Nonprofit
Research Volunteer — Zoo Expose and Lies
Details
Description
Research Volunteer — Zoo Expose and Lies
Category: Research / Advocacy
Time Commitment: Remote — approx. 4–6 hrs/week, ongoing through production
Location: Remote
About This Role
VFTA is building the factual backbone for two short documentary films. We need a thorough research volunteer to gather evidence — public records, scientific studies, FOIA documents, credible media — that ensures every claim in our films is airtight and defensible.
What You'll Do
- Research the history and documented conditions of Billy the elephant at the LA Zoo and other animals, and the lies the zoo tells, including inspection records and complaints
- Compile peer-reviewed literature on elephant cognition, social needs, lifespan, and captivity indicators of distress
- Gather comparative data: enclosure sizes, AZA standards, wild elephant range, and social structures and lies from other zoos, as well as the AZA, and the effect on the animals
- Source credible footage leads — archival news clips, licensable wildlife docs, public zoo footage
- Maintain an organized research database with full citations for the production team
Skills & Experience
- Strong research skills — academic databases, FOIA portals, news archives
- Excellent organization and documentation habits
- Ability to evaluate source credibility and flag contested claims
- Background in journalism, biology, policy, or law is a plus
What You'll Gain
- Research credit on both completed documentary films
- Hands-on experience in documentary research methodology — applicable to journalism, law, policy, and academic careers
- Letter of recommendation from VFTA leadership highlighting specific contributions
- Opportunity to be acknowledged in any published press coverage of the films
- Excellent portfolio addition for aspiring journalists, policy advocates, or documentary researchers
Your Impact
Advocacy without facts is just noise. Your research is the backbone that makes our films credible, defensible, and impactful.
Location
Associated Location
Please fill out this form
Please apply only if you are genuinely passionate about animal welfare and zoo accountability — this is advocacy research, not a general research role, and that commitment matters.
When submitting, include any links to published work, research samples, or writing you're proud of — even if informal (a blog post, a class paper, a public records request you filed). A resume is helpful, but a work sample tells us much more.
We review applications on a rolling basis and will reach out within two weeks if we'd like to schedule a brief intro call.
