkler.org/> and Ethan Zuckerman
<http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/> and driven by an interdisciplinary team of
staff and researchers. The fellow will lead the production of scholarly papers and
outputs, advance specific research threads, and contribute to the development of research
methods and tools.
Media Cloud is an open source, open data platform that allows researchers to answer
complex quantitative and qualitative questions about the content of online media and helps
to support a novel, data-driven perspective on the dynamics of online conversations.
This fellowship offers an early-stage researcher in social science, data science, or
Internet & society to explore the state of digital media through analysis of networks,
big data, social media, mobilization, and attention online. This is a unique opportunity
to study the networked public sphere and its impact on current political debates.
A full position description for the job can be found below and on the Harvard Human
Resources website
<https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGWEbHost/jobdetails.aspx?partnerID=25240&siteID=5341&AReq=30986BR>.
Please note that applications for this fellowship must be submitted through the Harvard
Human Resources website, and will not be collected or coordinated directly through the
Berkman Center. Apply for the Media Cloud fellowship here
<https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGWEbHost/jobdetails.aspx?partnerID=25240&siteID=5341&AReq=30986BR>.
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Key Responsibilities Include*
* leading a research effort to study online debates related to Sexual
and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), investigating the framing
of terms around sexuality, reproductive health and rights, as well
as training a small subset of advocates working on these issues on
the use of our tools;
* working closely with project members from the Berkman Center and
Center for Civic Media to coordinate and conduct research, writing,
project outputs, and preparing publications;
* documenting processes and strategies for using Media Cloud;
* cultivating and supporting relationships among faculty and other
experts in media, social science, law, computer science, journalism,
data visualization, and other fields to understand substantive
issues and objectives, assess needs and capabilities, and
collaboratively develop research methods to meet the project's
broader goals;
* contributing to the development of the research and technical
platforms;
* planning, communicating, and implementing Media Cloud workshops and
convenings;
* managing the selection, oversight, and mentorship of student
researchers;
* developing plans and timelines to advance project priorities and
meet deadlines; and
* providing additional project support as needed.
The fellowship is positioned to share time between the Berkman Center and the Center for
Civic Media at MIT, working closely with researchers, staff, and faculty at both
institutions. The community of fellows and researchers at the two Centers includes a wide
range of people working on issues related to Internet and society, including scholars,
practitioners, innovators, and others committed to understanding and advancing the public
interest.*
Basic Qualifications*
Bachelor's degree required.*
Additional Qualifications*
Candidate should be energetic and passionate about working on issues related to social
mobilization and network analysis. Superior writing and verbal skills, sound judgment,
exceptional ethical standards, and proven abilities in interpersonal communication,
supervision, project management, and team building are required. The fellow will have
heart, verve, and vigor; a can-do attitude; a very good sense of humor; and a strong
desire to affect change in the world.
Demonstrable knowledge of statistical and content analysis, text analysis and natural
language processing, visualization, and the ability to produce large social science
research outputs is preferred. Familiarity with the intersections of policy with
technology, regulation, and social impact is beneficial.
An advanced degree in a related field is strongly preferred. Experience with technical,
substantive, and organizational work for non-governmental or academic organizations is
useful, in addition to experience in managing and guiding participating researchers and
collaborators.*
Additional Information*
The Centers encourage and support inviting and rigorous intellectual environments. The
right candidate will thrive in a committed, collaborative, and tight-knit community that
encourages creativity and humor, supports deep inquiry, values novel approaches to solving
problems, strives for transparency, continually builds upon best-practices and lessons
learned, and supports its community members' independent and collective goals.
In order to most fully and efficiently carry out her duties, the candidate will attend
workshops and conferences, and will have frequent opportunities to expand his/her
knowledge.
The annual salary is $48,000, and is eligible for health benefits.
The position is administratively housed at the Berkman Center, and will report to the
Research Director at the Berkman Center.
As with all Berkman Center positions, this is a term appointment expected to continue
through 12/31/14, subject to department need and funding, with strong potential for
continuation based on funding and institutional need.*
About Media Cloud*
Using Media Cloud, academic researchers, journalism critics, and interested citizens can
examine what media sources cover which stories, what language different media outlets use
in conjunction with different stories, and how stories spread from one media outlet to
another. Media Cloud was the research tool used to develop the recent publication,
"Social Mobilization and the Networked Public Sphere: Mapping the SOPA-PIPA Debate
<http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/node/8416>." For more information about Media
Cloud, visit:
http://mediacloud.org.*
About the Berkman Center for Internet & Society*
The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University is a research program
founded to explore cyberspace, share in its study, and help pioneer its development.
Founded in 1997, through a generous gift from Jack N. and Lillian R. Berkman, the Center
is home to an ever-growing community of faculty, fellows, staff, and affiliates working on
projects that span the broad range of intersections between cyberspace, technology, and
society. More information can be found at
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu.*
About the MIT Center for Civic Media*
The MIT Center for Civic Media works hand in hand with diverse communities to
collaboratively create, design, deploy, and assess civic media tools and practices. We are
inventors of new technologies that support and foster civic media and political action, we
are a hub for the study of these technologies, and we coordinate community-based design
processes locally in the Boston area, across the United States, and around the world.
Bridging two established programs at MIT---one known for inventing alternate technical
futures, the other for identifying the cultural and social potential of media change---the
Center for Civic Media is a joint effort between the MIT Media Lab and the MIT Comparative
Media Studies Program. It is made possible by funding from the Knight Foundation. More
information can be found at
http://civic.mit.edu/.*
Commitment to Diversity*
The work and well-being of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard
University are strengthened profoundly by the diversity of our network and our differences
in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and
much more. We actively seek and welcome applications from people of color, women, the
LGBTQIA community, and persons with disabilities, as well as applications from researchers
and practitioners from across the spectrum of disciplines and methods.
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More About Berkman Center Fellowships and Information About Berkman's Open Call for
Fellowship Applications*
If the Media Cloud fellowship is not for you, but you are interested in Berkman's
fellowship program, please read more on Berkman's fellowship page
<http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/getinvolved/fellowships>. Applications are currently
being accepted for 2014-2015 fellowships through the open call
<http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/getinvolved/fellowships/opencall20142015>, a channel
through which applicants propose their own course of study. Open call applications will
be accepted through December 8, 2013.