Associate Communications Director - Media Matters for America

[jom...@mediamatters.org]

Media Matters for America — a progressive, Washington, D.C.-based, nonprofit research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media — seeks an Associate Communications Director.

The Associate Communications Director is a mid-level position and reports to the Communications Director.

Responsibilities:

• Media Relations: The Associate Communications Director is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with reporters. This includes collaborating with the research department in order to help shape high-impact research products, fielding reporter requests, drafting and sending pitch emails, making pitch phone calls, and drafting and distributing press releases and op-eds.

• Strategic Planning: The Associate Communications Director will help shape the Communications Department’s strategic priorities -- and by extension Media Matters’ priorities. The Associate Communications Director is expected to help identify and explain what mission effectiveness looks like, contribute to strategic planning, and continually engage with strategic plans throughout the year. Accordingly, this person will share in the accountability of the communication department’s goal setting and attainment of results.

• Interdepartmental Collaboration: The Associate Communications Director will work across departments, including communications, digital, outreach, and research, to ensure that our work is relevant to and timely with the current political arena and media cycle.

• Overseeing Media Contact Lists: The Associate Communications Director will share the responsibility of auditing and maintaining existing press lists to ensure that they are accurate and up to date. The Associate Research Director will also oversee the creation of new press lists.

• Drafting Resources: The Associate Communications Director will be called upon to do research projects including but not limited to pulling information for op-eds, talking points, and prep documents for media appearances by Media Matters staff.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communications or relevant experience.

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in communications or a closely related field.

• Interest in media and understanding of the effects conservative misinformation has on the public debate.

• Media relations experience including working directly with reporters and developing media contacts. “On the record” experience a plus.

• Experience building press distribution lists.

• Experience working with PR databases including Meltwater and Vocus preferable but not required.

• Strong communication skills:

           -- Ability to quickly synthesize information about new topics.
           -- Understanding of 24-hour news cycle and how to identify elements with viral potential.
           -- Proven track record of strong oral and written communications skills.
           -- Spanish language proficiency preferred but not required.

• Work environment:

          -- Likes teamwork, but can work independently day-to-day.
          -- Can plan and manage under a tight deadline.
          -- Ability to multitask and adjust in fast-paced and high pressure situation.

How to Apply:

Please visit our recruiting portal to submit an application. No phone calls, please. We can respond only to candidates whom we are contacting for an interview.

Media Matters for America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or disability.