Senior Advisor Journalist

Job Summary:

Resilience, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving the mental health of students, as well as reducing mass shootings, suicide, and depression. Resilience, Inc also works to combat declining test scores, low student engagement, and a slew of other social issues. 

Our organization focuses on offering Social Emotional Learning tools to enable K-12 schools to teach emotional intelligence through five core topics; self-awareness, self-control, social awareness, relationship management, goal setting, and effective decision-making. Resilience, Inc. also provides tools for acquiring and maintaining inspiration, hope, and overall well-being.  

Our mission is to teach SEL at every school in the country. It is a tough challenge, but we know “No Challenge, No Change.” If you are also concerned about children’s mental health and social being, join us! Become a member of Resilience, Inc, and help change the way schools approach mental health.

Resilience offers unpaid internship programs that require at least a 4 month commitment with a minimum of 5 hours per week. There are flexible start and end dates with the option to continue after meeting the minimum requirement

Although this is an unpaid internship, there is the opportunity to earn school credit. Some educational institutions require prior approval before the start of an internship. It is the responsibility of the student to check with their institution to be sure they meet any requirements before they accept a position.

As a  Senior Advisor Journalist you would play a critical role in shaping the narrative around the potential impact of emotional intelligence (EI) education on individuals involved in violent incidents, such as shooters. This position focuses on crafting thoughtful, probing interview questions and working with journalists to conduct sensitive, in-depth interviews with individuals who have engaged in violent acts. The goal is to explore whether emotional intelligence education and training could have altered their decision-making and emotional responses.

The Senior Advisor Journalist will collaborate closely with mental health professionals, educators, and journalists to ensure that interviews are handled with care, respect, and an ethical commitment to responsible journalism.

Function of the Position:
The Senior Advisor Journalist will lead the design of interview questions aimed at understanding how emotional intelligence, or the lack thereof, played a role in the life decisions of individuals who committed violent acts. By engaging with these individuals directly, the role will help uncover insights into whether emotional intelligence education and training could have prevented such behaviors. This position requires a journalist with expertise in crafting questions that encourage honest, meaningful reflection from interviewees, and must ensure that interviews remain respectful and non-exploitative.

Key Responsibilities:

• Craft Thoughtful Interview Questions: Design interview frameworks and specific questions that deeply explore the interviewees' emotional and psychological journeys, focusing on emotional intelligence and its potential role in their actions.
• Collaborate with Journalists: Work alongside a team of journalists to conduct interviews with individuals involved in violent acts, providing expert guidance on question phrasing and interview structure.
• Research and Understand Emotional Intelligence: Stay informed on the latest research in emotional intelligence (EI) and its role in emotional regulation, decision-making, and conflict resolution. Apply this knowledge to the creation of interview questions.
• Engage with Mental Health and EI Experts: Collaborate with psychologists, educators, and emotional intelligence professionals to ensure interviews are well-informed and grounded in scientific understanding.
• Ethical Interviewing Practices: Ensure interviews are conducted with the utmost care and respect, adhering to the highest ethical standards. Focus on creating a safe space for interviewees, allowing them to share their stories without feeling judged or exploited.
• Analyze and Interpret Responses: Assist in analyzing the insights gathered from interviews to determine patterns related to emotional intelligence and its potential impact on preventing violent behavior.
• Report and Disseminate Findings: Help translate the findings from interviews into articles, reports, or media presentations that bring new insights to light about the potential role of EI in violence prevention.

Desired Qualifications:

• Proven track record in investigative journalism, preferably with experience in mental health, psychology, or criminal justice reporting.
• Expertise in Interview Techniques: Strong ability to craft meaningful, respectful interview questions, particularly for sensitive or controversial topics.
• Understanding of Emotional Intelligence: Familiarity with emotional intelligence concepts and educational strategies, with the ability to incorporate this knowledge into interviews.
• Experience with Vulnerable Populations: Previous experience working with or interviewing vulnerable individuals or populations involved in the criminal justice system.
• Collaborative Skills: Ability to work effectively with mental health professionals, educators, and other journalists to produce comprehensive, ethically sound interviews.
• Ethical and Empathetic: Commitment to ethical journalism, with a focus on conducting interviews with empathy, sensitivity, and respect for interviewees’ experiences.
• Strong Analytical and Reporting Skills: Ability to analyze interview responses and contribute to high-quality journalistic output, synthesizing complex emotional and psychological insights into accessible narratives.