About The Online Citizen
A Community of Singaporeans,
Founded in December 2006, The Online Citizen (TOC) has made significant inroads in the area of cyber activism in Singapore. TOC has been at the forefront of some of the most controversial issues in Singapore, telling the stories that the mainstream media cannot or refuse to tell.
Mission Statement:To provide an online platform for Singaporeans to champion causes and values that promote justice, openness and inclusiveness.
Core responsibilities
- Content for TOC website and social media platforms:
- Generate and follow-up with news leads for stories, and write and publish original stories as approved by the editorial team.
- Assist with stories undertaken by the editorial team, including the conduct of interviews and street polls, calling contacts for verification and quotes, and covering events and media briefings.
- Craft, seek approval for and upload “Daily News Bites” to the TOC website and Facebook page.
- Edit and publish contributor letters sent to
- Operations:Support the editorial team in the daily operations of the TOC website and social media platforms.
- Event management:Provide support for forums, protests, and other events that TOC organizes or participates in. Tasks include: secure event venue, procure services for equipment set-up, manage media on-site, etc.
- Developmental projects: TOC welcomes our interns to develop, propose and execute other projects that they deem of value to TOC. This can be in the areas of fund-raising, feature series, website development, event planning, etc.
What we are looking for
- Strong writing skills – previous work for a publication would be a bonus
- Comfortable with technology – Familiarity with Wordpress and social media platforms is desirable.
- Experience in NGOs, charities, civil society organisations and other voluntary organisations
- A heart for civil society – TOC considers itself an advocate and voice for those who seek to make Singapore a better place, and the intern will be expected to cover stories involving NGOs and other groups.
- A keen interest in the social-political scene of Singapore and a passion for telling stories that show a different side of Singapore
- Adaptability – TOC is a dynamic organisation, and the intern will need to adapt very quickly to stories and new developments on the ground.
- Independence – The TOC newsroom is practically virtual, and the intern will be expected to work on his/her own most of the time
Benefits and challenges
Interning with The Online Citizen will allow students to dive head first into some of Singapore’s most controversial issues.As one of Singapore’s leading social political websites, interns will develop strong writing and event management skills, and build contacts with civil society and other citizen journalists. Interns must learn to work effectively in an independent and fast-paced setting.