Media Relations Associate-Communications, ACLU, DC

Job Title:	Media Relations Associate-Communications
Organization:	American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Region:	DC Metro Region
Description:	CAREER OPPORTUNITY Media Relations Associate (COMM-29/30) American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Communications Department, Washington, D.C. The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), founded in 1920, is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with more than 500,000 members and is dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the U.S. Constitution. The Communications Department of the ACLU?s National Office is seeking applicants for the full-time position of Media Relations Associate. The position is located in the ACLU?s Washington Legislative Office in Washington, D.C. OVERVIEW The ACLU has made an unambiguous and unwavering commitment to the importance of communications as a central and essential element in the success of its mission. The organization places great emphasis on the role of communications in framing the debate on its issues, building support, and increasing the impact of its work. The Media Relations Associate is a member of a team of Media Relations professionals based in the ACLU National Media Relations Office in New York and the Washington Legislative Office (WLO). The Media Relations Associate will work to support the WLO?s activities, which include lobbying on many issues including National Security, Immigrants? Rights, Racial Justice, Human Rights, Criminal Law Reform, Voting Rights, Women?s Rights and Freedom of Religion issues. The Media Relations Associate will report to the Associate Director for Strategic Communications in the ACLU?s Washington, D.C. Office. The ideal candidate is an individual with a fine-tuned sense of ?what sells? in the news business, is comfortable liaising with reporters affiliated with major news outlets and is familiar with the workings of the U.S. Congress. We are seeking a candidate who thrives in a fast-paced environment and who pursues a strategic approach to promoting issues and guiding prominent civil liberties experts on working with the media. ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES - Cultivate relationships with reporters, editors, producers, bloggers and other media professionals with the goal of influencing Congress and the public. - Prepare, review and copyedit news releases, op-eds, blog posts, letters to the editor and other communications and press materials. - Develop and strategize short and long term media plans, develop and pitch feature stories. Prepare fact sheets and talking points. - Prepare spokespeople for interviews with the press. - Work with the ACLU?s Washington Legislative Office staff to publicize WLO?s lobbying work on many ACLU issues, including organizing press conferences. - Work with other departments across the organization to promote their platforms. - Provide media advice and support to affiliate offices. - Work closely with and strategize with colleagues in the Communications Department including the web team, media associates and communications strategists. - Coordinate media relations efforts under the day-to-day supervision of the Associate Director for Strategic Communications. - Conduct media outreach for panels and conferences organized by the Washington Legislative Office. - Raise the profile of the Washington Legislative Office through media exposure. EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor?s degree in a related field required. - A minimum of three years of media experience that includes involvement in advocacy-oriented media campaigns. - Experience pitching stories to major news outlets. - Familiarity with Congress and congressional issues related to civil liberties. Experience working on the Hill is strongly preferred. - Excellent written and verbal communications skills. - Strong writing and editing skills; ability to produce clear, concise talking points, press releases and other materials within tight deadlines. - Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively independently and with others in a team environment. - Experience liaising with the media to promote civil liberties or social justice issues. - Ability to identify and cultivate key media contacts and outlets that lead to the placement of ACLU stories. - Experience utilizing public opinion research to frame issues and develop messages. - Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook) and Internet usage. - Demonstrated interests in civil liberties/civil rights. COMPENSATION The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale. HOW TO APPLY Please submit a letter of interest (with salary requirements), a resume and a writing sample (no more than three pages in length) via email to hrjobs@aclu.org - reference [COMM-29/30/FEM] in the subject line. Alternatively, materials can be sent via regular mail Human Resources RE: [COMM-29/30/FEM] American Civil Liberties Union Foundation 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor New York, NY 10004 Please indicate in your letter of interest where you learned of this career opportunity. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice. The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name ?ACLU?.
Contact:	Human Resources
Phone:	212-549-2500
E-Mail:	hrjobs@aclu.org
Website:	http://www.aclu.org
Closing Date:	November-19-12