The Internet Archive, a nonprofit digital library based in San Francisco, is looking for a Media Relations Manager to help spread the word about our mission: providing universal access to knowledge. We believe that access to knowledge is a fundamental human right. For 25 years, we have been building a Library of Alexandria for the digital age, preserving billions of web pages, books, audio, films, software, games, television--and making them available to all. If you are a media relations professional or a journalist ready to move into advocating for open knowledge, this is the dream job for you. 


The successful candidate will have strong networking, writing and editorial skills to elevate and amplify the stories of the Internet Archive. You love pitching stories, understand the news angles of the work we do, and accept rejection with a smile. You are committed to responding to reporter inquiries quickly, whenever and however they arise. You are an outgoing person who can build relationships with journalists over many years and proactively pursue media opportunities, while also promptly handling the press requests that come in organically. 


The Media Relations Manager will develop communications plans to strengthen the Internet Archive’s story and amplify its brand, initiatives, and campaigns. Ideally, your experience should include both proactive press outreach and reactive rapid response in crisis communications situations. 


The Media Relations Manager reports to the Director of Partnerships and will work closely with the Internet Archive’s content creators, writers, social media strategists and leadership team to tell our story, defend  the Internet Archive’s reputation and extend our reach. 


Your daily responsibilities will include handling the constant flow of media inquiries coming in, forming communications strategy, crafting and editing content, building strong relationships with journalists and pitching stories to them, monitoring mentions of us across all platforms and managing the Archive’s reputation within the media. You will be building press database systems from scratch, so the successful candidate will have strong organizational and planning skills.


In this our 25th Anniversary year, you will also be a major contributor to generating positive press around the world about the Internet Archive’s impact and future. 


Responsibilities:

  • Providing prompt, friendly, and comprehensive assistance to reporter requests about the Internet Archive and its issue areas;

  • Monitoring and documenting press coverage about the Internet Archive;

  • Writing clear and concise blog posts and press releases about IA's work;

  • Editing and drafting materials including press releases, op-eds, blogs, pitch notes that highlight the Internet Archive’s goals and projects, while underlining our connection to wider news trends and topics;

  • Creating and managing target media lists; 

  • Actively pursuing and fostering relationships with media and other reporters to promote Internet Archive staff as thought leaders on a range of topics beyond our day-to-day work;

  • Conducting media training sessions with internal staff to help prepare them for interviews;

  • Handling rapid response and crisis communication to protect the perception and reputation of the organization and the library profession;

  • Working with the IA’s social media team to update our social media networks with news about IA's issues;

  • Monitoring the news and social media to identify stories where our staff can offer expert insight;

  • Creating and maintaining systems and databases of media contacts & previous coverage;

  • Identifying IA initiatives that are ready for media attention and assisting in project promotion.


Requirements:

  • Minimum of 5 years of journalism or media relations experience;

  • Excellent writing skills with experience meeting tight deadlines;

  • Exceptional interpersonal skills on the phone and in email;

  • Ability to organize and prioritize competing tasks in a rapid-fire work environment;

  • Experience in editing, story formation, or story placement in online or offline media;

  • Passion for open knowledge;

  • Ability to write and edit collaboratively; 

  • Willingness to work some non-standard hours during breaking news-events;

  • Ability to work during standard work hours for the US;


Strongly preferred:

  • Knowledge of and connections with global media, technology, and open knowledge ecosystems;

  • Writing about complex copyright or technology issues for wide publication to a lay audience;

  • Experience and knowledge of media tools and digital communications platforms, audiences and engagement strategies;

  • Experience organizing public relations, activism, or advocacy campaigns;

  • Writing and regularly updating a blog and interacting with readers and commenters; 

  • Building and maintaining a strong social media presence;

  • Experience working with global nonprofit, media or technology service organizations;

  • Public speaking or broadcast experience;

  • Experience in journalism, writing, reporting, producing quick turnaround news;

  • Fluency or familiarity with languages in addition to English.


Qualities that are important to us:

  • Self-motivation and high standards;

  • Willingness to be responsive to reporter requests at all times; 

  • Resilience in the face of rejection;

  • Positive, can-do attitude;

  • Being open, curious, and eager to understand our work;

  • Creativity and passion in areas beyond work;

  • Collaborative spirit and excellent team player;

  • Willingness to pivot;

  • Sharing a culture of constructive criticism and respect.


This is a full-time staff position, performed remotely. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample to archive.org/jobs. Feel free to include links to additional supporting materials, as well.  No phone calls please!

About the Internet Archive: a non-profit library, headquartered in San Francisco, with an ambitious mission: to provide universal access to all knowledge -- the books, Web pages, audio, television and software of our shared human culture. Our engineers, archivists, librarians, and team members have built one of the top 300 websites in the world, https://archive.org/. Internet Archive digitizes thousands of books a day and collects a hundred million web pages a week. In its 25 years, the Internet Archive team has built one of the largest digital libraries in the world by working with national and international libraries, archives, museums, universities, and nonprofits.

Benefits & Perks:

The Internet Archive is a remote first workplace and provides a comprehensive benefits package including; PTO, paid holidays, and medical benefits. Depending on where you live, we also provide these additional benefits; dental, vision, health savings accounts, flex spending accounts, commuter benefits, short term disability, long term disability and retirement programs.


At the Internet Archive, we believe we do our best work when our employees bring together diverse ideas. Members of all groups under represented in the tech industry and library world are strongly encouraged to apply. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
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