Media Relations Coordinator

University of Texas at Austin

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Media Relations Coordinator in University Marketing and Communications will provide communications services in support of UT's endeavors in public affairs, media relations, content development and distribution, and community relations. This position offers the potential to acquire a broad range of experience in press release and owned content generation, audience development, copyediting, analytics, and media outreach in the fast-paced environment of one of the nation’s leading academic and research institutions. Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Three year of experience in public affairs, including media relations, journalism, coordination of special events, and preparation of informational materials.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Accuracy in all phases of work.
Ability to interact in a professional manner with faculty, staff, students and the public.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

More than three years of experience in public affairs or related field.
Experience using Wordpress, or similar CMS.
Basic knowledge of HTML.
Demonstrated interpersonal skills.
Intermediate skill level with Microsoft Office programs (Outlook, Word, Excel)
Basic database skills a plus.
Experience using a project management system a plus.
Familiarity with group email systems (Emma, Mailchimp, Constant Contact or similar) a plus.

Responsibilities

Manages the process of receiving and distributing university press releases, media advisories, and other news items.
Maintains accurate and up-to-date contact lists for external media.
Oversees the centralized media contacts database and the media metrics tracking platform.
Uploads news releases and advisories to the content management system (CMS).
Trains media relations personnel across campus in the use of the media database and CMS.
Serves as the initial point of contact for media relations inquiries from colleges, schools, and units across the university.
Acts as first point of contact for incoming media requests via phone and email.
Triages inquiries, gathers relevant details, and routes them to appropriate subject matter experts or units.
Conducts topical research to inform senior leadership of potential media issues.
Assists in organizing press events, including managing logistics under the direction of senior media relations staff.
Tracks and reports on earned media metrics relevant to the university's public presence.
Compiles daily news clippings and distributes to university executives.
Prepares a monthly roundup of key media coverage and targeted metrics reports for significant university events or issues.
Uses email templates, mailing lists, and email management platforms to format and distribute communications.
Maintains internal organization for the media relations team, including scheduling and keeping minutes for weekly meetings.
Manages the team calendar and coordinates communication efforts with campus partners as needed.
Produces original news content including explainers, Q&As, media pitches, and story roundups.
Edits and proofreads content for clarity, accuracy, and style prior to publication or release.
Other related functions as assigned.