Media Relations Coordinator

Position Summary

Located 45 minutes from the Nation's Capital, nestled in a history-rich community of southern Maryland, The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is a two-time Aspen Award-winning institution (top 15% of Community Colleges) with academic programs in over 100 disciplines. CSM is among America's top 100 producers of Minority Associate Degrees in twenty categories, according toDiverse Issues in Higher Education. CSM offers excellent health insurance benefits; State Retirement Pension plan; wellness programs; Code Green early closure Fridays in the summer; college closure for spring break and several major holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year; and for several days in March for Spring Break. We are an innovative institution committed to student success and well known for our flexibility to meet student and community needs.

The individual in this positionworksclosely with the Director of Communication/PIO to strategize the college's media relations efforts, produce media materials related to news releases and for traditional and new media outlets including CSM's online newsroom, social media news account, and cable television channel. Further, he/she ensures compliance with Associated Press standards and guidelines while ensuring protection of the college's reputation. This individual works with divisions across the organization toidentify, produce and place excellent and compelling editorial content to communicate across the various media channels. He/sheis responsible forthe quality,accuracy,and frequency of media coverage, developing and implementing a comprehensive media relations program to positively affect the college's public image, increase participation in college programs and activities, and support the college's strategic goals through print and electronic media relations at the local,regional,and state levels. This position monitors media placements,identifiespotential media opportunities for the college's programs and keymessage, and strategizes with the marketing team to provide content that engages audiences across traditional and new media.As a representative of the college at internal and external events, this individual is a goodwill ambassador, and assists in the coordination of select college events.The position reports directly to andassiststhe Communications Director/Public Information Officer.

Reports to:Director, Media Relations and Public Information Officer

College of Southern Maryland conducts background checks in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the College's staff and students. The final candidate for this position will be subject to the following background checks: Criminal History Check.

This position is open until filled. The College of Southern Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• In consultation with the Communications Director, develops media plan including strategy,goals,and tactics to achieve regular, high-level placements in print,broadcast,and online media, and that will influence and engage audiences positively. Coordinates quarterly editorial planning to achievetimelyand effective news contentregardingthe College of Southern Maryland. Further, he/sheisresponsible fornetworking with the internal and external college community toidentifyunique feature stories and to prepare identified students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors as part of story ideas and unique pitches in line with CSM's key messages and goals.

• Exercises sound news judgment to plan, create, and track content for press releases and byline articles under the supervision of the Communication Director/PIO, conducting research, interviews andaccuratereporting of news concerning activities,programs,and key messages at the College of Southern Maryland for use within external media as well as for internal communication.Content outlets include but are not limited to the intranet and Friday Report, CSM's online newsroom and Headlines distribution and any new media.Products include editorial content calendars, news releases, letters to the editor, fact sheets, talking points, media kits, program remarks and other press materials, including relevant statistics and reports. S/he writes copy for news releases, brochures, pamphlets, other departmental publications, and material to be broadcast on radio and/or television; conducts research in the preparation of news releases; distributes news releases and other information material through publicity channels such as CSM's newsroom, newspapers, news services, periodicals,radioand television; social media; reads and corrects proofs.

• Assists with managing media inquiries on a regular basis, monitoring the response to ensure media needs for interviews, photographs, graphics, and other materials are met under deadline conditions.Leverages existing media relationships andcultivatenew contacts within business and industry media. Pro-actively cultivates relationships with editors, reporters,bloggers,and other media professionals andmaintainsdatabase of media outlets, including government and nonprofit newsletters.Prepares students, staff, faculty,donors,or alums to respond appropriately to media interviews as well as provides media training for identified student leaders,including but not limited tostudent-athletes and SGA representatives.

• Monitors,analyzes,and communicates issues and events being reported thatimpactthe college's reputation; corrects inaccuracies.

• Monitors current events and trends within higher education to develop effective strategies to widely promote faculty experts as well as college students, staff,alumni,and programs.

• Identifiesopportunities among local,regional,and national media outlets, including radio, television, publications, social networks, web-related sites, e-newsletters, and coordinatesappropriate interviewsto increase the college's visibility and maximize attendance in college programs and activities. Maintains reports of news coverage and other information of value to the department

• Provides media relations support and associated planning and media training for internal campus events to bolster college reputation. Contributes to internal staff and faculty understanding of messaging and news by sharing content and successes through internal communication channels.

• Performs as Assistant Public Information Officer as backup to the college's Public Information Officer as part of the college's Incident Command System and is trained in emergency response to perform within a Joint Information Command Center.Assistsin dissemination of emergency closing informationregardingthe college's campuses, with round-the-clock availabilityrequired.

• Supports Director of Communications in developing integrated issue campaigns on selected issues (Advocacy, Fund-Raising, Enrollment, etc.), identifiesappropriate spokespeoplefor media interview requestswith regard tosignificant college events and prepares advance press/media kit materials (included but not limited to graduation, building dedications and groundbreakings, legislative breakfasts, articulation agreements, campaign kick-offs, signature college publications).

• Takes photos to accompany stories for the

Newsroom, aswell as for use in media outlets, on social media sites, and printed materials.

AdditionalDuties:

• Performs other related work asrequired.

Minimum Education and Training

RequiredEducation and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in public relations, journalism,communications,or related discipline

Minimum Qualifications and Standards Required

Knowledge, Skills,and Abilities:

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with 3-4 years writing and editing experience for an organization or the media. Years ofappropriate experiencecan be substituted for degreerequirements.

• Demonstrated working experience and positive relationships with mediaoutlets.

• Working knowledge of public relations and social media best practices

• Photography skills, including taking, editing, and tagging photos, arerequiredfor this position.

• Comfortable and skilled in broadcast and print media interviews

• Must beself-motivated, detail-orientedandaccurate.

• Possess word processing skills; Microsoft Office Suite preferred.

• Knowledge of general office procedures

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is sedentary work which requires exerting up to10pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of forcefrequentlyor constantly.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in arelatively safe, and secure work environment.