Los Angeles, CA--Media Field Strategist with a focus in Communities of African Descent--Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)

Media Field Strategist with a focus in Communities of African Descent (COAD)

Salary: Salary is commensurate with experience.
Education: Bachelor (BA, BS, etc.)
Location: Los Angeles, California, 90036, United States
Posted by: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
Job Category: Activism & Organizing, Advocacy
Language(s): English
Job posted on: April 17, 2009
Area of Focus: Gay, Lesbian, Bi & Trans Issues, Human Rights and Civil Liberties, Media and Journalism, Race and Ethnicity

Job Summary

GLAAD's Media Field Strategists are responsible for the organization's outreach efforts and media strategy with statewide and local LGBT advocacy organizations and local and regional media outlets. Media Field Strategists work to build and sustain relationships with local LGBT and allied organizations to help enhance their work through media relations and media activism while furthering GLAAD’s mission and presence throughout the country. This position will focus on GLAAD’s work with COAD/African American communities and media. The Media Field Strategist will conduct media outreach, train spokespeople – particularly spokespeople of faith – and work hand-in-hand with African American LGBT organizations to bring visibility and media attention to issues facing the community. The Media Field Strategist/COAD will also develop and strengthen GLAAD’s professional contacts with LGBT and mainstream media outlets nationwide and represent the organization within state and regional coalitions.

Responsibilities

• Execute strategic plans in key states aimed at mobilizing the voices and activism of the community to change hearts and minds through media activism and fighting defamation.
• Monitor media within key states and develop responses to defamation.
• Pitch and place stories aimed at educating the public about how the lack of equal protections places LGBT people and their families in harms way.
• Execute GLAAD’s efforts in African American communities, building specific relationships within communities of faith
• Supervise visibility campaigns and outreach efforts with statewide and local LGBT advocacy organizations, working to plan and implement trainings, media strategy meetings and support for day-to-day communications efforts.
• Implement and project manage new initiatives to support media activism on the local level as it relates to LGBT equality.
• Maintain, and adhere to media protocol and systems for media outreach and response. Establish communications and conduct meetings with editorial boards and writers to regional and national publications to analyze LGBT coverage, pitch story ideas and build partnerships with GLAAD.
• Cultivate relationships with other LGBT and allied organizations to develop strategies for coalition building and partnerships.
• Plan, write, edit, and proof materials including releases, alerts, letters to media professionals, op-eds and other documents as needed, particularly as they pertain to local and regional media outlets and GLAAD.org.
• Travel as needed to conduct trainings, meet with activists and journalists to develop media strategy and provide support to monitor and mobilize around media coverage and planning in key situations.
• Complete other tasks as assigned.
Additional Qualifications:
Qualifications

• Required: Degree and 3+ years in journalism, political/grassroots organizing, communications or public relations.
• Required: Proven track record of having worked in both LGBT and mainstream media.
• Required: Experience working with the African American LGBT community
• Required: Strong knowledge of media serving the African American Community
• Required: Strong writing skills
• Preferred: Demonstrated success in writing, reporting or placing media coverage preferred.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Public speaking experience highly desirable, including presentations, delivering skills-building trainings and media interviews.
• Proven track record of critical thinking, problem solving and strategy development.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple tasks to meet deadlines and desire to be a self-starter.
• Previous experience working on political and/or issue campaigns.
• Experience working with polling data, framing messages and developing media plans preferred.
• Experience in working with local community and faith based organizations preferred.
• Experience in volunteer management and office administration preferred.
• Working knowledge and understanding of LGBT and allied political, cultural and social organizations highly desirable.
• Either strong working knowledge of history and issues regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advancement and media representation or demonstrated capacity to understand issues quickly and competently highly desirable.
• Inclusively is a vital part of GLAAD’s work. Skills necessary to create a more diverse and inclusive environment are a plus.

Supervision

The Media Field Strategist/COAD reports to the Director of Field and Community Media and has no direct supervisory responsibilities of other full time staff but may from time to time supervise fellows, interns or volunteers.

Compensation:

Salary is commensurate with experience. Benefits include: 403(b) retirement plan; escalating vacation beginning with three weeks+; Paid sick, personal days and holidays; and Organization paid health benefits for employees including medical, dental, vision, flex spending accounts, flexible work arrangements, employee assistance program and life and long-term disability insurance.
Other Notes:

• GLAAD does not have the ability at this time to provide sponsorship for this position.
• GLAAD does not have the ability to provide relocation benefits to candidates.
• GLAAD is a business casual dress environment.
• Candidates MUST be able to pass both financial and criminal background check.
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
• This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Critical features of this job are described under the headings below. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

How to Apply:
Contact:

Name: Human Resources (no phone calls, please)
Email: jobs@glaad.org