Media Specialist

Job Type

Full-time

Description

In the marketplace of ideas, working with the media is an essential, inescapable part of spreading a message. The Foundation for Government Accountability is hiring a Media Specialist to elevate our media operations, with a focus on both state-based and national outlets. If you have some experience working on campaigns or for elected officials, if you have an interest in learning how to pitch ideas to journalists and editors, if you’re creative and looking for ways to effectively harness your writing to earn media coverage, and if you are dependable and hungry to learn, this is an opportunity to make a high-level, highly visible difference.

CULTURE AND FIT

The people who consistently succeed at FGA are those whose actions and behavior reflect our five Core Values. If you adhere to these values and answer “yes” to each of the following questions, you may be a fit.

1. Candid to Solve: Being willing to have tough conversations in order to solve issues and build trust.
   Do you seek out constructive feedback—and provide it to others—to solve issues and build trust with coworkers?
2. Grow or Die: We don’t have a neutral gear; we must consistently challenge ourselves and each other to grow in our talents and skills.
   Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and do you seek out complementary skills and growth in order to mitigate your weaknesses?
3. Politically Savvy: Policy doesn’t change in a vacuum, but in a political reality that we must understand and account for.
   Do you agree that embracing the realities of politics is necessary to change public policy?
4. Partnership-Oriented: Internal and external relationships are not transactional. That starts with our team members and the perspective that we need the rest of the team to succeed in order to win personally.
   Are you comfortable creating your own structure for work, such as setting work hours, your own priorities, and creating clarity and a workplan from a broad goal? Do you tend to be the one who initiates conversations with colleagues, rather than waiting for them to come to you?
5. Bought in to Win: We’re at FGA because we want to change policy. No one is counting hours or widgets. We are here to get results, and sometimes that will require going the extra mile or doing a job that isn’t technically ours.
   Do you wholeheartedly agree with the policies that we advocate and the underlying principles that people’s lives are made better through work, not government welfare, and that a free market creates greater freedom and equality than any command-and-control government system?

The vast majority of those who don’t get hired (or don’t last) at FGA are due to a lack of fit with these values. Be prepared to have very candid conversations about them in our interview process.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Media Specialist will have five primary roles, broken down into key responsibilities. They are:

External Media Relations

• Draft proactive media pitches for FGA opinion pieces, exclusives, press statements, and quotes.
• Work with reporters and editors to build relationships and promote FGA and legislative partner policies.

Internal Media Reporting

• Take ownership of media tracking and reporting, in cooperation with other FGA teams that use media hits and placements as part of their partnership and outreach efforts.
• Produce monthly board media reports, oversee internal op-ed and media trackers, and spread the word about key media mentions, both internally and externally.

Coordinate and Schedule Media Interviews

• Connect FGA’s deep bench of subject-matter experts to print, radio, and TV opportunities, both proactively and in response to external requests.

Network Building

• Maintain and grow FGA’s significant existing network of opinion editors, journalists, writers, podcasters, and other media contacts.
• Build on your existing relationships and FGA’s strong Rolodex and reputation to place op-eds, background information, quotes, and subject-matter guidance.

Writing

• Write compelling, informative, and concise interview preparation materials to guide FGA experts.
• Draft occasional op-eds and talking points documents, as needed.

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 1-3 years’ experience in media relations or a related field, including political campaign work or legislative/elected office staff.
• Substantial work experience may be considered a substitute for a bachelor’s degree.
• A proven ability to operate under tight deadlines, and track record of being dependable and hardworking.
• Strong organizational skills to track active pitches and earned-media metrics.
• A creative mindset to identify media opportunities in a dynamic and changing environment.
• The ability to leverage existing media contacts and build and maintain FGA relationships with existing and emerging media outlets.
• Match FGA’s Core Values.

TIMING, LOCATION, AND COMPENSATION

FGA is seeking to fill this position with the right candidate as soon as possible. FGA’s headquarters are in Naples, FL, but nearly all of FGA’s staff work remotely. FGA has built a highly successful remote work culture over the past decade with systems and structures designed for clarity, flexibility, and great communication. Key elements of the environment include:

• Quarterly in-person team meetings at which you’ll build deeper relationships, set clear goals aligned with FGA’s big vision, and brainstorm how to seize new opportunities.
• An intensive 90-day orientation to familiarize you with the FGA team, our policies, and how we operate.
• Home office setup, including equipment and communication tools you need to hit the ground running.

FGA offers a competitive salary of between $55,000–$75,000, depending on experience, education, and qualifications, and a benefits package including a six percent retirement match, health benefit, and generous paid leave plan.

Salary Description

$55,000 – $75,000

Learn more here