Stanford Journalism Goes Digital

Stanford wants coding ninjas like you: Use tech chops to help journalists uncover hidden stories.

Right now, work at Stanford University and in the broader Silicon Valley is changing the way stories are discovered, told, and transmitted. That’s why the Stanford Journalism Program -- based in the heart of Silicon Valley -- will develop data analysis and visualization tools, partner with media and technology companies around content creation, and lead research and instruction in computational journalism.

You don't need to be a journalist. You just need the hunger to code for the mission of keeping society informed and holding the powerful accountable.

We’re leading the charge with an interdisciplinary approach to innovation, bringing digital journalists together with computer scientists, data experts, and media industry leaders. Our nine-month master’s program is fast-paced and focused with 15-16 students a year.

If you’re interested in joining us as we reengineer the future of media, please visit http://journalism.stanford.edu for more information or join us at our Nov. 6 open house.

Ph.D. program in Media, Technology and Society

The Graduate School at Northwestern University is seeking exceptional applicants to join the Ph.D. program in Media, Technology and Society (MTS) to start in Fall 2014. The Media, Technology, and Society (MTS) doctoral program is an innovative, interdisciplinary, and flexible curriculum focusing on the dynamic media and technology environment and its impact. The program encourages students to pursue their passion by designing individualized programs of study that incorporate relevant classes from across Northwestern University. The program faculty are internationally renowned for their research in areas such as:

• Children’s development 
• Digital media use and effects 
• Health and well-being 
• Human-computer interaction 
• Innovation and change 
• Media institutions 
• Networks and organizing 
• Social media 

The MTS faculty undertake research in these areas using a wide array of traditional and innovative research methods. In addition, they actively pursue opportunities to make positive economic, cultural, and social impact through their research in businesses, nonprofit, and government agencies.

MTS is a vibrant and growing program at Northwestern. Six new professors --Jeremy Birnholtz, Aymar Jean Christian, Amy Shirong Lu, Anne Marie Piper, Aaron Shaw and Michelle Shumate-- have joined our core faculty a year ago, which also includes Pablo J. Boczkowski, Noshir Contractor, James Ettema, Darren Gergle, Wendy Griswold, Eszter Hargittai, Paul Leonardi, Jennifer Light, Barbara O’Keefe, Daniel O’Keefe, Janice Radway, James Schwoch, Ellen Wartella, James Webster, and D. Charles Whitney.

In addition, our highly active student body hosts InfoSocial, an annual international conference for graduate student scholarship in the area of media, technology and society. As we continue to grow, we seek to recruit students from a variety of backgrounds in social and behavioral sciences, human-computer interaction, humanities, and historical and cultural studies.

We are particularly interested in students who can thrive within an interdisciplinary environment, and bring to their graduate education a passion for research and innovation. Deadline for application to the next academic year is December 1st, 2013. For more details on the program, faculty, and admissions requirements see: http://mts.northwestern.edu If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the program director, Pablo J. Boczkowski.

Looking for Something to Do This Weekend?

Check out the East Bay Mini-Maker Faire

Program Assistant | Measure of America

See Full Listing at SSRC.ORG

Summary

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is an independent, international nonprofit organization devoted to the advancement of interdisciplinary research in the social sciences through a wide variety of workshops and conferences, fellowships and grants, summer training institutes, scholarly exchanges, research, and publications. Measure of America (MOA) is seeking a Program Assistant to join a small but dynamic team. The Program Assistant supports the development of research and advocacy publications, contributes to writing for research briefs as well as social and traditional media, coordinates project activities, and maintains the project’s records and budgets.

Description

Measure of America is an initiative of the Social Science Research Council founded in 2007 and dedicated to stimulating fact-based public debate about and bringing political attention to issues of well-being and access to opportunity in the United States. The project’s hallmark is its human development approach, focusing on equity, sustainability, and a rights-based framework for understanding human progress. MOA published the first-ever human development report for an affluent country, Measure of America, in 2008 (Columbia University Press), a second volume in 2010 (NYU Press), and a third volume online this year. In addition, MOA has produced a series of state and county human development reports and several thematic research reports and interactive online map programs, and it conducts research for other organizations on social justice and human rights-related issues. More information about the project is available at www.measureofamerica.org.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in sociology, political science, statistics, economics or interdisciplinary or a related field.

• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to produce written work for external audiences and to proofread others’ work. School newspaper or other journalism experience very desirable.

• Demonstrated research skills, familiarity with principles of social scientific inquiry, and the ability to work with data.

• Demonstrated ability to compile, organize, and perform basic analysis of quantitative data related to social, environmental, and/or economic issues. Familiarity with a statistical package (SPSS/SAS/STATA/R) a plus.

• Previous work experience with, or knowledge of, American social policy a plus.

• Attention to detail, flexibility, professionalism, critical thinking, and independence.

Planning Camp in Oakland this Saturday

Planningcamp.org is an unconference exploring urban planning, technology, and social change.

This Saturday (Oct 12th), Urban Strategies Council and OpenPlans are excited to bring PlanningCamp to Oakland and the East Bay!  Be there on October 12th if you're working at the intersection of technology and the hard effort of making better cities -- on the technology side, or the planning side, or a bit of both.

To be held at Laney College.

Here are a few of the sessions form the NYC PlanningCamp to whet your appetite:

• NACTO urban street design guide: How do we change the DNA of city streets?
• Gentrification of the waterfront after Sandy in Nook.
• Digital Deserts (infrastructure + adoption + literacy)
• Participatory Budgeting: how can we keep the bad ideas out?
• How can technology build social capital and economic opportunities for low income communities? (brainstorm)
• Lost in Translation—>tools to increase participation among immigrant communities
• Carshare & self driving cars: How do we repurpose the street?
• Measuring the Quality of Bicycle Infrastructure.

PlanningCamp Bay Area will take place at Laney College in the Forum Building, close
to E 10th St. We're just a block away from the Lake Merritt BART, close to AC Transit bus lines, and totally accessible by bike.

register at http://planningcampbayarea.eventbrite.com/

See also: openoakland.org

UC Press Sidewalk Sale Next Week

It’s back! The annual UC Press Sidewalk Sale (née Hurt Book Sale) is going down on the steps of Berkeley Way next Thursday, October 10. Snap up paperbacks like Seth Holmes’ Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies: Migrant Farmworkers in the United States for $5 and hardcovers like Summoning Ghosts: The Art of Hung Liu for just $10. Some books have little dings and scratches on them (which is why they’re “hurt”); others are like new. All books deserve a good home, we say. Arrive early for the best selection!