Director of Media Relations

Fordham University is seeking a full-time director of media relations to promote the University in national, international, and local media—print, broadcast, and digital. We are seeking a media relations professional with a track record of placing stories in high-profile media. The director will supervise an assistant director; be the University’s primary contact for media relations; be responsible for day-to-day media pitches and inbound requests; and work as part of a diverse and highly collaborative communications and marketing team. The salary is $90,000 to $100,000 annually. Fordham offers excellent medical, vacation, and educational benefits. Hybrid work routine available after six-month probation period.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (REQUIRED RESPONSIBILITIES) 

•    Pitches local and national media stories about Fordham.
•    Serves as primary contact for media relations; responsible for day-to-day media relations pitches and media requests.
•    Helps promote the University via a comprehensive media relations program in print, broadcast, online, and social media.  
•    Develops and coordinates public media placements/pitches with senior director of communications. 
•    Supervises assistant director of media relations.
•    Keeps senior director and AVP informed of potentially controversial subject matter in the media.
•    Oversees production of and edits weekly media mentions report (Rams in the News) to the University community.
•    Supervises contract and internal public relations staff and assigns pitching responsibilities.
•    Serves as liaison to television and film production crews.
•    Works with the senior director and outside Public Relations counsel to create and execute media relations plan. 
•    Maintains a database of earned media mentions and produces annual media mentions summary by school and the Faculty of Arts & Sciences.
•    Participates as senior member of crisis communications team requiring on-call emergency status.
•    Develops and maintains relationships with media contacts and internal clients. Identifies and cultivates targeted media contacts; contributes to and maintains media contact database. 
•    Attends University events and facilitates media access to campus events and facilities.
•    Travels inter-campus as needed.
•    Supports faculty members in writing byliners and op-eds with editorial and media relations guidance
•    Oversees faculty expert database.
•    Advises academic departments of relevant news opportunities; keeps departmental webmasters advised of relevant content.  
•    Supports development and alumni relations with story ideas and placements that reach prospective donors and DMAs with significant concentrations of alumni. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

•    Baccalaureate Degree in journalism, communications, or related field required.
•    Minimum of 10 years media and/or media relations experience. 
•    Demonstrated media placement ability. 
•    Strong news writing and pitching skills. 
•    Working knowledge of MAC platform Microsoft Word.
•    No candidate will be considered without media placement clips.

FLSA CATEGORY: Exempt

START DATE: ASAP