Category: Miscellaneous

Media Relations Officer

University of Michigan Law School

Category: Miscellaneous
Location: Ann Arbor
State: MI
Salary: DoQ
Duration of Position: permanent
Work Schedule: Full Time

Description:

Media Relations Officer

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

Michigan Law is seeking a talented and experienced media relations officer to develop proactive media outreach strategies and tactics, including print, broadcast, web, and developing media and social media to drive dynamic coverage.

Responsibilities*

This position reports to the Law School's Director of Communications, working closely with the communications team members including writers, web team, designers and magazine editor.

This challenging position requires exceptional writing skills, a keen understanding of media, a deep understanding of legal/public policy issues, and great curiosity, creativity and energy.

Candidates should have a record of achievement building coverage of often-complex material for a variety of audiences. Experience in academic professional education is strongly preferred.

Essential functions:
Work as senior member of Law School Communications team developing and executing a public relations and social media strategy for a variety of constituencies, including prospective and current students, alumni, practitioners, and in particular, members of the media. This approach would include key objectives, tactics, timelines and metrics. The purpose of this effort will be to ensure that media relations efforts are most likely to advance the overall goals of the school rather than in an ad hoc or reactive manner.

Build on and develop relationships with national media, both traditional and new.

Meet regularly with individual faculty members, directors and department leaders to obtain information to develop a deep understanding about research, teaching, events, student activities and other trends of interest particularly to national media. Pursue developments likely to secure media attention and aligned with the school's strategic media approach. Work with faculty to develop and place op-eds.

Research, develop, write and pitch story ideas promoting key messages to media, track national media for trend stories to which the School of Law can contribute and cultivate and promote faculty experts.

Identify stories and develop media angles in order to market to appropriate national, local and international media, which requires the ability to recognize research activities that have the potential to capture the imagination of media and the ability to translate and successfully communicate those activities.

Be able to identify and create pitches that drive the big picture issues of the Law School as well as the daily pitches that demonstrate the depth and breadth of expertise, activities and people.

Contact daily with local, state, regional, and national media; answer media requests and assign media calls as necessary to appropriate experts.

Prepare faculty and administration for media interviews as needed, ranging from full explanation of the opportunities, strategies for success to full prep media training.

Engage external audiences through innovative uses of social media.

Contributing content to multiple communications channels. Involves writing daily news items for web and print materials; overseeing the press highlights feature and experts lists on the website; producing video and audio recordings; contributing to existing and to-be-created blogs; and developing and repurposing content for above-mentioned social media efforts.

Required Qualifications*

Ideal candidates will have the following characteristics:
Proven talent in writing, communicating and engaging effectively with a wide range of constituencies across a diverse academic community;
A forward-thinking and creative approach to using evolving technology to support communications strategies;
Collaborative spirit both within the Law School and the University;
An uncanny, proven, ability to generate story ideas;
Passion and energy to connect those stories to key media;
Demonstrated ability to write accurately and on often-rapid deadlines.

Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in journalism or related discipline with 5-7 years experience. Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing strategic media initiatives. Demonstrated, exceptional writing skills, preferably as a reporter covering legal, public policy, government or similar topics. Strong experience in media relations and knowledge of the technology needed to distribute information to media effectively. Experience working with top faculty and their research. Skilled in social media.

Desired Qualifications*

Experience in legal communications, preferably in a law school. Experience supporting a social media strategy.

Additional Information

Published writing samples required with application.

Experience:

Bachelor's degree in journalism or related discipline with 5-7 years experience. Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing strategic media initiatives. Demonstrated, exceptional writing skills, preferably as a reporter covering legal, public policy, government or similar topics. Strong experience in media relations and knowledge of the technology needed to distribute information to media effectively. Experience working with top faculty and their research. Skilled in social media.

How To Apply:

http://umjobs.org/job_detail/68595/media_relations_officer

Deadline To Apply: July 5, 2012

Email: behan@umich.edu

Posted: 06/25/2012 - 12:05 p.m.
Modified: 06/25/2012 - 12:48 p.m.

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