- Location: Chicago, IL
- Sector: Non Profit
- Organization URL: http://www.thechicagocouncil.org
- Experience: Mid Career / Advanced
- Date Posted Nov-15-2011
Description
POSITION: Media Relations Consultant (contract position through 6/30/2012)
DEPARTMENT: External Relations
REPORTS TO: Director of Marketing and Communications
BACKGROUNDDEPARTMENT: External Relations
REPORTS TO: Director of Marketing and Communications
In May 2012, Chicago will host both the G8 and NATO Summits, the first time since 1977 that the two international Summits will take place at the same time, in the same city, and the first time that a NATO summit has taken place in an American city outside of Washington D.C. This represents a significant opportunity for Chicago to take the global stage as world leaders arrive and the global media spotlight shines on the city. The Chicago Council will work closely with World Business Chicago and the G8/NATO Host Committee, among other local, national and international partners, to help Chicago seize the extraordinary opportunity that the 2012 Summits provide. In the lead up to, and during the Summits, The Chicago Council will offer a suite of activities designed to connect the city to the global discourse. These include: the creation of a Web-based media resource center, two major public program series in the spring and one during the Summits, a March conference on the future of NATO, and a May conference on global agriculture hosted in Washington D.C.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Media Relations Consultant responsibilities include:
- Conceptualize, plan, implement, and evaluate media outreach strategies and tactics associated with the Council’s full range of G8 and NATO initiatives
- Help create a Web-based media research center that:
- Engages partners such as NATO and EU public diplomacy, the State and Defense Departments, World Business Chicago, and other local, national, and international partners
- Connects early with more than 2,000 journalists who will come to Chicago to cover the Summits
- Highlights the significance, issues, and actors of the Summits
- Serves as a resource for visiting international media and G8 and NATO delegations on Chicago history, life, culture, and institutions
- Brings together visiting international media with their counterparts in Chicago’s ethnic communities
- Connects Chicagoans and international press to G8 and NATO experts around the Midwest
- Helps inform local Chicago media on G8 and NATO background, issues, and networks
- Cultivate relationships with journalists and bloggers in Chicago and around the world to establish The Chicago Council as a “go-to” source for authoritative information and useful connections vis-à-vis the Summits and the Chicago stories that could be featured
- Undertake media outreach efforts for the Council’s G8 and NATO initiatives, including related public programs, and high-profile programs with visiting heads of government
- Increase the presence and visibility of The Chicago Council through expanded use of social media
- Develop and maintain a database of key media contacts, including influential bloggers, for ongoing use by The Chicago Council
- Conduct other media relations, writing, and editing projects as will be determined over the course of the contract period
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, founded in 1922 as The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, is a leading independent, nonpartisan organization committed to influencing the discourse on global issues through contributions to opinion and policy formation, leadership dialogue, and public learning. The Chicago Council brings the world to Chicago by hosting public programs and private events featuring world leaders and experts with diverse views on a wide range of global topics. Through task forces, conferences, studies, and leadership dialogue, the Council brings Chicago’s ideas to the world. Learn more at www.thechicagocouncil.org.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s (or advanced) degree in relevant discipline, such as public relations, journalism, or communications, with course work and keen interest in international relations
- Minimum 5 years of professional media relations experience reflecting a wide range of communication vehicles, with focus/expertise in international relations and issues relevant to the work of The Chicago Council
- Proven record of success in the design and implementation of media relations campaigns
- Active network of relevant media contacts in Chicago, nationally, and internationally
- Demonstrated facility with social media
- Superb proficiency in English language communications; excellent writing, editing, and verbal skills
- Must perform well under pressure and have the ability to complete multiple tasks concurrently
- Must be team player, able to build and maintain business relationships through professionalism, diplomacy, and trust
- Must be computer literate and proficient in MS-Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) and in PC-based publication software.
Contact Details
- Email: hr@thechicagocouncil.org
Application Instructions
Please e-mail a cover letter and résumé as Word documents to hr@thechicagocouncil.org. You can also apply via the Council’s Web site at www.thechicagocouncil.org in the Career Opportunities section. EOE
