Media and Public Relations Manager

The Media and Public Relations Manager shapes and executes strategies to promote Reporters Committee in the media and among core audiences. The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator who can navigate the intersection of media law and journalism.The Media and Public Relations Manager is skilled at securing top-tier coverage and building relationships with national, local, legal, and media reporters. They drive reactive, proactive, and rapid-response media strategy, working closely with the Legal and Policy teams to pitch and promote the organization, its work, and its spokespeople. Together, these efforts position Reporters Committee as a thought leader and the nation’s leading legal services nonprofit serving working journalists.This position reports to the Vice President of Communications.Key ResponsibilitiesMedia StrategySupport day-to-day media relations strategy to maximize visibility and reach among core and new audiencesManage incoming media requests from journalists and news outlets seeking comment and interviews, coordinating with internal staff as necessaryProactively pitch newsworthy blog posts, legal filings, op-eds, and interviews with Reporters Committee spokespeople to secure coverage on Reporters Committee's work and impact Monitor the media environment and respond rapidly to breaking news, coordinating strategy with leadershipDraft and distribute press releases and media statementsBuild and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, and producers across relevant beats (media, national news, national security, legal, Supreme Court/DOJ, local news)Prepare leadership and spokespeople for interviews, public appearances, and speaking engagements, including drafting quotes, comments, and talking points for attorneys as neededAssist in designing communications plans for major program initiatives, research reports, policy initiatives, events, and public announcementsTrack communications performance and recommend strategies to expand audience engagement and influenceBuild and maintain lists of media contactsTrack news stories mentioning Reporters Committee and our attorneysIntegrate outreach across print, broadcast, digital, and emerging platformsPartner with the legal team and program staff to develop executive summaries, fact sheets, graphics, and presentationsPartner with the VP of Communications and other departments to ensure message alignment across programs, staff, and boardConferences & EventsHelp pitch conference proposals, secure speakers and panelists, and manage the events sponsorship budgetCreate briefing materials and coordinate press logisticsAssist in PR for annual Awards dinner, weaving Reporters Committee's story and impact in the lead-up to the event, throughout the program, and after the eventProvide onsite event support as neededManage invitations to key media contacts for stakeholder eventsOversee the look, branding, and structure of PowerPoint presentations used by attorneys for conferences, webinars, trainings, etc.Organizational & Team LeadershipWork closely with the other Communications staff to ensure integrated campaign execution across channelsContribute to communications planning for annual conferences, events, and other key milestonesAdvise on reputation risk, proactive positioning, and crisis communications planningOther duties as assigned