JOB DESCRIPTION
AV / Digital Internship
Full time, six months duration. Paid at London Living Wage
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) London
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (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 23 offices and operational centres in Europe, Asia, Africa, 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 78 is based in London
and there is a small sub office in Dublin, which has a significant communications agenda.
Approximately 250 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.
Digital Communications and Video at MSF UK
MSF UK’s Communications Department’s purpose is to raise the profile of the organisation and its
causes to support MSF’s advocacy, recruitment, and fundraising activities. 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 multimedia productions are central
to this strategic vision. Video and digital communications are already a vital part of MSF’s
communications output and we have significant ambitions to further develop in this area.
We produce original video and multimedia content from the UK office, for use on MSF websites and
social media, as well as building relationships with, and producing content for, external broadcasters
and publishing platforms (BBC, VICE News, The Guardian, etc). We also work very closely with
colleagues around the world to reversion and tweak content from others for use in the UK.
MSF UK’s wider digital team creates online campaigns, websites, social media projects and
fundraising initiatives. The team of six sits within the Communications Department but works with
all areas of MSF UK, as well as playing an important role in international projects.
We always look for innovative ideas and new ways to experiment. The work is very varied – from
writing powerful articles and editing films to working with ‘hacktavists’ and building relationships
across social networks. We aim for constant improvement and creativity.
Role description
We’re looking for a bright, hard-working and creative intern to provide daily support to both the
Video and Multimedia Manager and the Digital Team. The successful applicant will help with a range
of tasks – including content production and distribution – and gain amazing experience in
multimedia production and digital communications.
There will also be the opportunity to help the wider communications department. The successful
candidate will gain experience in all aspects of NGO communication work and will be treated as a full
member of our team.
Main tasks
 Editing video, images (infographics), graphics, downloadable content and links for social
media
 Assist with filming interviews with MSF field staff
 Logging, backing up, archiving, transcoding, and transferring media
 Identifying opportunities to engage with online influencers and distribution channels
 Editing existing online content to improve SEO
 Uploading video to YouTube and optimising metadata
 Producing daily reports on social media and blog mentions of MSF
 Creating video articles on our website, msf.org.uk
 Supporting research into site visitors, user journeys and navigation
 Contributing to marketing and design projects with third party suppliers
 Database, reporting, relationship and financial support
 Support for MSF Media Database (media.msf.org) admin
 Maintaining AV Equipment Inventory and checking kit in and out
Skills and attributes
 Demonstrable interest in digital and media work
 Strong data wrangling skills with a thorough understanding of video codecs / formats
 Competency with Adobe Premiere Pro and Media Encoder (basic InDesign, Photoshop, After
Effects skills desirable)
 Basic Videography skills
 A keen interest and understanding of AV equipments including video cameras (Canon XF205,
GoPros), Audio (Zoom H4n), and DSLRs (Canon 7D Mk II)
 Computer literacy – experience using MS Office and Photoshop
 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
 Willingness and ability to manage administration
 Highly organised and punctual
 Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles of MSF
Commitment
 9.30am-5pm, five days per week for six months
 Starting 15 February 2016
Benefits
The position pays the London Living Wage of £9.40 per hour (before tax and National Insurance
deductions). This is equivalent to approximately £19,500 per annum. Other benefits include paid
holiday and sick leave and pension contribution.
This role is an exciting opportunity to explore the day to day operation of an NGO and to become
acquainted with the means and methods of NGO communications. There will also be ample
opportunity to learn more about Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and you
are welcome to attend and contribute to weekly office meetings and operational updates.
How to apply
Please send a copy of your CV along with a short letter of motivation and answers to the application
questions below to digital.intern@london.msf.org by 11.59pm on Sunday 31 January 2016.
For an informal discussion about the role you can email our Digital Communications Officer
(nick.owen@london.msf.org) but please bear in mind that we will be closed for several days over the
holiday period and this may delay a response.
Closing date: 11.59pm, 31 January 2016
We plan to hold interviews for this position w/c 8 February 2016
The internship will aim to start Monday, 15 February 2016
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.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Thank you for your interest in working with MSF. Please provide a showreel if you have one (not
essential). To get a better sense of your experience and aptitude for this work, we would like you to
complete the questions below. There aren’t ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers but we are interested in your
approach and your ideas. Please write answers of no more than 300 words for each of the
questions:
1. What’s the secret to success in online video? (max. 300 words)
2) Record a 2min film about MSF’s work (you can use whatever equipment you have available
including a mobile phone). Alternatively, write a 300 word ‘treatment’ for a 2min film about
MSF’s work.
3) What’s your favourite video codec / format and why? (max 200 words)
4) Sum up your application as a Tweet. (max. 140 characters)
Deadline: 11.59pm, Sunday 31 January 2016
Application: Send a cover letter, CV and answers to the questions at the end of this document to
digital.intern@london.msf.org