"Media Relations Associate"

Media Relations Associate

Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has many stories to tell, from Nobel Prize-winning theories to biomedical innovations to the birthplace of special education and accessibility standards. We have been building the future for 158 years and counting, and our missions of learning, discovery and innovation will continue to shape the next century and beyond. The Strategic Communications and Marketing team at Illinois leads that storytelling through many channels.

The Media Relations Associate is an essential part of our effort to tell the story of Illinois' impact to our students, faculty, staff, Illinoisans and anyone else who benefits from the incredible work that happens here every day. This person will collaborate with a wonderful team of written and visual content creators as well as university faculty and staff to lead a comprehensive and strategic media outreach and engagement campaign. Their efforts will help shape the university's reputation across many audiences and ensure that its mission benefits as many people as possible.

Job Summary
Responsible for advancing the academic, research and public engagement missions of the university through media relations, writing and editing.

Duties & Responsibilities

Media outreach

• Develop and implement proactive media outreach strategies to elevate university visibility across national, state, and local media, including pitching media advisories, stories and op-eds.
• Build and maintain relationships with reporters, influencers, and media outlets; manage media contact lists and a roster of university experts.
• Meet regularly with unit communicators and coordinate on pitching.
• Engage with individual media outlets in every county throughout the state of Illinois and identify story ideas for local outlets that emphasize the university's land-grant mission in action within their communities.
• Develop cohesive, campus-level news media campaigns in which individual campus units can participate.
• Establish and manage the Media Relations social media channel.
• Coordinate with the Senior Director of Constituent Engagement to advance the university's visibility and reputation in the Chicago metropolitan area.
• Coordinate with the Director of Executive Communications and Issues Management to identify potential issues and provide input on how to respond.
• Coordinate with the Director of Social Media and Digital Strategy and unit social media directors to promote newsworthy items on digital platforms.
• Coordinate with News Bureau editors align on the promotion of stories and facilitate a focused news media strategy.

Media training

• Maintain and regularly disseminate a media best practices guide for use by faculty and other academics who want to promote their work.
• Develop and administer media training for faculty and staff who engage with the news media.
• Work with campus faculty and staff to promote a well-developed understanding of how their scholarship aligns with the broader context of news media, campus issues and current events.
• Assist in preparing faculty and staff for specific news interviews.

Media analytics

• Work with the Analytics and Alignment team to develop media engagement reports and statistics to inform campus leadership.
• Identify opportunities for media engagement and exposure using sound data-driven tactics.
• Review news media and social media mentions after publication to ensure accuracy, measure impact, and identify trends.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, radio/television broadcasting, web/digital media, or a related field.
• One (1) year (12 months) of professional work experience in public relations, journalism, social media communications, newspaper reporting, radio/television broadcasting with emphasis on production, or web/digital media.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in media or media relations
• Experience editing in AP Style.
• Knowledge of the Urbana-Champaign campus academic and administrative structure, and broad, general knowledge of higher education.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat
• Familiarity with media analytics tools, particularly Meltwater
• Professionalism and ability to interact with senior administrative and academic officials
• Excellent interpersonal skills and organizational abilities
• Ability to work independently while producing accurate work on deadline
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment
• Ability to work in a team-based, collaborative environment
• Deep understanding of the conventions of print, photographic and electronic media
• Superior news judgment; sharp editing and writing skills; and strong research and interviewing ability

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5006 - Public Information Associate position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close date. The budgeted salary range for this position is $50,000 - $70,000. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Please upload your cover letter, resume, and names/contact information for three references, three professional writing samples that demonstrate ability to create compelling content (actual documents or links are both acceptable). To be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. Please note Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position, and this position requires residency in the state of Illinois within 6 months of hire. For further information about this specific position, please contact Pam Steele pamw@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.