Dear AOIR colleagues, This might be of interest to some of you working on policy related Internet research. The Media Justice Fund is a new project being supported by the Ford Foundation's Knowledge, Creativity and Freedom Program. The Funding Exchange website is http://www.fex.org/home.html. RG Lentz UT-Austin ------------------------------------------- The Funding Exchange Seeks Media Justice Consultant For a two year period, the Funding Exchange National Office will administer a Media Justice Fund to promote media advocacy within the context of social justice movements. The Media Justice Fund of the Funding Exchange National Office: The Media Justice Fund will operate within the social justice framework of the Funding Exchange grantmaking programs to shift the focus of media and telecommunications policies to reflect social justice values. The Fund will support local and national organizing efforts aimed at media reform policies, open access to technology, and accountability by media corporations. Such efforts have historically been underfunded and have operated with only loose ties to other social justice movements, divided by issues of race, age, culture, and sense of immediate priorities. The division has worked to the detriment of both movements, isolating media advocacy efforts from the broader justice agenda and keeping social justice groups from recognizing media policy as a core issue. The Media Justice Fund will promote projects that manifest strong collaborations between media and social justice activists and agendas. The Fund will make grants to build constituencies, develop materials for popular education, and support partnerships across cultural and issue lines. The Media Justice Consultant will hold the following responsibilities. Responsibilities: " Identify and locate media justice groups in diverse geographic regions " Serve as a resource for grantseekers " Coordinate briefings, local and regional meetings and other special events " Establish guidelines, review proposals and set schedules for grantmaking process " Produce reports as needed, including an annual report on building media advocacy " Publicize media advocacy issues among funders through written publications and gatherings " Convene and support grantmaking panel " Monitor grant monies reports and establish other mechanisms to assure accountability and evaluation " Track project implementation and manage database with the help of a database consultant Qualifications for the position include: " Familiarity with communications policy issues including FCC regulations and their impact on communities " Knowledge of issues, activities, developments and questions within the spectrum of media advocacy organizing " Familiarity with a wide range of progressive social change issues and organizations " Proven ability to initiate and implement programs, in coordination with staff " Excellent written and oral communication skills " Proficiency with computer software (word processing and grants manager software) " Ability to work on a national level, with differences of class, race, sexual orientation and gender Send inquiries and applications to: Charlene Allen, Director of Grantmaking, Funding Exchange 666 Broadway, Suite 500, New York, NY 10012 -- (212) 529-5356 x320