Support us
Search

Internships

Remote Internships at Fair Observer

Join our mission of independent citizen journalism!

Fair Observer publishes nearly 3,000 authors from over 90 countries, cutting across borders, backgrounds and beliefs. Our team from around the world fact-checks and rigorously edits every piece we publish. We provide diversity and quality in an era of echo chambers and fake news.

As a member of our team, you will build a portfolio of work and get credit for every piece that you edit. Our interns learn skills such as writing, editing, critical thinking and networking. We inspire young people around the world to be more engaged citizens and to participate in a global discourse.

Fair Observer is a nonprofit. We offer several unpaid, remote positions to students and professionals seeking experience. Each position is for three months with an expectation of five to 15 work hours per week.

To apply, choose the position you are passionate about and send a cover letter, resume or CV, and two examples of your best work to careers@fairobserver.com. The cover letter should explain how this internship will further your educational or professional goals. Your work examples can include writing samples, websites, videos, podcasts or anything that demonstrates skills relevant to the position.

Is this opportunity right for you? Yes, if the following apply to you:
  1. Interested in history, politics, culture and current affairs.
  2. Passionate about democratizing journalism.
  3. Excellent command of the English language.
  4. Exceptional attention to detail.
  5. Independent and self-motivated.
Fair Observer internship alumna Hanna Wolf has been selected for the prestigious German foreign service. She shares the following about her time at Fair Observer:
Hanna Wolf“I joined Fair Observer as an editorial intern while it was still in its infancy. Initially blown away – and somewhat intimidated – by the often hectic start-up mentality, I quickly realised how contagious the deeply shared sense of commitment to the idea behind Fair Observer was among the team members. During my internship, I went through an incredible learning curve: fast-paced networking events alternated with deep philosophical discussions with the founder. I was given immense independence early on, yet always worked closely with a diverse and energetic team. We celebrated successes, but we also had to deal with difficulties. My time at Fair Observer was one of the most enriching experiences of my life and it has opened tremendous new horizons for my career. Even today, years after my internship ended, I often return to my fond memories of this intense but incredible experience. I am thrilled to see that Fair Observer has grown into a high-quality and truly border-crossing journal that continues to remain independent and unafraid to publish a variety of perspectives. I would recommend it to anyone interested in getting a full picture of the issues that shape our world.” Fair Observer article by Hanna Wolf: Cocaine’s Journey to Europe

Intern Opportunities

Assistant Editor

The Assistant Editor will assist senior editors to edit submissions from around the world. The main job is to check facts and ensure that the final product is up to Fair Observer’s high standards.

Responsibilities

As Assistant Editor, you will:

  1. Attend editorial meetings.
  2. Review submissions assigned to you by senior editors.
  3. Fact-check author’s claims and hyperlinks where necessary
  4. Follow Fair Observer’s editorial guidelines.
  5. Notify senior editors when you finish your editing tasks.

Assistant Regional Editor

The Assistant Regional Editor will assist senior editors to edit submissions from a region of their choice:

  1. Africa
  2. East Asia.
  3. Europe.
  4. Latin America.
  5. Middle East and North Africa.
  6. South Asia.
  7. United States and Canada.

The main job is to check facts and ensure that the final product is up to Fair Observer’s high standards. The Assistant Regional Editor will have a high degree of familiarity with the subject region and be able to navigate political and cultural sensitivities with local authors. Knowledge of the local languages is a plus.

Responsibilities

As Assistant Regional Editor, you will:

  1. Attend editorial meetings.
  2. Review submissions assigned to you by senior editors.
  3. Solicit submissions from regional authors.
  4. Fact-check author’s claims and hyperlinks where necessary.
  5. Follow Fair Observer’s editorial guidelines.
  6. Notify senior editors when you finish your editing tasks.

Podcast Producer

The Podcast Producer will receive raw audio files and edit them to ensure that the sound is clear, balanced and free from extraneous chatter. The producer will then publish the audio as a podcast via Podbean after liaising with the editorial team. The editorial team shall write up a summary of the podcast. The producer is free to try their hand at writing the first draft of the summary.

Responsibilities

As Podcast Producer, you will:

  1. Produce podcasts from raw audio files.
  2. Suggest themes for podcasts to the editorial team.
  3. Liaise with senior editors and follow Fair Observer’s editorial guidelines.

YouTube Producer

The YouTube Producer will review past videos on Fair Observer’s channel and figure out how to improve their circulation. Producing shorter videos from longer previous ones and new videos using fresh material are both equally important responsibilities. The producer will make videos after liaising with the editorial team. The editorial team shall write up a summary of the video. The producer is free to try their hand at writing the first draft of the summary.

Responsibilities

As YouTube Producer, you will:

  1. Produce videos for Fair Observer’s YouTube account.
  2. Produce shorts from published Fair Observer video content.
  3. Publish shorts on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.
  4. Review and improve published videos for SEO purposes.
  5. Liaise with senior editors and follow Fair Observer’s editorial guidelines.

Grant Writer

As directed by the Communications and Outreach Officer and senior editors, the Grant Writer will draft and edit grant proposals tailored to the particular needs of each grant maker.

Responsibilities

As Grant Writer, you will:

  1. Identify grants for which Fair Observer may be eligible.
  2. Draft grant proposals.
  3. Edit grant proposals drafted by other members of the team.

Partnerships and Communications Assistant

The Partnerships and Communications Associate will liaise with existing partners and reach out to potential partners. Fair Observer pursues a collaborative model and works closely with high schools, universities, think tanks, nonprofits, embassies and media outlets.

Responsibilities

As Partnerships and Communications Associate, you will be an ambassador of the organization and will:

  1. Liaise with Fair Observer’s partners.
  2. Reach out to potential partners around the world.
  3. Conclude and implement partnerships with a high degree of responsibility.

SEO Assistant

The SEO Assistant will coordinate with the editorial team to improve search engine optimization of unpublished drafts. The SEO Assistant will also coordinate with the web development team to improve published articles on our WordPress-powered website.

Responsibilities

As SEO Assistant, you will:

  1. Improve the readability of article text.
  2. Improve internal and external links.
  3. Categorize articles, author pages et al and ensure that they are properly tagged.
  4. Perform A/B testing on user retention strategies.

Social Media Assistant

The Social Media Assistant will promote content, increase followers, engage in discussions and build the Fair Observer brand. The main job is to increase our audience.

The primary focus to begin with will be the platform of your choice: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn.

Responsibilities

As Social Media Assistant, you will:

  1. Publish past and current content on social media.
  2. Highlight Fair Observer events.
  3. Draw up a growth strategy.
  4. Implement this strategy and build the brand.
  5. Increase followers, engagement and audience.
  6. Liaise with senior editors and follow Fair Observer’s editorial guidelines.

UI/UX Assistant

The UI/UX Assistant will design and edit visual and interactive features of Fair Observer’s Wordpress-based website and its newsletters. The UI/UX Assistant will also interface with the web development team to implement these designs and edits.

Responsibilities

As UI/UX Assistant, you will:

  1. Design and edit UI/UX mock-ups of the website, web pages and newsletters.
  2. Perform research and A/B testing of designs.
  3. Coordinate with the Communications and Outreach Officer, the web development team, and senior editors via email.

 

Fair Observer, 461 Harbor Blvd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA