INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY: THE AMERICAN LEADER

PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is listed for reference only. The deadline to apply has passed.

This is an unpaid internship opportunity from outside the Rockefeller Center.

Position Type: Internship - unpaid

Location: Projects are to be completed in place (remotely)

Sector: Non-Profit

Start Date: Immediate start date

Wage or benefits: Unpaid

Time Commitment: We currently have two projects that we would like to complete by May 15. These projects are well-suited to two student interns working remotely. It is conceivable that one intern could complete both projects in the time frame requested, but we believe that both the interns and the projects will benefit from collaboration. The project founder will guide the work and mentor the interns as needed. He will communicate at least weekly with the interns via video conference, and as needed via Slack.

Desired Class Year: Open to all class years including graduate students

Desired Major or Interest: Open to all majors

Application Deadline: Rolling

Organization website: The American Leader is currently preparing to launch their website later this year.

Brief Description of the organization:

The American Leader is a startup non-profit news site based in Virginia that offers the news consumer an orbital perspective on the 24/7 stream of news, information, and media manipulation that casts the world and its problems in a seemingly endless string of crises and conflicts between "us" and "them". We will take a focused, systemic view of the problems that threaten Americans and our communities, and profile individuals who are acting to bring about bold and innovative solutions through government policy and business practice. Like noise-cancelling headphones, we'll eliminate the distortions, distractions, evasions, and obfuscations of the news cycle to surface ideas and report on progress towards problem resolution.

Our goal is to give concerned citizens the information and tools they need to make informed decisions in the voting booth, at work, and in their homes and communities. Our hope is that they recognize themselves as American leaders and engage in whatever ways they are able to help move this nation forward towards a sustainable democratic future.

Brief Description of the Intern's role or key qualifications:

As we prepare to launch the site later this year, we are developing a substantial volume of content. We currently have two projects that we would like to complete by May 15. These projects are well-suited to two student interns working remotely. It is conceivable that one intern could complete both projects in the time frame requested, but we believe that both the interns and the projects will benefit from collaboration.

Project 1: Timeline of Government Growth

In order to succeed, the site needs to contextualize the issues we face today by offering some background on the themes or storylines that are woven throughout the nation's history. One of these storylines has been the debate over whether "big government" is good or bad for the country. We want to assemble a timeline that illustrates why the government grew to be the size it is. Preliminary work on this project suggests it is because government intervention was the best, and in some cases, only realistic mechanism available for solving a particular problem. This essay by Prof. Randall G. Holcombe, an economics professor at Florida State University, provides a useful starting point.

Project 2: Tools and Resources Database

Numerous tools and resources exist that offer concerned citizens an opportunity to engage in problem-solving at a level that suits their interests and time availability. We are compiling a database of such items for the purpose of deepening our users' understanding of the problems facing the country and making it more convenient for them to become engaged in the pursuit of solutions. We are looking to methodically expand the tools and resources included in this database - an ideal opportunity for curious net explorers interested in discovering cool and productive tools and resources designed for civic use. Airtable experience is helpful, but this might also be a great opportunity if you are motivated to learn Airtable.

These are unpaid internships for work on projects that are to be completed in place (remotely). The project founder will guide the work and mentor the interns as needed. He will communicate at least weekly with the interns via video conference, and as needed via Slack. The internship is a great opportunity to be part of a new approach to journalism and civic engagement, to work in a virtual organization, and to get a glimpse at how a new not-for-profit news organization manages to lift itself up.

How to apply:

Those who are interested should send an email to gblinzer@theamericanleader.org that explains your interest in the work and what skills you will bring to the projects.

This is an unpaid internship from outside the Rockefeller Center. Such opportunities are posted in an effort to help students find a leave-term internship experience in public policy or a social sciences related area. Such postings do not constitute an endorsement by the Center of the political objectives of any one person or organization.