MediaWise Audience Engagement Fellow

The work.

MediaWise, the Poynter Institute’s groundbreaking digital media literacy organization, is seeking a MediaWise Audience Engagement Fellow to create engaging media literacy content across platforms, and assist with MediaWise’s growing youth media literacy efforts.

We’re looking for someone who is tuned into the world of mis- and disinformation, understands social media storytelling and has the skills to create innovative, educational and platform-specific content for YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok on deadline. 

The Audience Engagement Fellow will work under the MediaWise Youth Programming Manager on the MediaWise Teen Fact-Checking Network — focused on the video content produced by the network. The national newsroom is made up of students who produce educational fact-checking and media literacy content for social media. You’ll be assisting with first reads on scripts, pitching, filming, editing and posting TikToks and YouTube videos. There’s a lot of juggling — plus you’re working with teens — so patience and ability to shift focus are important.

The fellow would track social media metrics and implement content sprints to maximize reach. 

Our ideal candidate is an innovative, independent creator who values our mission of teaching anyone how to sort fact from fiction online. The fellow should have excellent editorial judgment, the ability to identify legitimate sources and a genuine interest in working with student journalists. 

We’re a small team with big ambitions — so we’re looking for self-starters who value transparency and teamwork. Intellectual humility is key. As is a sense of humor. 

Interested candidates should send three work examples — this could be a cool TikTok video, Reel, YouTube video or an article, graphic or other content that demonstrates your grasp of media literacy — and a cover letter expressing your interest to: mediawisejobs@poynter.org 

This is a 1-year, full-time position.

This is a hybrid position based at our offices in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

EOE

No phone calls, please.

Who we are.

MediaWise is the Poynter Institute for Media Studies’ digital media literacy initiative. Launched in 2018, we have reached more than seventy-five million people globally through our programs. We are home to the Teen Fact-Checking Network, the world's first fact-checking newsroom run by teenagers — and signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network. We have programs for Spanish speakers, older adults, college students, and people in twelve countries.

Our mission: MediaWise empowers diverse communities with the skills to identify misinformation through engaging, innovative media literacy education. Our goal is to inspire savvy digital citizens who know that when facts prevail, democracy wins.

Our values: Fairness, Accountability, Humility, Empowerment, Honesty, Integrity, Innovation, Independence, Collaborative, Respect, Representation and Diversity

The Poynter Institute, founded in 1975, is the world’s leading instructor, innovator, convener and resource for anyone who aspires to engage and inform citizens. Poynter engages with citizens and journalists through custom teaching; its in-house fact-checking organization, PolitiFact; the International Fact-Checking Network; and the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership.

Position Responsibilities

• Assist Youth Programming Manager with the editing and fact-checking of scripts and videos produced by the Teen Fact-Checking Network and MediaWise Ambassadors.
• Help coach a young team of teen journalists, and create a fun, virtual work environment for students.
• Write and produce editorial content — including videos.
• Manage social media calendar and track social metrics.
• Regularly conduct content sprints and iterate style and posting methodology based on results.
• Flag trending misinformation and turn around polished day-of debunks on a variety of platforms.
• Create training workshops on social media best practices for students, as well as experienced journalists.

Background & Skills

• A bachelor’s degree or comparable experience, preferably with an emphasis in journalism/communications and/or education.
• Experience telling stories through video and graphics.
• Experience managing feeds on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, etc.
• Experience in video editing and video production.
• Experience writing engaging copy for social media platforms.
• Strong fact-checking skills. 
• Excellent copywriting/editing skills, with an emphasis on script and social media writing.
• Understanding of the misinformation landscape.
• Appreciation for the craft and values of journalism.