Communications Associate

Founded in 1981, the Committee to Protect Journalists (“CPJ”) is an independent, non-profit organization defending journalists worldwide without regard to their political ideology. Through its work to safeguard journalists, CPJ protects the rights of all people to have access to diverse and independent sources of information. For over four decades, CPJ has helped win the early release of imprisoned journalists, secure convictions in journalist murders, and enable legal reform in countries where free expression has deteriorated. CPJ’s widely cited database and reports have raised global awareness of attacks on press freedom.

At CPJ, we are dedicated to upholding values of equity and free expression in both our internal operations and external endeavors. As a global organization headquartered in the United States, we aspire to build a diverse workplace and foster an inclusive and welcoming environment. We strive for our people to be representative of the global community on which we report and to equip them with the opportunities and resources they need to learn and succeed.

The Communications Associate develops and implements communications strategies to maximize the impact of CPJ’s work in defense of press freedom worldwide. This position is an integral part of the Communications Department and collaborates with programmatic teams across the organization to ensure that CPJ’s reporting, expertise and advocacy goals achieve maximum reach. Media relations and social media experience, excellent news judgment, the ability to work independently and proactively, and a commitment to press freedom are essential to succeed in this role. This position reports to the Communications Director and will be based in Europe with a preference for the UK; other locations will be considered.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the implementation of CPJ’s media and outreach strategy.
• Support CPJ’s global media relations including daily handling of CPJ’s press inbox, cultivating relationships with journalists, pitching op-eds, fielding media queries, and supporting media interviews.
• Draft, proofread, format, and distribute press materials; produce promotional materials and web content, and contribute to social media messaging.
• Monitor daily news and opinion from the sector and related areas to identify key opportunities for rapid response and detect potential reputational risks; recommend target groups, beats, or media communities where CPJ should increase engagement or outreach.
• Responsible for operating as the communications team's first responder amid breaking news occurring in the Europe time zone. Support the media component of report launches, missions, campaigns.
• Manage and maintain CPJ’s global media database, and coordinate with regional teams on the inclusion and organization of their contacts.
• Deliver communications guidance to regional programs and support the digital communications team to manage CPJ’s homepage and the publication of time-sensitive digital communications across social media.
• Enhance and maintain a framework for tracking requests, pitches, and media interactions; produce analysis and project-specific reports.
• Analyze the data and make recommendations for the design and implementation of project, region, or initiative-specific communications strategies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Competencies:

Required:

• A deep interest in and commitment to press freedom.
• At least 3-5 years experience working directly with journalists, including global media; good news judgment and political awareness.
• A clear understanding of media relations, campaigning, and the role of strategic communications in advancing advocacy.
• Impeccable writing and editing skills with proven ability to translate complex issues into succinct, accessible language for multiple audiences.
• Strong project management skills, meticulous attention to detail, and demonstrated ability to set priorities and complete tasks promptly.
• Comfortable working on tight deadlines with the ability to multitask and prioritise.
• Independent yet collaborative approach; reliable team player adept at working with remote management and staff.
• Experience with platforms like Mailchimp and WordPress.
• Able to travel to the United States, typically 1 trip per year.

Preferred:

• A bachelor or master’s degree in communications, journalism, international relations, or a related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Non-profit experience with global scope working on policy-relevant issues.
• International experience and at least one additional language.

Physical Requirements:

This position’s physical demands reflect work in a typical office setting. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Work Location:

This position is located in Europe, with a preference for candidates based in the UK, and is classified as fully remote. Availability to work and attend meetings on the US Eastern time zone as needed is required.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

CPJ provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.