Water Justice Lab Media Mentor
Position Type
Part-time, temporary, June-August, 6 hours/wk for 10 weeks, Wednesdays 2-6 pm + 2 additional hrs TBD
Compensation
Total honorarium of $1500.00 ($20/hour)
Overview
Water Justice Lab at the Sanctuary for Independent Media (The Sanctuary) seeks a media mentor to work with our youth science and media fellows to produce radio stories around local water justice issues. Youth fellows are high school students who work with our Community Science mentor and a Riverkeeper Community Scientist to conduct water quality testing at NATURE Lab, a community biology lab on The Sanctuary’s campus North Central Troy, 3319 6th Avenue. Youth fellows also participate in the 8 week “Source to Estuary: Water Justice Summer Camp” program, where they attend weekly field trips to explore and learn about Capital Region water infrastructure. This summer the focus is on controversies around water contamination, including microplastics in surface waters, lead in drinking water, and sewage contamination in the Hudson.
About the Media Mentor Position
The Media Mentor will work with our Water Justice Lab team, including four youth fellows, NATURE Lab’s Community Science Mentor, and a Riverkeeper’s Community Scientist to facilitate our 8 week long Source to Estuary Summer Program. The focus of the media mentor will be on assisting the youth in interviewing water experts and advocates we meet during field trips, and producing ten minute radio stories from those interviews. Youth Scientists will test water samples from the Hudson River for bacteria as part of Riverkeeper’s Community Science Program. They will work in the lab with other Water Justice Youth Scientists as well as Sanctuary and Riverkeeper staff. As a team we will work together to conduct research and build and nurture relationships with the broader community around water justice.
Schedule
Source to Estuary
The Media Mentor will participate in an 8 week long field trip-based course, learning about our local water systems and assisting youth in creating media (focus on radio, with photography and video also possible) about what they learn.
– 2-6 pm June 28th; July 5th; July 12th; July 19th, July 26th, Aug 2nd, August 9th, August 16th, + 28 additional media production hours TBD
Additional paid opportunities may arise. To be discussed during the interview process.
Responsibilities include:
– Attend weekly Source to Estuary field trips
– Guide and assist youth in developing skills in interviewing and recording for radio.
– Work with youth to produce six 10 minute long radio pieces around local water justice issues, to be run on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine Radio program and archived on the Water Justice Lab website
– Contribute to positive collaborative team, filled with creativity and trust
– Follow through with commitment and communication within the team (responding to texts and emails in a timely manner)
Position Qualifications
– Experience with radio production (audio recording, interviewing, simple editing)
– Interest in science and environmental justice
– Commitment to working with youth in a supportive and nurturing way, especially youth from backgrounds historically excluded from the sciences.
– Interest and enthusiasm for field-based work (wading in streams, visiting water treatment plants, taking a boat ride in the Hudson)
– Interest in doing and connecting art, science and media
More about us
The Sanctuary for Independent Media’s mission is to use art and participatory action to promote social and environmental justice and freedom of creative expression. Since 2005 we have been building an arts and environmental education campus in North Central Troy, NY.
Water Justice Lab, located at the northernmost point of the Hudson River Estuary, has several goals:
1. Maintain and run a lab for water quality testing in Troy for Riverkeeper’s Upper Hudson sampling;
2. Employ local youth and ensure they are centered in the experience;
3. Work with local communities to build participation and understanding of water issues and how to make a difference – to build Environmental Justice networks;
4. Create radio/podcast/media content publicizing the Water Justice Lab, water science and water civics, and related areas.
EOE/AA
We actively seek to build a diverse team with a wide range of experiences, skills, and perspectives. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and, as an organization committed to inclusivity, we consider all applicants regardless of race, sex, gender identity, or expression, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation or national origin.
How to apply
Send an email explaining your interest in the Water Justice Lab Media Mentor position, and include your contact information, current resume, and contact information for two references. Email to [email protected] with the words “Water Justice Media Mentor” in the subject line. Deadline is June 16th, or until the position is filled.
