Communications Specialist

Join Our Team

Reason advances a free society by developing, applying, and promoting libertarian principles, including individual liberty, free markets, and the rule of law. We use journalism and public policy research to influence the frameworks and actions of policymakers, journalists, and opinion leaders.

The communications team you'd join helps shape Reason's brand and generate impact by delivering clear, compelling, consistent messaging to critical external and internal audiences. The team manages media relations, crafts and executes outreach campaigns that engage journalists, government officials, and other key stakeholders, and creates content for social media, newsletters and websites. Your writing and attention to detail will help ensure that all communications reflect Reason's mission and goals and improve our effectiveness in reaching and persuading journalists, policymakers, and the public.

About the Role

Reason is seeking a self-motivated Communications Specialist to join our communications team. This role is crucial in developing, writing and executing communications strategies that help Reason achieve its goals and enhance its brand visibility with the media and key target audiences.
You'll be at the forefront of our communications efforts, writing pitches and releases, creating and editing social media and web content, collaborating with teams to identify potential opportunities, and serving as the point of contact for incoming media inquiries. 

The ideal candidate will have excellent writing skills, a strong media or public relations background, an interest in news and policy, and experience building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders. Reporting to the Director of Communications, you will be a key team member, advancing our mission and goals. This is a full-time position with the option to be in-office in Los Angeles, CA, or Washington, DC, or to work virtually anywhere in the US. 

Responsibilities 

• Assist in developing communications, media, and social media strategies to generate external media citations and drive policy changes in core areas. 
• Write and edit pitch emails, news releases, op-eds, website content, social media posts and more. 
• Collaborate with teams to identify potential opportunities to generate earned media citations that raise the profile of Reason's research, reporting, podcasts, publications, and events in ways that are consistent with our brand and mission. 
• Partner with policy analysts to simplify complex ideas and data into concise and compelling messaging, briefs, op-eds, testimonies, social media posts, and other materials to reach government officials, journalists and the public.
• Build and maintain media and outreach email lists on various policy issues. 
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with individual journalists, podcasters, stakeholders, influencers and others.


• Serve as a point of contact for incoming media inquiries.


• Follow daily news cycles, trends and best practices in communications and public relations to identify and take advantage of opportunities to position and raise the profile of Reason and its experts in active public policy debates.


• Assist with the tracking and reporting of media coverage, metrics and impacts to demonstrate the effectiveness of efforts.


Qualifications 

• 2-3 years of experience in communications, media relations, public relations, or journalism. 
• Exceptional writing skills. 
• Knowledge of AP style is preferred.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite products. 
• A proven track record of successful media outreach and op-ed placements is a plus.

• Experience posting on social media platforms, using public relations databases and software, mass email platforms, and other tools is a plus.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities and tight deadlines. 
• Work on occasional nights and weekends may be needed.
• General alignment with Reason Foundation’s mission to advance a free society by developing, applying, and promoting libertarian principles, including individual liberty, free markets, and the rule of law.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following materials in one PDF document: 

• A cover letter detailing your alignment with Reason’s mission, your interest in the position, and how your experience has prepared you for this role.
• Resume 
• Candidates may be asked to complete a short writing test as part of our hiring process.

Applications should be submitted to https://reason.org/jobs-apply/. 

Any questions can be directed to Lydia Ocampo, Talent Coordinator, who is managing the search process: [email protected]. 

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.