Responsibilities

• Assist the Director of Media Relations in executing a robust earned media initiative to enhance the reputation of the College
• Pitch national media outlets – and develop relationships with national journalists – to secure multiple placements for College announcements, research, stories, and opinions
• Develop media interview briefings for College spokespeople
• Create, maintain, and update an extensive database of media contacts
• Coordinate interviews and media events
• Respond to incoming media inquiries in a timely manner by working in collaboration with the director of media relations
• Review editorial calendars for relevant placement opportunities
• Collaborate with the director of media relations on crisis communications as needed
• Identify timely 'news hooks' and work with subject matter experts to develop commentary for trending news cycles
• Generate reports for senior leadership that show measurable data-driven impact of earned media placements

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience
• Minimum of one to three years of work in public relations, media relations, or communications

Preferred

• Excellent writing and oral communication skills
• Instinct for identifying undiscovered stories and developing creative ways to tell them
• Ability to distill complex topics and communicate about them in a clear and compelling manner
• Ability to present ideas clearly and collaborate with colleagues and constituents
• Good command of language, grammar, and ability to adhere to Colby style guidelines
• Attention to detail and high level of organization
• Ability to thrive under deadlines and work some nights and weekends as needed
• Strong interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to establish and develop productive and collegial relationships
• Collaboration and the ability to communicate with various constituencies (e.g. staff, faculty, students, managers, and visitors)
• Understanding of social media platforms and media relations tools, such as Cision and Muck Rack
• Hands-on experience with WordPress or similar Content Management Systems (CMS) for managing the media coverage section of Colby News
• Experience with Meltwater, Qwoted, Asana, Business Wire or PR Newswire. Proven experience of podcast placement and training is a plus.