Media Relations Specialist - Crisis & Storytelling

Yale New Haven Health; Bridgeport (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Yale New Haven Health seeks a communications leader to serve as the primary media relations contact for an assigned hospital and services. You will develop and execute media relations strategies, manage inquiries, coordinate interviews and press events, and support leadership with timely, accurate communications during emergencies.

The role includes creating content for digital and social channels, building relationships with local and regional media, and contributing to department calendars and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a related field.
• Five to seven years of experience in media relations, public relations, communications, journalism or a related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing and content creation skills across multiple platforms, including digital and social media.
• Healthcare experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead proactive and reactive media relations efforts for an assigned hospital, services and key organizational priorities.
• Develop and distribute press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, media kits and other communications materials.
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson or identify, prepare and support appropriate subject matter experts and leaders for media engagement.
• Coordinate media interviews, news conferences and on-site media while ensuring compliance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
• Maintain media lists, coverage reports, press release archives and media activity tracking.
• Contribute to and help manage the department's content calendar, identifying opportunities to generate consistent earned media coverage and align communications activities across service lines and organizational priorities.
• Develop digital and social content that supports and amplifies earned media coverage, thought leadership and organizational priorities.
• Cultivate relationships with local, regional and trade media while supporting broader system and national media opportunities as needed.
• Monitor, identify and manage emerging issues and reputational risks, developing communications strategies, key messages, statements and FAQs as appropriate.
• Serve as a Public Information Officer (PIO) and lead media relations activities during crises, emergency preparedness activations and disaster response events, ensuring timely, accurate and coordinated communications with media, staff and the public.
• Participate in after-hours and crisis communications coverage as needed.
• Provide strategic communications counsel to executives, physicians, administrators and staff regarding media interactions and public perception.
• Collaborate with legal, operational and clinical leaders on sensitive communications matters.
• Partner with Marketing and Communications colleagues to support integrated campaigns and strategic initiatives through earned, owned and shared media.
• Create and edit content for websites, blogs, newsletters, social media platforms and other digital channels.
• Identify compelling patient, physician and organizational stories that support marketing, brand and reputation goals.
• Serve as hospital liaison to Marketing & Communications team, providing regular updates on important developments at the hospital to ensure consistent communications
• Contribute content to employee communications and organizational publications.
• Work closely with all content creators in the department to develop feature stories and multimedia content to support public and media relations strategies
• Partner with communications colleagues across Yale New Haven Health to identify, develop and pitch stories to local, regional and national media outlets.
• Support system-wide media opportunities, executive visibility efforts and thought leadership initiatives in collaboration with the Director of Media Relations and system communications colleagues.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Strategic communications

Content creation

Public speaking

News writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/Journalism/Public Relations

Tools

Microsoft Office

CMS

Media monitoring platforms

Social media platforms

Job description

Yale New Haven Health seeks a communications leader to serve as the primary media relations contact for an assigned hospital and services. You will develop and execute media relations strategies, manage inquiries, coordinate interviews and press events, and support leadership with timely, accurate communications during emergencies.

The role includes creating content for digital and social channels, building relationships with local and regional media, and contributing to department calendars and