Director of Media and Public Relations

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press•Washington, DC

11h•$134,800 - $148,300

About The Position

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (Reporters Committee) is seeking a Director of Media and Public Relations to shape and execute strategies for promoting the organization and its mission. This role is ideal for a strategic communicator adept at navigating the intersection of media law and journalism. The Director will be responsible for securing top-tier media coverage, building relationships with national, local, legal, and media reporters, and driving proactive and rapid-response media strategies. Working closely with the Legal and Policy teams, this position aims to position the Reporters Committee as a thought leader and the nation's leading legal services nonprofit for working journalists.

Requirements

14+ years developing and executing strategic communications plans, including at least 5 years in a supervisory role.
Deep commitment to press freedom and the First Amendment.
Demonstrated success securing coverage and managing relationships with top-tier, trade, and local media.
Sound news judgment and a comprehensive grasp of diverse media platforms.
Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing deadlines under pressure.
Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, a deep commitment to accuracy, and a rigorous attention to detail.
Ability to engage and influence senior leadership, with strong presentation skills.
Strong collaborator across legal, program, policy, development, and operations teams.
Comfort working with executive leaders and legal experts, including experience preparing spokespeople for public appearances.
Ability to work irregular hours as necessary to meet rapid response and emergency messaging needs.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Prior agency, nonprofit, or legal communications experience.
Familiarity with media research/contact databases (e.g., MuckRack, Cision).
Experience managing websites via content management systems and familiarity with web publishing best practices.
Familiarity with email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp) and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce).

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day media relations strategy to maximize visibility and reach among core and new audiences.
Integrate outreach across print, broadcast, digital, and emerging platforms.
Build and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, and producers across relevant beats (media, national news, national security, legal, Supreme Court/DOJ, local news).
Proactively pitch and place stories, op-eds, and interviews on the Reporters Committee's work and impact.
Monitor the media environment and respond rapidly to breaking news.
Draft and distribute press releases, media statements, op-eds, and talking points.
Identify emerging opportunities and prepare leadership and spokespeople for interviews, public appearances, and speaking engagements.
Design communications plans for major program initiatives, research reports, policy initiatives, events, and public announcements.
Track communications performance and recommend strategies to expand audience engagement and influence.
Partner with the legal team and program staff to develop executive summaries, fact sheets, graphics, and presentations.
Partner with the VP of Communications and other departments to ensure message alignment across programs, staff, and board.
Oversee conference and events strategy to position the Reporters Committee as a thought leader.
Pitch conference proposals, secure speakers and panelists, and manage the events sponsorship budget.
Create briefing materials and coordinate press logistics.
Lead PR for annual Awards dinner, weaving the Reporters Committee's story and impact in the lead-up to the event, throughout the program, and after the event.
Provide onsite event support as needed.
Manage invitations to key media contacts for stakeholder events.
Manage the media coordinator and relationships with outside consultants supporting brand, events, and strategy.
Work closely with the Senior Manager of Communications and Senior Editorial Manager to ensure integrated campaign execution across channels.
Contribute to communications planning for annual conferences, events, and key milestones.
Advise on reputation risk, proactive positioning, and crisis communications planning.
Other duties as assigned.