Rebuild the Midwest, one story at a time.
Multimedia Publication and Production
Research & Docket Creation
Public Engagement and Outreach
In times of crisis, people turn to those they trust for information, interpretation & inspiration. Responsible research and storytelling are more important than ever, especially in underserved and underheard communities. How are people reinventing home and their midstory in this time of flux, particularly in the spaces of struggling middle American cities?
Midstory’s 2021 remote internship program is for the next generation of thinkers who believe in shaping the post-industrial story through a multidisciplinary framework and are eager to initiate change on the ground. Interns work closely with our team to craft and share hidden stories through research, solutions-oriented projects and multimedia production—with such topics as demography, the environment, culture, arts, education and more—to be broadcasted through our national multimedia platforms for exhibition & outreach.
This year’s program will, like our 2020 internship, be at least partially if not fully remote (and all interns will have the option to be fully remote). That being said, our students receive a full training, curriculum and “on-the-ground” experience through team meetings, social hours, digital workspace platforms, virtual interviewing and research, and more. While COVID-19 halted our in-person internships in 2020, our interns found their favorite part to be the relationships they formed:
“I’ve made lifelong friends…you can’t find that at other internships.” – Jessie W., BGSU
“It was just so great knowing that we were valued as individuals and as writers, graphic designers, videographers, what have you. ‘Cause a lot of places don’t do that…interns are [usually] just the people who bring the coffee and fix paper jams and all that, but really, I feel like I’ve made good friends even though I’ve never actually seen any of your faces in real life. And, I’m grateful for that.” Cielle W., UM
“I really love all the interns. And of course, of course everyone in the organization is just so, so nice and so intelligent, and, and everyone has a different perspective and something to offer. And I was kind of surprised that even in the online format, we were able to become friends…” – Marley J., Princeton University
This internship is for you if you:
Are a storyteller. Are a strong writer or researcher. Are passionate about civic engagement. Want to make a difference in underserved and often-ignored communities. Are a creative thinker and idea generator. Can articulate ideas clearly and concisely. Are a creative problem-solver. Work well in an interdisciplinary team. Believe in creating powerful research and content that is true and authentic. Aspire to be a social architect, policy-maker, cultural influencer, designer, filmmaker or writer.
Midstory is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit nonpartisan thinkhub dedicated to informing, interpreting and inspiring post-industrial communities in the Midwest and beyond through creative storytelling and solutions-oriented research—all with the vision to cultivate a voice for the region within national dialogues. Midstory brings together college students from all over the nation to work on research, docket creation, creative storytelling and public media creation for the cultivation of a regional voice within national conversations. Past and current topics include demography, the Lake Erie water crisis, higher education, and more.
This summer, we have some very exciting citywide projects aimed at generating momentum in this Rustbelt town. As an interdisciplinary group, we provide a unique ecology for college students interested in alternative career paths in storytelling, creative writing, journalism, research, policy, media, arts and design, architecture, education, and more. Projected dates are from early June – early August. Duration is flexible, but is generally from 8 to 10 weeks. The internship is unpaid, but we encourage and aid students to seek funding sources from their college or department, and promise that this summer will present an all-hands-on-deck, creative, and unique opportunity to build your own set of skills. The Midstory summer internship can be counted as college credit; please refer to your college’s internal regulations.
Midstory is looking for interns in:
Policy/Civic Engagement
Writing/Journalism
Design
Video/Audio
Arts & Culture
Science Communication
Responsibilities:
Research & team brainstorming
Transcribe interviews
Storyboard, write & produce content
Requirements:
Strong writing & research skills
Ability to take direction and work in a dynamic environment
A self-motivated, team-oriented attitude
Recommended:
Experience creating video and/or audio content
Adobe Creative Suite fluency
Experience interviewing
About Midstory Media Thinkhub
Midstory Media Thinkhub is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in March of 2018 by four core members from the Midwest who have received an education from universities such as Harvard, Princeton, and MIT and have since returned to Toledo, OH to begin a lifelong journey for post-industrial communities. With an interdisciplinary approach, the Midstory team dedicates its operations to curating a voice out of the Midwest through research, publication, public engagement, and broadcasting. In the midst of a noisy national canopy, our Midstory is a space of connection and intersection in the American experience. We believe telling these stories will reveal and enrich the cultural narrative of these post-industrial cities, demonstrate today’s revitalization, and draw vital people and movements to uncover the foundations on which future progress may be built.