Story Team for MI Diaries
Internship: Story Team for MI Diaries
Position and qualifications
The MI Diaries project is looking for interns to join our Story Team, May 17 – August 13, 2021 (dates negotatiable), on a for-credit or non-credit basis. You are welcome to join us earlier if you wish!
Duties include regularly reviewing submitted ‘audio diaries’, and then identifying and editing the most compelling short narratives to be featured in on our website and social media ‘selected stories’. Specific technical skills are not required. More important is the ability to recognize narrative structure, think about the impact of stories on various audiences, and keep our project values of authenticity and trustworthiness in mind. Stories are submitted in three age categories: Adult, teen and kid. The commitment is 3-4 hours per week and the internship can potentially be extended into the 2021-22 academic year.
This is a great opportunity for a freshman or sophomore looking for some early career experience with a supportive team. However, we encourage applicants at all levels to apply. Content that you generate can be added to your professional portfolio. The internship is entirely virtual, with no face-to-face contact required.
About the project
MI Diaries is a research project from the MSU Sociolinguistics Lab. Our large team includes faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, and students from middle and high schools. Since April 2020 we have been collecting self-recorded “audio diaries” from Michiganders aged 3 and above. Diarists talk about their pandemic experiences, but also about everyday happenings, news stories, memories and more. Each week we feature excerpts from 2-3 diaries on our website and social media, to retain the interest of current participants, and to attract potential new participants. The project will run for at least the next two years.
Responsibilities
The Story Team Interns will:
- regularly review incoming audio diary submissions
- with the rest of the Story Team, present a short list of potential ‘selected stories’ to the full project team each week
- edit audio excerpts and correct auto-generated transcriptions
- select appropriate visual images to accompany selected stories
- ensure that selected stories are presented in consistency with our project values
- work closely with and be responsive to other Story Team members
- complete MSU Human Subjects Training (if not already completed)
- report to Dr. Betsy Sneller, the project lead investigator
- if available, attend weekly MI Diaries team meetings (Thursdays 5-6pm)
- if available for team meetings, contribute to creation of engaging story prompts
To apply
Please upload a 1-2 page resumé and a 1-page cover letter to HandShake by 5:00pm on Monday, April 19, 2021. We will contact shortlisted applicants for a brief Zoom interview. Please direct questions to the project co-investigator, Dr. Suzanne Wagner, wagnersu@msu.edu