Media Relations Specialist

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Special instructions to applicants :

Applicants are required to submit four writing samples, preferably a variety that includes straight news reporting and feature writing. Please save it as one PDF file and attach it under document section of the application materials along with your resume and cover letter. Links may also be submitted.

Position Summary

The media relations specialist for science and engineering writes and promotes Rice University news releases, news stories, media advisories and expert alerts for local, national and international media outlets for his/her assigned beats. They have the capacity to write and synthesize complex materials and communicate highly technical information in an easily understood manner. The position serves as backup for the director as needed. The successful candidate will have a successful track record in journalism or media relations managing tight deadlines, proactively pitching stories and creating meaningful, high-quality work on a routine basis. The position requires a thoughtful, organized and results-oriented professional, accustomed to working in a fast-paced environment.

Salary:

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. This position is exempt and is not eligible for overtime pay, and your salary covers all hours you work in a week.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• 5 years of related professional experience in journalism or public relations
• Skills
  • Able to write concisely and accurately explain complex subjects in a way that makes them interesting and informative to news media personnel, and understandable to laypersons.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Able to work in a deadline-driven, results-oriented environment with media and public relations professionals and with a wide variety of clients, including Rice faculty, administrators, and students.
  • Able to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously with minimal supervision, adhering to priorities and meeting deadlines.
  • Knowledge of Associated Press style.
  • Strong computer skills.
  • Social media skills.

Essential Functions

• Conveys complex subject matter in an engaging and easy-to-understand style by writing news releases, media advisories, expert alerts and stories for Rice News, Rice Magazine, and other venues, as well as posting stories and photos online.
• Cultivates faculty, staff, students and other sources for stories and expert commentary.
• Proactively pitches stories, research, expertise and news tips about Rice to reporters, editors and producers.
• Plans and executes activities to support the news and media objectives.
• Participates in developing strategies and tactics for facilitating effective communications of key researchers with media relations needs on a regular basis.
• Responds to media requests.
• Assists in identifying and maintaining professional relationships with key press and community leaders.
• Uses social media to promote Rice's external media efforts.
• Tracks and reports media placements.
• Assists in researching and maintaining Rice's media database.
• Assists with editing.
• Serves as backup for other team members as needed.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Preferences

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, English, liberal arts, communications, or related field.
• Experience in science communication.
• Five years of related professional experience in journalism or public relations.

Workplace Requirements

The media relations specialist takes turns being the weekly on-call person with other members of the news and media team and often deals with after-hours emails even when not on call.

Rice University HR | Benefits:

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19 (currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID 19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.