New research-advocacy program for media/communications policy
announced... and job available!

(see below for more details about the program)

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SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

Job Opening: Program Coordinator

Necessary Knowledge for a Democratic Public Sphere Program

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is a non-profit, New
York-based organization that brings research to bear on a wide range of
issues of public concern, from disaster relief, to Internet governance,
to electoral reform.  The SSRC seeks a Program Coordinator to assist in
running a new program entitled ‘Necessary Knowledge for a Democratic
Public Sphere.’  The program is designed to strengthen connections
between media research and media reform—especially between academic and
advocacy communities, in the U.S. and around the world.  Its broader
purpose is to ensure that debates about media ownership, broadband
access, digital broadcasting, community media and other crucial
infrastructures of public life are shaped by high quality research and
a rich understanding of the public interest.  Please visit
http://www.ssrc.org/programs/media for additional information regarding
the program and the SSRC.

The Program Coordinator will work directly with the Program Director to
ensure the success of a range of projects to be launched in 2006, which
include:

Short-term ‘bounties’ for research relevant to the renewal of the
omnibus Telecommunications Act.
A ‘data consortium’ intended to improve access to commercial (and
other) data sources used in media policymaking.
International networking and capacity-building activities, structured
around workshops, a travel pool, and a conference network.
An online ‘Media Research Hub’ for coordinating and extending these
activities to larger networks of participants.

The position is ideally suited to someone with a strong interest in
understanding and building collaborations between media research and
advocacy.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Plan and coordinate logistics for meetings and events.
Write proposals and grant reports for current and potential donors.
Coordinate publicity and outreach.
Manage program inquiries and handle program correspondence.
Assist in the development and management of the program’s online
community site.
Represent the program and conduct its activities where appropriate.

REQUIREMENTS:

Masters Degree and/or 3+ years of research-related advocacy/program
management experience.
Substantive expertise in an area of media, technology, or
communications policy and/or advocacy.
Ability to manage diverse tasks simultaneously with attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and with members of a team.
Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
Skilled with budgets and office computer applications.

ALSO VALUED:

Experience and language skills in a major region outside the U.S.
Experience with Internet-based communities, research, and/or website
development.

SALARY & BENEFITS:
Annual salary will be commensurate with experience.  Comprehensive
benefits include health, dental, vision, disability, life, and gym
reimbursement; professional development funds; outstanding pension plan
and tax savings programs; generous vacation and sick leave; and more.

To apply, please send cover letter, curriculum vitae and one writing
sample before Jan 15, 2006 by one of the following methods:

E-MAIL: [log in to unmask]

MAIL:           Human Resources

Public Sphere Program Coordinator Search
Social Science Research Council

                 810 Seventh Avenue, 31st Floor
                New York, NY 10019

The Social Science Research Council Is An Equal Opportunity Employer.

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$750,000 Ford Foundation Grant Awarded to the Social Science Research
Council to Strengthen Connections between Media Research and Media
Reform.

The Knowledge, Creativity, and Freedom program of the Ford Foundation
has awarded $750,000 to a team led by the Social Science Research
Council (SSRC) to build stronger connections between media research and
media reform—in the U.S. and around the world.  The new ‘Necessary
Knowledge for a Democratic Public Sphere’ program will work to ensure
that debates about media ownership, broadband access, digital
broadcasting, community media and other crucial infrastructures of
public life are shaped by high quality research and a rich
understanding of the public interest.  The program will support
collaborations, networking and improved access to data among academics,
activists and advocates.   It will work to strengthen the capacities of
all parties to act as knowledge producers and agents of change.

In its first year, the program will launch:

Short-term ‘bounties’ for research relevant to the renewal of the
omnibus Telecommunications Act.
A ‘data consortium’ intended to improve access to commercial (and
other) data sources used in media policymaking.
International networking and capacity-building activities, including
workshops, a travel pool, and a conference network.
An online ‘Media Research Hub’ for coordinating and extending these
activities to larger networks of participants.

Future projects include a grant competition designed to encourage
collaborative research, skill transfer, and other beneficial exchanges
between academic researchers and advocates.

The ‘Necessary Knowledge for a Democratic Public Sphere’ program draws
on a series of planning meetings between academic researchers and
policy advocates, hosted by the SSRC and partner organizations in
2004-2005.  Much of the resulting field mapping and analysis is
available online at http://www.ssrc.org/programs/media/background .

The SSRC is a non-profit international research organization devoted to
bringing research to bear on vital public issues, ranging from
emergencies and disaster relief to HIV/AIDS and human migration.  The
‘Necessary Knowledge for a Democratic Public Sphere’ program joins a
larger SSRC program area dedicated to understanding and fostering
richer “Public Spheres,” in the U.S. and around the world
(http://www.ssrc.org/program_areas/mdps/).

The ‘Necessary Knowledge’ team includes the Center for International
Media Action (CIMA) and the Donald McGannon Communication Research
Center at Fordham University.

Information on the program is available at
http://www.ssrc.org/programs/media .  All available funding
opportunities will be announced on this page.  For further details,
please contact Joe Karaganis ([log in to unmask]).