Digital Content Internship
Full time, three months duration
Médecins Sans Frontières London
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent and international medical aid organisation.
In over 60 countries worldwide, we provide life-saving emergency relief, including epidemic
control, war surgery, nutritional assistance and primary healthcare.
MSF's aim is to provide impartial assistance, on the basis of need alone, regardless of ethnic
origin, gender, creed or political affiliation. To maintain its independence from political
interference, MSF relies on donations from private individuals for the majority of its income.
This private funding gives MSF the freedom to respond to the greatest needs as quickly and
independently as possible.
As medical professionals, MSF volunteers have a duty to bear witness and sometimes to speak
out on behalf of the patients and communities they are working with. MSF campaigns locally
and internationally for humanitarian principles and medical ethics and for access to essential
medicines for the world’s poorest and most excluded people.
MSF UK is one of 19 offices and operational centres in Europe, America and Australasia, pooling
funding, expertise and staff for field operations. Around 3,000 people volunteer their skills
every year to work as international staff and the organisation also employs around 27,000
locally in the project locations.
The mandate of the UK section is to provide technical, medical, human resources, financial and
communications support to field operations. A permanent team of around 45 is based in
London and there is a small sub office in Dublin, which has a significant communications
agenda. Approximately 200 British volunteers leave on field assignments every year, which
makes MSF UK the largest recruiter of medical staff for overseas humanitarian work in the
country.
Communications department
The department’s purpose is to raise the profile of the organisation and its causes amongst
British and international audiences via increasingly diverse media to support MSF’s advocacy,
recruitment, and fundraising activities.
The media has long been essential to MSF’s advocacy and fundraising, so our policy is one of
openness and co-operation with the press. Communications staff are highly valued within the
organisation and are expected to contribute actively in strategic and communication decisions.
The UK is a hub for communications internationally and MSF UK is expected to play a significant
role in supporting communications ambitions for the whole of MSF. New technology involving
web, audio-visual content and other multi-media productions are central to this strategic vision.
The communications department currently consists of nine members of staff; a head of
department, two press officers, a broadcast relations manager, a digital content manager, a
publications officer, a writer/editor, public engagement officer, and blogging coordinator. We
also have a significant number of regular volunteers who help us out one or two days a week
and whose involvement and contribution is much appreciated.
Role description
We require a bright and helpful intern to provide daily support to our communications
department as part of the web team. The primary focus will be to support the work of the
Digital Content Manager – writing, editing and proofing content for use on our websites, as well
as engaging with social media and measuring the impact of our online communications.
However, there will also be the requirement – and the opportunity – to help out with the work
of other members of the team. The successful candidate will gain exposure to and experience in
all aspects of NGO digital communication work and will be treated as a full member of our
team.
Main duties
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Proofreading and publishing new articles and interviews using our CMS system
Editing existing online content to improve SEO
Editing images, graphics, downloadable content and links
Monitoring MSF’s online profile
Identifying opportunities to engage with blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other social media
Developing content for social media
Web strategy research and development
Research into site visitors, user journeys and navigation
Contributing to marketing and design projects with third party suppliers
Working with online partners such as alertnet.org
Personal attributes
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Demonstrable interest in digital and media work
Strong written and proofreading skills
Computer literacy – experience using MS Office and Photoshop
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Familiarity with the web and online technologies
Knowledge of social media
Familiarity with content management systems and HTML coding (desirable, but not essential)
Good eye for design
Fluency in written and spoken English (other languages are an advantage)
Plenty of ideas, motivation and inspiration
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Willingness and ability to manage administration
Highly organised and punctual
Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles of MSF
Commitment
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9.30am – 5pm, five days per week for three months
Starting as soon as possible
Line reporting to the digital content manager, ultimately responsible to head of
communications
Benefits
The position is unpaid but reasonable travel and lunch expenses are provided.
This role is an opportunity to explore the day to day operation of an NGO and to become
acquainted with the means and methods of NGO communications. Also there will be ample
opportunity to learn about Médecins Sans Frontières and you are welcome to attend and
contribute to weekly office meetings and operational updates.
How to apply
Please send your CV along with a detailed letter of motivation explaining why you feel you are
suitable for this role and what you would hope to gain from it to ben.holt@london.msf.org
Closing date: 12pm, 5th December 2011
We hope to hold interviews for this position on 8th and 9th of December
Please Note – we will require a copy of your passport confirming your right to be in the UK. For
volunteers who will access confidential data two references will be required.