External Affairs Associate

Media Matters for America—a progressive, Washington, D.C.-based, nonprofit research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media—seeks a candidate with advocacy, communications and/or administrative experience supporting a fast-paced team to serve as the External Affairs Associate.

This is a full-time position and is remote. Remote work can be done anywhere from within the United States, including our Washington, DC office. 

In order to maintain a safe and healthy workplace, Media Matters employees accessing our DC office are required to provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 as defined by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Media Matters will discuss reasonable accommodations with employees who may be unable to receive a vaccine due to disabilities or medical status, and/or employees with religious objections or concerns that may prohibit them from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine

Role Summary: 

The External Affairs Associate is a member of the External Affairs team, supporting and advancing Media Matters’ mission with external partners. The External Affairs Associate provides department support for advocacy initiatives, assisting with the day-to-day execution of Media Matters’ original campaigns and supporting new and existing advocacy efforts leveraged by progressive movement partners and other external stakeholders. The External Affairs Associate also helps identify new opportunities for meaningful action in support of the mission and provides administrative and logistical support for the External Affairs department, including assistance with tracking, documenting, and communicating the team’s impact. 

Reporting Structure:

• The External Affairs Associate reports to the Director of External Affairs.  
• This is a non-managerial position. 

Responsibilities:

Advocacy and Communications Support and Outreach

• Oversees all administrative tasks for the external affairs team including daily scheduling of department meetings, and providing logistics support for organizational events. 
• Updates and maintains internal organizational documents, as needed, to ensure that information stays current and processes are up-to-date.
  • Leads on drafting weekly reports of highlights from the department and quarterly success documents, which also includes tracking key uses of Media Matters data and research among partners and external stakeholders.  
• Assists in pulling together and conducting trainings and briefings that equip activists to advance campaigns, and supporting independent individual and organizational efforts aligned with Media Matters’ mission.
• Identifies and pitches conferences, speaking opportunities, and other high-profile opportunities for the organization and MMFA staff members.
• Attends daily and or weekly movement calls to get a grasp on the current issues, campaigns, initiatives and conversations within the progressive movement 
• Assists in responding to general incoming partner and external stakeholder requests, including working cross departmentally to fulfill research or campaign requests.
• Creates, oversees and maintains a database to help the External Affairs department track external stakeholder and partner/organizational distribution lists, including:
  • Regularly updating and identifying external stakeholder and partner organization contact information as needed; 
  • Proactively identifying  and tracking established and new contacts in federal and state congressional and legislative positions to add to existing lists; 
  • Finding and tracking U.S. House and Senate committee hearings that would benefit from integrating MMFA’s research and expertise
  • Assist in seeking out and cultivating relationships with contacts to generate new relationships that will help advance and support Media Matters’ goals, research and reputation. 
• Creates and maintains an effective feedback loop by sharing imperative information collected from partner and external stakeholder meetings, webinars, etc. 

Collateral Creation

• Drafts daily and or weekly advocacy-focused partner outreach email blasts; helps coordinate the creation of campaign assets, including sample social media language/content, graphics, videos, ads, swag, supplies for virtual and or in-person activations, and other collateral; and helps oversee the promotion of Media Matters’ actions on our website.  
  • Track news and emerging narratives as well as information shared on partner and external stakeholder calls and emails related to Media Matters’ priorities to offer recommendations for outreach emails and or other correspondence to advance the organization’s mission. 

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in communications/journalism, and or progressive grassroots or grasstops advocacy
• Strong and holistic understanding of the progressive movement, key stakeholders and the top fights they’re engaged in
• Strong, fast writer with an ability to quickly synthesize information about new topics
• Understanding of the 24-hour news cycle, the online information ecosystem, and how conservative misinformation affects our public debate
• Alignment with Media Matters’ work culture, including:
  • Interest in media and the effects conservative misinformation has on our public debate, and an understanding of Media Matters’ mission and work
  • Ability to operate effectively both independently and in a team setting
  • Demonstrated ability to meet tight deadlines on a daily basis, organize long-lead projects, and quickly adapt to new challenges in a fast-paced news cycle
  • Receptivity and responsiveness to both concrete and abstract feedback
  • Dedication to accuracy, with the ability to prioritize and give keen attention to detail  
• Experience using media database tools including Cision, BuzzSumo, Meltwater, etc. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Excel and Word, and Google Workspace programs.
• Experience in a remote work environment is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits: Media Matters for America offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary for this position starts at $49,00 and is commensurate with experience.

Media Matters offers multiple health insurance options, including a no-cost option for employees and vision and dental coverage, in addition to a monthly student loan repayment benefit and a safe harbor automatic 3% contribution to a 401(k) account on the employees behalf. We also offer additional relocation stipends, work-from-home transitional support benefits, and a supplemental payment of $2,250 per year for employees that choose to work at least 60% of the time from the Washington, DC office. 

Additionally, we offer generous paid-time off, including 10 days of vacation (increasing each year, up to 21 days in/after an employee’s fifth year at Media Matters), 12 paid holidays, 2 personal floating holidays, 3 wellness days, and 12 sick days per year; we also traditionally close the week between Christmas and New Years Day. 

This position is part of the Media Matters Union represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 500. 

Essential Physical Requirements 

The physical demands of the position include regular work on a computer for all or part of the work day, as well as regular communication with colleagues, both verbally and in writing, using tools such as email, Slack, and audio and video conferencing. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions, including the use of assistive technology. 

How to Apply:

Please visit https://www.mediamatters.org/jobs to apply through our online portal. No phone calls, please. 

Media Matters for America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or disability. 

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.