Media Officer- World Resources Institute (Washington, DC)

Company: World Resources Institute
Position:
Media Officer
Location:
Washington, District of Columbia
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Negotiable
Ad Expires:
January 23, 2009
Job ID: 1005747
Website: http://www.wri.org

Description:
TITLE: Media Officer

SUPERVISOR: Director of Media Relations

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The World Resources Institute (WRI) seeks a Media Officer to work with the Director of Media Relations in expanding WRI’s public exposure in key cities in the USA and key countries overseas. The Media Officer will be primarily responsible for day-to-day internal coordination and information exchange within the organization. S/he will assist the Media Director in planning and implementing WRI’s media strategies.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the supervision of the Media Director, the Media Officer: • Assists Media Director in maintaining and expanding WRI’s media coverage; effectively executing and juggling multiple media campaigns simultaneously; determining “newsiness” of WRI’s research; and building relationships between WRI’s staff and key journalists;

• Is responsible for day-to-day planning and information exchange with WRI’s Communication Coordinators, Media Director, Vice President of External Relations, Editorial Board, and other relevant staff;

• Writes and edits materials for the media, including press releases, advisories, and web stories;

• Fulfills information requests from the media;

• Pitches stories, and send press releases and advisories, to the media;

• Organizes press conferences, press tours, and WRI’s participation in media-related events such as the annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists;

• Maintains and updates WRI’s media-contact lists and archive of press coverage about WRI;

• Monitors and prepares regular reports for staff on WRI’s media exposure;

• Posts media materials online and helps maintain WRI’s online Pressroom;

• Performs other tasks as assigned by the Media Director.

QUALIFICATIONS: • Bachelor’s degree in mass communications or journalism; • Two to four years experience in journalism or media relations. Preference will be for those who have worked for an environmental or scientific organization or covered the environment beat; • Strong commitment to and understanding of the environmental movement; • Fluency in a second language is preferred.

SKILLS: • Strong organizational, coordination, and planning skills; • Excellent written and oral communications skills in English. A writing test will be part of the interview process. Written and oral communication skills in Spanish or other languages a plus; • Ability to work cooperatively with others; • Strong computer skills, including knowledge of Vocus public-relations software preferred; • Ability to work calmly and enthusiastically under high pressure; • Strong ability to communicate clearly and aggressively in conversation and writing; • Strong ability to brainstorm and think creatively about all elements of communications work; • Already-established media contacts preferred.

Qualified applicants should email a cover letter (including starting salary expectations), curriculum vitae or resume, and three samples of their latest work to cramirez@wri.org. If work samples cannot be e-mailed, the entire application should be mailed to World Resources Institute, 10 G. St. NE, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20002. Attn: Camilo Ramirez. Only short-listed candidates will be called for interviews. Deadline for all applications is Friday, January 9, 2009.

The World Resources Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is WRI’s policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual preference, parental status, or disability.

WRI’s global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI's policy research and analysis. WRI, therefore, encourages applications from U.S. minorities, persons from other countries (especially developing nations), and from women of all backgrounds.