Media Relations and Content Manager (Nonprofit / Higher Education)

Mediabistro; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

AD&D insurance

Generous time off

Retirement plan

Professional development

Job summary

Newsletter Jobs in New York, NY is seeking a Media Relations and Content Manager to develop and amplify compelling content about the organization’s mission, work, and impact. The role will build high-quality media placements to engage audiences and strengthen visibility as a leading national voice on higher education dialogue.

You will report to the Chief Communications Officer, work closely with Marketing and Operations, and manage content for web, social media, and newsletters.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in media relations, communications, content marketing, editorial, or journalism, ideally in a mission-driven or higher education context

Responsibilities

• Building and maintaining press lists, drafting pitches, and supporting media coverage
• Tracking and logging media coverage and mentions
• Cultivating relationships with journalists and media outlets
• Developing, executing, and refining earned media strategy across higher education media
• Collaborating with program and fundraising teams on earned media strategies
• Writing and distributing press releases and pitches on PRNewswire
• Monitoring editorial calendars for key media targets
• Developing media outreach content (op-eds, talking points, briefing docs)
• Tracking community engagement metrics for earned media
• Writing stories across video, photography, and written formats
• Overseeing content development for the monthly community newsletter

Skills

Media relations

Content marketing

Editorial

News pitching

Cross-functional collaboration

Writing

Time management

Tools

Cision

WordPress

Mailchimp

Sprout Social

Microsoft Office

Teams

Job description

New York, NY (Hybrid) | Full-Time | $90,000-$110,000/yr

About the Role

A nonprofit federation of 85 scholarly organizations and the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and social sciences is hiring a Media Relations and Content Manager to develop and amplify compelling content about the organization's mission, work, and impact. The federation employs a $34 million annual operating budget to support scholarship and advocate for its central role in society.

Reporting to the Chief Communications Officer, this role works closely with the Marketing and Operations Manager and staff across the organization. The position secures high-quality, on-message content and media placements that engage current and new audiences, while strengthening visibility and reputation as a leading national voice on constructive dialogue involving higher education. The role requires living within commuting distance of New York City on a hybrid schedule.

What the Role Covers

Media Outreach

• Helping build and maintain press lists, drafting pitches, and supporting the CCO in securing media coverage
• Tracking and logging media coverage and mentions, contributing to earned-media goals
• Cultivating relationships with relevant journalists and media outlets to increase favorable coverage
• Working with the CCO to develop, execute, and refine earned media strategy across higher education media, philanthropy, general news, policy, culture, and other relevant outlet categories
• Collaborating with program and fundraising teams to develop earned media strategies
• Writing, distributing, and managing press releases and targeted pitches on PRNewswire, including competition calls for applications, award announcements, advocacy statements, and grant announcements
• Monitoring and strategizing around editorial calendars for key media targets
• Collaborating on media outreach content including op-eds, talking points, briefing documents, and background research
• Tracking and reporting on community engagement metrics for earned media

Web Features

• Collaborating across units to identify and write stories on community members and organizational impact through video, photography, and written formats, ensuring authentic and ethical representation

Digital Asset Development

• Working with external vendors to organize video shoots and develop content including promotional packages, constituent interviews, and social media cuts
• Capturing photography at events as needed

Social Media

• Writing social media post content
• Collaborating with the Marketing and Operations Manager on strategies to increase reach, growth, and engagement on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, and developing a distinct organizational voice

Community Newsletter

• Overseeing content development and organization of the monthly community newsletter and announcements including competition calls, award announcements, and grant announcements

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in media relations, communications, content marketing, editorial, or journalism, ideally in a mission-driven or higher education context
• Fluency with Cision, WordPress, Mailchimp, Sprout Social, Microsoft Office, and Teams
• Strong writer and editor with ability to produce clear, concise, accurate, and on-message content across different formats (web, social media, print)
• Sharp editorial eye with keen understanding of news cycles and what makes a story newsworthy
• Experience crafting compelling pitches and building press relationships
• Highly agile with ability to produce content quickly and shift priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with demonstrated ability to work across units, subject-matter experts, and partners
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail; ability to build, track, and adjust cross-departmental project timelines and refine processes
• Experience using DSLR cameras and capturing basic event photography
• Familiarity with video production basics and working with photo and video vendors
• Must live within commuting distance of New York City

Preferred

• Familiarity with the higher education landscape

Additional Details

Salary range is $90,000-$110,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and disability insurance; generous time off; a retirement savings plan with employer contributions; and professional development support.