Guantánamo Public Memory Project

Media Engagement Intern

Summer 2014 – Fall 2014

 

About the Guantánamo Public Memory Project

 

“Guantánamo” has become an international symbol of torture, detention, national security, and conflict over America’s “War on Terror.”  After more than a decade of bitter struggle over whether and how to “close Guantánamo,” over 150 prisoners remain at the US naval station (Gitmo).  This struggle has, however, largely obscured the much longer history of Gitmo, and the many generations of people that have spent time at the site. These include Cuban workers in exile after the Revolution; Haitian refugees with HIV; and many American families. Gitmo and its residents have been inextricable, if often invisible, parts of America’s deepest policy conflicts: immigration, public health, human rights, and national security.

 

The Guantánamo Public Memory Project seeks to build public awareness of the century-long history of Gitmo, and foster dialogue on the future of this place and the policies it shapes.  The Project involves a growing collaboration of universities and organizations, coordinated from Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights as part of its Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability.  The Project includes a website, traveling exhibit, and an ever-expanding collection of oral histories, images and other digital media, and physical artifacts contributed by those who have spent time at Gitmo.

 

About the Internship

 

The Media Engagement Intern will join the Project Communications team, which manages the project website, blog, social media channels, newsletters, and other forms of outreach. The intern will take a prominent role in developing new online strategies, and in engaging with both project participants and the wider public through online channels.

 

Duties:

• Collaborate with Web Editor in development of project website and blog: draft blog posts; refresh existing content; monitor blog traffic.
• Promote project’s online presence: engage social media channels; respond to online traffic, trends and comments; galvanize SMS participation.
• Enhance membership engagement: contribute to monthly newsletter; develop LinkedIn presence.
• Establish relationships with similar projects, universities, museums and institutions: targeted media outreach including pitching and placing content; collaborate with Marketing Intern to identify and recruit new host venues.
• Develop media library (images, videos, audio): prepare oral history videos for publication; research and collect relevant online media; build familiarity with and promote project’s existing media collection.

Qualifications:

• Graduate student or recent graduate in history, public history, museum studies, human rights, American Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, or related field

• Background and research experience in one or more subject areas related to GTMO’s history, such as 19th/early 20th century American imperialism, Caribbean studies, refugee policy, military history, Cold War, public health

• Experience editing blogs and/or using social media for publicity purposes
• Excellent writing and organization skills – ability to work independently to hit writing deadlines
• Strong research skills – comfortable diving into archives or Twitter feeds in search of relevant information
• Able to commit to 10+ hours per week, through summer and fall of 2014. Willingness to commit to full year of participation a plus
• The intern will work remotely, but will need to attend regular meetings in the vicinity of Washington Square Park

 

How to Apply

Please send resume and cover letter to gitmomemory@gmail.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of June 6, 2014. Internship will begin in mid-June.