American Civil Liberties Union

Media Relations Director
Application Deadline: August 1, 2009
Inquiries will be accepted until position is filled.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU-NC) seeks applicants for the position of Media Relations Director.

Job Description:
The ACLU of Northern California seeks a full-time Media Relations Director to join the small team of strategists who spearhead the public education, media relations and new media activities of the largest ACLU affiliate in the nation. The Media Relations Director plays a key role in an array of activities that fall within the category of strategic communications. Together with other members of the communications team, s/he takes a lead role in the overall development of communications strategies that allow the ACLU to maximize the reach and impact of our policy advocacy, community organizing and litigation efforts.

Integral to this position are the project management and interpersonal skills necessary for working well with experts and advocates who specialize in law, advocacy, lobbying, community organizing, fund development, and membership, and for managing many priorities simultaneously.

The Media Relations Director is the primary point of contact for reporters, editors, and producers around the northern California region who are creating stories about civil liberties. The media Relations Director spearheads the generation of media coverage of ACLU issues, positions, lawsuits, ballot initiative campaigns, and community activism surrounding the defense of civil liberties. S/he utilizes many different formats – including new media – to engage the attention and interest of a wide variety of audiences.

Writing skills are critical to this position.

The Media Relations Director will join the Communications Department, which consists of the Communications Director, Senior Communications Officer, Graphic Designer/Publication Production Manager, and New Media Strategist/Web Manager. S/he will work closely with the ACLU-NC’s Legal, Policy and Organizing Departments, the Friedman Education Project (our youth development initiative), and the Sacramento-based Legislative Office. The Department also works closely with the Development Department.

The Media Relations Director reports to the Communications Director.

Responsibilities:

• Planning and implementing communication strategies that will advance the ACLU’s many goals, such as advancing our digital privacy initiative; promoting racial justice in our schools; defending freedom of speech; and ending the death penalty.
• Managing frontline media relations with news reporters, including a high volume of inquiries by phone and email
• Writing and editing press materials such as press releases, advisories and fact sheets in coordination with ACLU attorneys and program staff;
• Facilitating on-site spokesperson trainings
• Maintaining and expanding the ACLU-NC media database
• Initiating consistent communication with editors and writers at small and large media outlets in the region, including television and radio; ethnic, community and alternative media; blogs; and niche media that target distinct audiences, including teachers, youth, lawyers, community organizers, policymakers, technologists, etc. Framing, messaging and writing in
• ways that clearly communicate the key principles at stake (equality, privacy, freedom, due process) in ACLU campaigns and cases, and that capture the interest and attention of ordinary people
• Coordinating meetings with newspaper editorial boards and other opinion leaders, and assembling background information in advance to further the discussion
• Helping to launch and implement projects that use new media tools to carry information and stories about our work to online and younger audiences
• Initiating, drafting, editing and placing opinion editorials and radio commentaries
• Facilitating the timely review of content internally by sharing drafts with other staff and incorporating input
• Assisting with the writing, editing and copy-editing of clear, compelling publications such as the ACLU-NC’s quarterly broadsheet newsletter (ACLU News), brochures, the annual report, issue-specific reports, and Know Your Rights fact sheets
• Overseeing the compilation of a daily news summary with links to important coverage
• Creating and repurposing content for the ACLU-NC’s extensive website, aclunc.org
• Coordinating media outreach with other ACLU affiliates and the national ACLU

Qualifications:

• At least five years of professional experience in strategic communications or media relations, some of which must be related to public policy and advocacy;
• Skill in identifying and seizing opportunities to pursue innovative efforts that will advance the ACLU’s goals
• Experience in carrying out strategic communications in the context of community organizing, political or public education campaigns;
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects effectively, including projects that require input from others at several stages;
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills;
• Creativity and initiative in reaching a great diversity of audiences integral to the ACLU’s success
• Ability quickly to produce clear, persuasive text
• Ability to synthesize complex information from a variety of sources, including attorneys, scholars, and policy makers, and to turn it into dynamic copy that is accessible, engaging and persuasive
• Ability to work well under pressure and to reliably meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment; excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to edit or quickly rewrite the work of others;
• Demonstrated fluency in communicating effectively in different formats and mediums;
• Excellent computer/Internet skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office. Fluency with FileMaker Pro and web content management system (CMS) helpful.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong support of the ACLU mission and familiarity with civil rights and civil liberties issues.
• Bilingual skills in Spanish desirable.

Compensation:
Salary based on experience. Excellent benefits include four weeks paid vacation; medical, vision and dental insurance for staff members and their dependents and spouses/ domestic partners; life and long-term disability insurance; pension; and thirteen paid holidays.

To Apply:
Applicants should mail a resume and cover letter describing the applicant’s interest in this position to the attention of

Laura Saponara
ACLU of Northern California
39 Drumm Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
or e-mail to HR-Communications@aclunc.org.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

About the ACLU of Northern California:
The ACLU is a nationwide, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the defense and expansion of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of Northern California (ACLU-NC) was founded in 1934. It is the largest ACLU affiliate in the nation, with 53,000 members, 23 all-volunteer chapters and clubs and a staff of 50, including a legislative office in Sacramento and a satellite office in San Jose.

The ACLU-NC is proud to be an affirmative action employer. All interested individuals, including people of color, women, persons with disabilities and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex are particularly urged to apply.