Senior Media Specialist

Remote (United States)

Job Details

Location: United States

Workplace: Remote

Employment Type: Full-time

Core Areas: Media Relations, Press Management, Journalist Outreach, Media Pitching, News Monitoring, Media Coverage Analysis, Crisis Communications, Spokesperson Development

Compensation: $120,000-$150,000 annually

Time Zone: Preference for candidates able to work between US Pacific Time and Central European Time (CET)

Travel: Approximately four trips per year, including international travel for team retreats and events

About the Role

The Senior Media Specialist is responsible for managing day-to-day media relations, securing press coverage, developing journalist relationships, and coordinating media enquiries. This individual contributor role focuses on translating media strategy into proactive story pitches, identifying newsworthy developments, preparing press materials, and strengthening media visibility across traditional and emerging news channels.

The position involves working with journalists, editors, producers, and organizational spokespeople while monitoring media coverage and supporting reputation management. Key subject areas include effective altruism, philanthropy, AI safety, global health, and animal welfare. The specialist will also support event-related press activities, analyze media sentiment, and contribute to crisis communications in coordination with the Head of Media and communications colleagues.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute proactive media pitches aligned with established media strategy, identifying opportunities for positive, high-reach press coverage.
• Identify compelling, newsworthy stories from organizational initiatives, grant-funded projects, and partner activities.
• Pitch stories, subject matter experts, and spokespeople to relevant journalists, editors, and producers.
• Create, organize, and maintain comprehensive media kits, press materials, and supporting background information.

• Identify and engage journalists and media outlets covering philanthropy, AI safety, global health, animal welfare, and related topics.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with journalists through regular outreach, meetings, and ongoing communication.
• Prepare media briefings, background materials, and interview information for journalists and organizational spokespeople.
• Maintain a responsive and reliable media contact network to support ongoing press engagement.

• Serve as the primary contact for incoming media enquiries, responding to routine requests and escalating sensitive matters when appropriate.
• Coordinate press responses and seek corrections or clarifications when published coverage contains inaccurate or misleading information.
• Support reputation management and crisis communications by monitoring developing coverage and drafting appropriate responses.
• Work with the Head of Media to identify reputational risks and address sensitive media situations.

• Monitor daily news coverage, media mentions, podcasts, and relevant online discussions, including the Effective Altruism Forum.
• Track developments across key subject areas and identify emerging media trends and coverage opportunities.
• Produce regular media monitoring reports, sentiment analysis, and coverage assessments.
• Translate media coverage findings into actionable intelligence for communications colleagues and partner organizations.
• Share relevant news updates and tailored media insights with internal and external stakeholders.

• Review journalist accreditation applications and press pass requests for EA Global and EAGx events.
• Coordinate press participation and support journalist engagement during events.
• Help create positive media coverage opportunities around major organizational events.

• Identify potential spokespeople and subject matter experts across organizational and partner networks.
• Develop opportunities to strengthen spokesperson visibility and credibility across traditional and newer media channels.
• Prepare spokespeople for media interviews, including providing briefings, guidance, and practical support.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• Professional experience in media relations, a press office, or journalism, with a demonstrated record of securing positive, high-reach media coverage.
• Experience developing and maintaining professional relationships with journalists and colleagues across organizations.
• Experience independently managing projects and establishing and operating media workstreams.

Required Skills

• Ability to identify newsworthy stories, develop compelling media pitches, and secure coverage through effective journalist outreach.
• Strong media relations and press management capabilities, including responding to media enquiries and coordinating with journalists and spokespeople.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate press materials, media briefings, and interview background information.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to independently prioritize and manage multiple media activities.
• Sound professional judgment when handling sensitive media enquiries, recognizing escalation requirements, and supporting reputational issues.
• Clear, careful written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively under time pressure.
• Ability to operate independently in changing or ambiguous environments and establish direction for assigned workstreams.
• Familiarity with effective altruism principles and the broader ecosystem, or the ability to quickly develop a nuanced understanding of the subject.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established relationships with journalists covering philanthropy, artificial intelligence, global health, or animal welfare.
• Experience using media monitoring tools and conducting sentiment analysis.

Benefits

• Private health insurance.
• Flexible working hours.
• $6,000 annual professional development allowance.
• $6,000 mental health support allowance.
• Extended parental leave.
• Ergonomic work equipment.
• 25 days of paid vacation.