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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · 1 week ago

Media Relations Associate

Urbana, IL

Full-time

Onsite

Entry Level

$50K/yr - $70K/yr

1+ years exp

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a renowned institution with a rich history of innovation and education. The Media Relations Associate will play a crucial role in enhancing the university's visibility through strategic media outreach, collaboration with content creators, and managing media relations efforts.

Higher Education

No H1B

Responsibilities

Develop and implement proactive media outreach strategies to elevate university visibility across national, state, and local media, including pitching media advisories, stories and op-eds

Build and maintain relationships with reporters, influencers, and media outlets; manage media contact lists and a roster of university experts

Meet regularly with unit communicators and coordinate on pitching

Engage with individual media outlets in every county throughout the state of Illinois and identify story ideas for local outlets that emphasize the university’s land-grant mission in action within their communities

Develop cohesive, campus-level news media campaigns in which individual campus units can participate

Establish and manage the Media Relations social media channel

Coordinate with the Senior Director of Constituent Engagement to advance the university’s visibility and reputation in the Chicago metropolitan area

Coordinate with the Director of Executive Communications and Issues Management to identify potential issues and provide input on how to respond

Coordinate with the Director of Social Media and Digital Strategy and unit social media directors to promote newsworthy items on digital platforms

Coordinate with News Bureau editors align on the promotion of stories and facilitate a focused news media strategy

Maintain and regularly disseminate a media best practices guide for use by faculty and other academics who want to promote their work

Develop and administer media training for faculty and staff who engage with the news media

Work with campus faculty and staff to promote a well-developed understanding of how their scholarship aligns with the broader context of news media, campus issues and current events

Assist in preparing faculty and staff for specific news interviews

Work with the Analytics and Alignment team to develop media engagement reports and statistics to inform campus leadership

Identify opportunities for media engagement and exposure using sound data-driven tactics

Review news media and social media mentions after publication to ensure accuracy, measure impact, and identify trends

Qualification

Media relationsMedia analyticsAP Style editingMicrosoft WordAdobe AcrobatMedia outreach strategiesResearch abilityInterviewing abilityInterpersonal skillsOrganizational abilitiesTeam collaboration

Required

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, radio/television broadcasting, web/digital media, or a related field

One (1) year (12 months) of professional work experience in public relations, journalism, social media communications, newspaper reporting, radio/television broadcasting with emphasis on production, or web/digital media

Preferred

Experience working in media or media relations

Experience editing in AP Style

Knowledge of the Urbana-Champaign campus academic and administrative structure, and broad, general knowledge of higher education

Benefits

Health

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

A Retirement Plan

Paid time Off

Tuition waivers for employees and dependents

Company

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is dedicated to building upon its tradition of excellence in education, research, public engagement and economic development.

Founded in 1915

Champaign, IL, US

10001+ employees