Media Editor

Department
 

COMM Media Relations

About the Department
 

University Communications focuses on building the brand, enhancing the reputation, and growing public understanding of the University of Chicago, where rigorous inquiry shapes fields, creates a transformative education and experience, and confronts the most important problems of our time. The communications team specializes in content creation, media relations, public affairs, brand strategy, and video and audio production for the University, while serving as a communication partner and center of excellence across UChicago.

Job Summary
 

The Media Editor will advance the University of Chicago’s proactive engagement with reporters, editors, and producers at news organizations around the world, through support of the media relations team’s efforts and coordination with experts and units across campus. They will join a fast-moving, collaborative team that works to tell stories about faculty experts, new research, and ground-breaking discoveries taking place at the University of Chicago – one of the world’s leading research universities.
This person will report to the Associate Director for Media Relations and work closely with other communications colleagues to help write and edit media pitches, cultivate ambitious story possibilities, and build relationships with key reporters and campus units. The Media Editor will use databases and other tools to research news organizations and help determine which outlets and reporters might be most likely to cover a particular event or story. Responsibilities include working with the Associate Director and other colleagues to support day-to-day operations of the media team, building and updating targeted media lists, distributing story pitches and news releases, replying to media requests, and helping run press conferences. They will contribute directly to media outreach, including pitches concerning undergraduate education, the Humanities, and other campus partners, as well as to the production of online content in those areas.
The Media Editor will have the primary responsibility for overseeing interns who help with the daily media clips and other key support tasks for the media team. Through collaborative efforts, the Media Editor will help optimize our metrics with tools such as Meltwater to measure the impact of media campaigns and contribute to quarterly reports. They will help update University websites aimed at news media and ensure that faculty bios are kept current. This task requires a high degree of professionalism in coordinating with faculty and staff from across the University.
The ideal candidate for this position is a fast worker and skillful writer who learns quickly, is detail-oriented, takes direction well, uses good judgment, and balances multiple projects at once.

Responsibilities

• Writes, edits and sends news media pitches, and follows-up with reporters and editors.
• Works directly with selected units to advance news media coverage and cultivate ambitious story ideas.
• Oversees production of daily executive brief and news clips, including training interns on tasks.
• Researches media contacts and builds lists of reporters.
• Supervises news media interns.
• Contributes to coordination across the media team.
• Builds faculty bio pages for the University website.
• Recommends best uses of metrics and compiles quarterly reports.
• Updates the Media Resources site.
• Coordinates the Monday Outlook, a weekly email that highlights University experts who can speak to the media on the week’s news.
• Plans, develops and disseminates information designed to keep the public informed of the organization's programs, accomplishments, or point of view, with moderate levels of guidance and direction.
• Continues to build higher level knowledge of the University, processes and customers.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or related field.

Experience:

• 2 – 4 years of experience in related field.

Preferred Competencies

• Work independently with a high degree of initiative, organization and attention to detail.
• Work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Strong interest in current events, follows the news, and a fluent in public affairs.
• Write well and quickly, under tight deadlines.

Working Conditions

• Some early morning work.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Communications

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.