Press Secretary

Description

We Are NEXT is seeking volunteer Press Secretaries to help manage media relations, field press inquiries, prepare public statements, and ensure that We Are NEXT communicates clearly, professionally, and consistently with journalists, media outlets, civic partners, and the public.

This role is ideal for someone who is calm under pressure, politically aware, an excellent writer, and able to translate complex policy, organizational, and civic issues into clear public messaging. The Press Secretary will help protect the organization’s credibility, strengthen its public presence, and support timely, values‑aligned communication across media and public channels.

Responsibilities

• Field incoming press inquiries from journalists, media outlets, podcasts, newsletters, and civic media partners
• Coordinate timely responses to media requests by gathering facts, confirming approved messaging, and routing sensitive inquiries to the appropriate organizational leaders
• Draft press statements, media responses, talking points, quotes, background language, media advisories, and briefing materials
• Prepare leadership, spokespeople, and subject‑matter experts for interviews, public appearances, panels, and media conversations
• Monitor news coverage, public narratives, policy developments, and media trends relevant to We Are NEXT’s mission, policy priorities, and public presence
• Partner with communications, policy, legal, recruitment, operations, and executive leadership teams to ensure public messaging is accurate, timely, values‑aligned, and strategically sound
• Maintain a media inquiry tracker documenting requests, deadlines, outlet information, spokesperson assignments, status, and final responses
• Help develop and maintain press protocols, approval workflows, message guidance, crisis communication procedures, and media response standards
• Support proactive media outreach by identifying relevant reporters, outlets, civic publications, podcasts, newsletters, and public‑interest media opportunities
• Review external communications for clarity, tone, factual accuracy, consistency, and alignment with We Are NEXT’s mission, values, and approved messaging
• Assist with rapid‑response communications when public events, policy developments, or organizational priorities require timely public comment
• Create simple documentation so future volunteers can understand media workflows, spokesperson protocols, approval steps, and press response expectations

Qualifications

• Experience in press, communications, journalism, public affairs, media relations, political communications, public policy, advocacy, nonprofit communications, or a related field
• Strong writing, editing, messaging, and judgment, with the ability to produce clear public‑facing language quickly and accurately
• Comfort fielding press inquiries, coordinating internal responses, and managing sensitive or time‑bound communication requests
• Ability to translate complex policy, civic, legal, or organizational topics into concise, accessible messaging for public audiences
• Strong understanding of media dynamics, reporter needs, deadlines, public narratives, and reputation management
• Excellent discretion, confidentiality, professionalism, and ability to remain calm under pressure
• Comfort collaborating with volunteers, leadership, policy teams, communications teams, and nontechnical stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail, follow‑through, documentation habits, and ability to manage multiple requests at once
• Ability to work independently in a remote, volunteer‑led environment
• Interest in civic engagement, democracy, public policy, government accountability, social impact, progressive politics, or community‑based work
• Helpful but not required: experience with press offices, campaigns, government affairs, elected officials, advocacy organizations, crisis communications, media monitoring, public statements, op‑eds, speechwriting, journalism, nonprofit communications, political science, public policy, or grassroots organizations

What Success Looks Like

• Press inquiries are acknowledged, organized, routed, and responded to in a timely and professional manner
• We Are NEXT’s public messaging is clearer, more consistent, more disciplined, and more aligned with organizational values
• Leaders and spokespeople are better prepared for interviews, public appearances, and media conversations
• Media requests are tracked, prioritized, and documented so the work does not depend on one person
• Public statements, talking points, and press materials are accurate, accessible, credible, and mission‑aligned
• We Are NEXT builds stronger relationships with journalists, civic media, policy reporters, and public‑interest outlets
• Communications remain professional, values‑aligned, and calm during high‑pressure or fast‑moving public moments

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a steady, sharp, and mission‑driven communicator who understands that good press work requires speed, discipline, accuracy, and judgment. You do not need to be a professional political press secretary, but you should be comfortable writing for public audiences, managing sensitive inquiries, and helping a growing volunteer organization speak with clarity and credibility.

This is a strong fit for someone who is organized, composed, politically aware, responsive, collaborative, and motivated by the opportunity to support civic infrastructure, democratic engagement, and responsible public communication.

Location

Remote Volunteers can be anywhere in the United States.

Instructions for Applying

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legally reside in the U.S. to qualify for consideration.

Please fill out this form to apply: https://project2029.app.neoncrm.com/forms/join-project-2029