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Job Title: Media Research Intern
Location: Remote (California, US-based preferred)
Hours: 4–6 hours per week 
Compensation: Course credit.
Date: Fall Semester.

 

About Us:

The Erotic Service Providers Legal, Educational, and Research (ESPLER) Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights, safety, and dignity of erotic service providers. Founded in 2009, we seek to empower the erotic community and advance sexual privacy rights through legal advocacy, education, and research. Our efforts include impact litigation, policy statements, and voicing concerns in political arenas to create change. Through educational trainings and outreach, we aim to address discrimination against erotic service providers and the greater erotic community. Additionally, we strive to archive and evaluate research related to the sex worker community, building on this history with inclusive and respectful studies relevant to erotic service providers and the larger erotic community.
 

Position Description:

As a media research intern you will spend the semester sourcing and examining recent media coverage (articles, news segments, social media, YouTube videos, etc.) related to sex work and/or human trafficking and large sporting events to be held in California. This will include the 2026 and 2027 Superbowls, 2026 World Cup, and 2028 Olympics. Interns will contribute to a database that identifies relevant, common themes in public messaging around sex work. Additionally, the intern may be tasked with creating a written report summarizing findings. 
 

By the end of the internship, the intern will have learned about sex work movements, reviewed various media types and outlets, their text and visual contents, and assessed their accuracy, fairness, and potential impacts on sex workers and other populations.

 

Responsibilities:

  • Source and log recent media coverage related to sex work and/or sex trafficking in relationship to California-specific large sporting events.
  • Identify common themes and key words used in the coverage.
  • Assess accuracy and fairness of coverage.
  • Assess potential impacts on sex workers and other populations.
     

Qualifications/Characteristics:

  • Junior or Senior in a BA/BS program, or MA/MS student.
    • This internship would be ideal for students in programs such as communications, journalism, political science, sociology, ethnic studies, or women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, but we are open to students in any major.
  • MUST be able to receive course credit for this internship.
  • Some research experience or coursework.
  • Strong social justice commitment. 
  • Believes in sex worker rights and approaches the work with respect and sensitivity.
  • Self-starter who can work independently, meet deadlines, and manage time effectively.
  • Comfortable working in a remote, flexible environment.

 

We Especially Encourage Applications From:

  • People with lived experience in the sex trade.
  • BIPOC, LGBTQ+ folks, and people from other marginalized communities.

 

Application timeline:

  • Applications open: August 11
  • Applications close: September 3
  • Interviews: September 8-12 (est.)
  • Start date: Flexible
     

Application instructions:

To apply, submit an updated resume/CV and a 1-page cover letter expressing your interest in the internship.