ASI Call for Interns, Fall 2021

ASI Call for Interns

Arab Studies Institute (ASI) is announcing a series of available internships for Fall 2021 and beyond. ASI is the umbrella organization for the Arab Studies Journal, Jadaliyya, Quilting Point, Forum on Arab and Muslim Affairs (FAMA), and Tadween Publishing.

Below are the internships available at the Institute. All ASI team members volunteer their time to one extent or another. “Internships” fit into this formula during the initial internship period with the possibility of a stipend henceforth.

Applicants need not be based in Washington, D.C. or Beirut. All internship positions are virtual unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on August 23rd.

ARAB STUDIES INSTITUTE 

Video/Audio Editors

ASI is seeking interns who have experience editing audio and video to help produce shows, interviews, and events produced by ASI. Applicants must have a working proficiency in Final Cut Pro. 

Internship responsibilities will include:

1. Edit audio and video files for special events and ongoing series affiliated with any of ASI’s five branches.

2. Assist the ASI Broadcast Team in keeping up a schedule of audio-visual production.

Graphic Designer 

ASI is seeking an intern to design and curate graphic content to be featured on ASI’s various social media platforms and websites. The intern must be familiar with Canva and Photoshop. Basic knowledge of Arabic is preferred but not required.

Internship responsibilities will include:

1. Support ASI’s efforts to develop a visual identity.

2. Designing social media campaigns for newly published Jadaliyya, Status, and MESPI content.

3. Taking the initiative to promote ASI events and material

FORUM ON ARAB AND MUSLIM AFFAIRS RESEARCH

Forum on Arab and Muslim Affairs (FAMA) is the research arm of ASI. It produces and oversees ASI’s research projects and initiatives on overarching issues related to the Arab and Muslim worlds. 

COVID-19 Research Project Coordinator 

We are seeking a project coordinator for a joint ASI-Stanford University initiative examining political, economic, and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Arab World. The position will involve about 10-15 hours of work per week. English and Arabic language proficiency required.

Responsibilities will include: 

1. Managing the project’s various components, compiling and summarizing relevant research production.

2. Managing the project’s associated social media accounts and publicity efforts.

3. Assist in the production of a video podcast. 

Research Projects Coordinators

We are seeking applicants interested in assisting in the organizing and conducting of country and/or theme specific research projects. Projects include those concerned with Palestine, Lebanon, Media in MENA, and COVID-19 Impact in MENA. Experience with conducting research in Arabic is preferable, but not necessary.

JADALIYYA 

Jadaliyya is an independent e-zine that provides a unique source of insight and critical analysis that combines local knowledge, scholarship, and advocacy with an eye to audiences in the United States, the Middle East and beyond.

Media Roundup Coordinators

Media roundup editors will be responsible for managing, scheduling, and augmenting the material for either a weekly or monthly roundup for a particular page, in coordination with the page editors. Positions are available for Jadaliyya’s Resistance, Subversion, and Mobilization Page, Maghreb Page, Palestine Page, Environment Page and Turkey Page. Jadaliyya is seeking applicants who can speak English, Arabic, French, or Turkish.

Internship responsibilities will include:

1. Curate and annotate the media roundup based on our standard operating procedures.

2. Perform basic copyediting on all roundup articles.

3. Maintaining a routine monthly schedule for roundup posts.

4. Coordinate with the page editor for strategies and content.

MESPI (Middle East Studies Pedagogy Initiative) 

The Middle East Studies Pedagogy Initiative (MESPI) is a project of FAMA, ASI's research arm. MESPI is a curated interactive platform for Middle East Studies resources specifically tailored to the needs of teachers, researchers, and students.

Peer-Reviewed Articles Review Assistant

The Peer-Reviewed Article Reviews team curates a collection of journals and their articles concerned with the Middle East and Arab world. This series is published seasonally. Each issue consists of one-to-three parts, depending on the number of articles included.

Internship responsibilities will include:

1. Mining and cataloging peer-reviewed articles on or about the Middle East

2. Analyzing samples of data and identifying trends in knowledge production around a specific country or topic

Essential Readings Assistant

Essential Readings is a series that invites scholars to contribute to our Essential Readings modules by submitting an “Essential Readings” list on a topic/theme pertinent to their research/specialization in Middle East studies.

Internship responsibilities will include:

1. Outreach to potential Essential Readings scholar-contributors

2. Copy-editing essential readings lists for publications

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION PROJECT 

Knowledge Production Project is a dynamic, open-access archive, search tool, and data visualization platform. This project, almost a decade in the making, endeavors to gather, organize, and make available for analysis all knowledge produced on the Middle East since 1979, in nine databases.

Books Database Researchers

The Knowledge Production Project is seeking a research assistant to work on the Books Database. Experience with data entry is preferred, but not required for this position. 

Responsibilities for the Books Database research assistant will include:

1. Researching and cataloging book reviews related to the Middle East.

2. Evaluating the content and method of production of said book reviews.

3. Work closely with the database coordinator to decide upon new paths of research.

Films Database Researchers

The Knowledge Production Project is seeking a research assistant to work on the Films Database. Experience with data entry is preferred, but not required for this position. 

Responsibilities for the Films Database research assistant will include:

1. Researching and cataloging films related to the Middle East

2. Evaluating the content and method of production of said films

3. Work closely with the database coordinator to decide upon new paths of research.

Dissertation Database Researchers

The Knowledge Production Project is seeking a research assistant to work on the Dissertation Database. Experience with data entry is preferred, but not required for this position. 

Responsibilities for the Dissertation Database research assistant will include:

1. Researching and cataloging dissertations related to the Middle East

2. Evaluating the content and method of production of said dissertations.

3. Work closely with the database coordinator to decide upon new paths of research.

STATUS

Status/الوضع is an audio-visual magazine which features interviews/conversations, on-the-scene reports, reviews, informed commentary and lectures held around the world on the Middle East and North Africa.

Producer

Status is seeking producers for its various broadcasts and programs. Applicants must have strong organizational and leadership skills.  

Internship responsibilities will include:

1. Curating a schedule of content releases.

2. Assisting the Status team in booking new talents to be interviewed on various programs. 

3. Assist in the editing of existing audio-visual content. 

Audio-Visual Editor

Status is seeking interns who have experience editing audio and video to help curate the content featured in the bi-annual issues. Applicants must have a working proficiency in Final Cut Pro. 

Internship responsibilities will include:

1. Edit audio and video files to be featured in bi-annual issue releases.

2. Assist the Status team in ensuring the timely posting of new podcasts.

Graphic Designer 

Status/الوضع  is seeking an intern to design and curate graphic content to be featured on statushour.com and Status’ Facebook and Twitter accounts. The intern must be familiar with Canva and Photoshop. 

Internship responsibilities will include:

1. Designing social media campaigns for newly released Status content.

2. Taking the initiative to promote upcoming events and materials.

Benefit to the Student Intern

Of foremost concern to ASI is the benefits the student will receive while completing this program, and we expect that each student intern will have the opportunity to achieve the following benefits in addition to working toward academic credit:

Career-related experience

Practical knowledge of the field

Opportunity to explore career avenues

Valuable experience for CVs/resumes

Increased practice-based self-confidence

Training that enhances conventional classroom learning methods

Letters of recommendation from supervisor(s) and co-workers

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.