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Position: Rapid Response Media Manager
Location: Washington, DC
Post Date: August 28, 2008
Closing Date: Open until filled.
About the Center for Community Change
The Center for Community Change is a national social justice non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1968 to honor the life and values of Robert F. Kennedy, we are one of the longest standing champions for low-income families and communities of color. Throughout our history, the Center has strengthened the leadership, voice and power of low-income communities nationwide to confront the vital issues of today and build the social movements of tomorrow.
Our work has contributed to the creation of the food stamps program, the enactment of the Community Reinvestment Act, the growth of community development corporations, and the creation and preservation of affordable housing. Today we are leading efforts to advance fair and humane immigration reform, increase voter participation in communities of color and develop the next generation of social justice organizers. The Center has brought the issues and values of low-income communities to the forefront of the political debate with presidential candidate forums in the 2004 and 2008 election cycles. For further information please visit our website at: www.communitychange.org.
Position Description:
The Media Relations team develops and executes the overall communications plan and media relations efforts for the Center and our many campaigns and projects, playing an important role in generating donor support and elevating the critical attention needed to move our issue work. The media relations team also provides media training and technical support to our many grassroots community partners. The Center seeks a strategic communications professional with a journalistic sensibility to identify media opportunities and respond, including coordinating responses by our network of grassroots partners. Ideally, this person is a fast, fluent and flexible writer who can develop compelling stories about the issues and policies that affect low-income Americans and the efforts of organized communities to generate social change. The Rapid Response Media Manager must be able to communicate effectively with a diverse set of audiences, including policymakers, donors, grassroots activists, the media, the general public, and CCC staff.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Monitoring the media for stories related to our work and producing fast and effective written statements, op-eds and letters to the editor for use directly by the Center and for our network of grassroots partners.
- Fielding media requests for interviews and information about our work.
- Writing website content, e-blasts and press materials.
- Pitching stories to earn media attention for the Center's key program areas.
- Cultivating relationships with mainstream and progressive media.
- Developing and maintaining a story databank of personal stories of key leaders for use in media materials.
- Assisting with planning and logistics of press events including media trainings for staff, special events and roundtable discussions.
Qualifications:
Required:
- A degree in journalism, communications or related field with minimum four years experience working in a communications department: writing press releases, planning press events, developing media strategies and pitching stories.
- Strong writing, editing, communications and presentation skills.
- A creative ability to frame ideas, develop stories and synthesize complex policy issues in a way that appeals to the news media and a wide variety of audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to envision and pull together creative, media events.
- A high degree of comfort in managing multiple tasks and deadlines, and working in a fluid and fast-paced environment.
- Ability to travel occasionally, as needed.
- Commitment to social and economic justice, collaborative processes, and the participation and leadership of low-income people and their organizations.
Preferred/Desirable:
- Experience working in a nonprofit on issue campaigns.
- Experience in writing for a web-based audience.
This position reports to: Director of Media Relations
Salary & Benefits: CCC offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.
Closing Date of Position: July 31, 2008
How to apply: Please submit resume, cover letter that includes salary expectations and at least two writing samples to:
employment@communitychange.org
(Fax) 202-387-4891
Center for Community Change
Human Resources
Re: Rapid Response Media Manager
1536 U Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
