Media Relations Assistant, Foreign and Defense Policy

• Promote AEI’s Foreign and Defense Policy (FDP) scholars and their work to selected members of the media, including print and online journalists; beat reporters; columnists; reporters and editors working for specialized trade publications, wire services, and national news bureaus; TV and radio hosts; correspondents; producers; and members of foreign outlets.
• Integrate FDP scholars and their work into the national conversation by monitoring current events and news coverage of foreign policy, defense issues, and national security; pitching scholars’ work to reporters and broadcast journalists; coordinating the resulting interviews; and tracking all print, television, radio, and online coverage and commentary.
• Distill scholars’ work, which often discusses complex policy issues, into shorter formats that members of the media can easily digest.
• Build relationships with all FDP scholars and identify general publicity goals (including a list of targeted media outlets). For each long-term project, promote books, reports, and events.
• Arrange media briefings and dinners between AEI scholars and journalists.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for media requests involving AEI scholars who specialize in national security and foreign and defense policy.
• Draft press pitches and releases about FDP scholars and their work.
• Edit op-eds and other commentary, and submit them on scholars’ behalf.
• Arrange TV and radio interviews of FDP scholars.
• Brainstorm and execute major promotional efforts for special publications and projects by coordinating with other members of the communications team (including in the Design, Digital Strategy, and Video departments).
• Work with AEI’s Critical Threats Project on strategies for promoting the project’s research.

• The employee is regularly expected to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard. This job requires close-up vision for computer work.

• The employee must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.

• The employee must be able to work in a confined area.

• Moderate noise (e.g., from computers, phones, printers, and light traffic) is expected.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities associated with this position.

• A bachelor’s degree is required. A degree in international relations, history, English, or political science is preferred.
• Candidates should have 0–2 years of previous applicable full-time work experience; previous internship experience is strongly preferred.
• Candidates must have the following:

• Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to work well on a team;
• An interest in current events and major policy debates;
• An understanding of news media needs and processes and what defines news;
• An interest in and knowledge of the legislative process;
• Assertiveness, creativity, and confidence in pitching AEI scholars and their work to the media;
• The ability to think strategically and plan comprehensive media and marketing campaigns; and
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, and Word. Experience working with HubSpot, Marketo (or a similar email marketing platform), Salesforce, and SharePoint and familiarity with Chicago style are pluses.
• Candidates should be able to establish and maintain effective relationships with AEI scholars and well-known, important members of the national media. Existing contacts with members of the media are a plus.
• Experience working in a Washington, DC, newsroom or press office is a plus, as is a special interest or focus in national security or foreign and defense policy studies.
• An understanding of the social media landscape (especially as it relates to media, policy, and politics) is a plus.
• Knowledge of TV studio equipment is useful.

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