Communications Assistant

Media Relations

Location: Washington, DC

 

Independent Women seeks a full-time Communications Assistant to join our fast-paced, high-performing Media Relations team in Washington, DC. 

We operate like a newsroom. Every day brings new developments, rapid response moments, strategic pitching opportunities, and high-stakes media engagement. Our team is deeply connected and relentlessly driven to win the narrative. 

The role is ideal for a motivated, early-career communications professional who wants to break into high-level media relations, thrives under pressure, and is eager to contribute to drive media coverage, elevate storytelling initiatives, and expand the reach of our policy and education campaigns. 

If you want a slow, predictable communications job—this is not it. If you want to learn the craft of strategic media and help shape national conversations, keep reading.

The Communications Assistant will be passionate about advancing the Independent Women mission and aligned with our approach to policy issues.

She will proactively develop media outreach materials, maintain a robust rolodex of media contacts, ensure necessary media training and prep support for spokeswomen, and provide on-the-ground support at media events and for media opportunities.

While Independent Women operates as a virtual office, this position requires a heavy ground presence in the Washington, DC, area.

 

Key Responsibilities

Media Relations & Partnerships

• Maintain and expand robust and organized press lists across broadcast and print media
• Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, talking points, booking pitches, and background materials
• Assist in pitching and placements of op-eds written by spokeswomen
• Generate media kits, production elements, and one-pagers for the communications team’s day-to-day booking of spokeswomen and for media outreach on special projects
• Help media relations team with outreach to media contacts across print, broadcast, digital, radio, podcast, media influencers, and new media platforms
• Develop and maintain relationships with reporters, bookers, producers, editors, and new media contacts
• Assist in pitching and coordinating partnerships for special documentary productions and other long-form new media projects
• Monitor the news cycle to help identify timely media opportunities and support communications team rapid response efforts
• Manage media booking calendar needs for Independent Women spokeswomen
• Assist as needed with any scripts needed for video productions to elevate media partnerships and generate media opportunities
• Maintain organized folders of photos, event footage, and other video production elements so that they are media ready for short programming packages for bookers and producers ahead of interviews
• Manage content posting and media engagement on Substack platform

 

On-the-Ground Media Execution

• Provide in-person media support at press conferences, media salon dinners, media rows, press gaggles, media avails, pen and pads, townhalls, roundtables, live hits, policy events, and other coalition or partner activations
• Be present for and help coordinate IW Features’ media rows, managing interview flow, timing, and reporter engagement
• Facilitate and staff on-site media interviews and ensure talent and spokespeople are fully prepped
• Serve as a communications staff representative of the organization in media settings, reporting back to the communications department
• Attend and help take and distribute notes for any coalition or surrogate briefing in which a comms representative is necessary
• Assist in pre- and post-production needs for media events
  
  

Media Training and Studio Prep

• Assist with media trainings to prepare staff, storytellers, ambassadors, and fellows for media appearances, including helping draft and conduct mock interviews and thorough message preparation
• Help distribute post media-training follow up materials and resources
• Coordinate any professional at home-studio set-up and maintenance for spokeswomen
• Assist and equip spokeswomen with any additional tech or set-up needs for virtual interviews
  
  

Tracking & Impact Reporting

• Lead daily tracking of print and broadcast coverage and flag high-impact placements
• Manage media clipping, reporting systems, and performance analytics
• Track documentary and feature impact metrics to inform future strategy
• Compile, track, and assess ambassador and surrogate media activity
• Assist in gathering metrics for impact reports
• Ensure impact data is accessible, adding color commentary to reports
• Assist in compiling impact for outreach to the White House, Capitol Hill, states, and coalitions for additional collaboration and amplification
• Draft case studies of media impact for use across departments

 

What Success Looks Like

• Securing consistent, meaningful media placements aligned with strategic priorities
• Executing seamless on-the-ground media coordination
• Contributing to confident, well-prepared spokespeople
• Maintaining accurate, actionable reporting that informs communications strategy
• Producing compelling, persuasive, and error-free messaging
  
  

Qualifications

• Commitment to conservative policy principles and shaping public preferences, policies, and movements
• 1–2 years of experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, or related field
• Based in Washington, DC, with availability for in-person media and event support
• Strong writing skills
• Experience engaging with media
• Familiarity with media tracking and analytics tools
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Self-starter who thrives both independently and collaboratively
• High attention to detail and strong execution mindset