MEDIA: media asst. job opportunity

[Neil Tangri <ntangri@essential.org>]

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HCWH MEDIA/COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is seeking an experienced, energetic and enthusiastic Media/Communications Assistant to help to increase media awareness and coverage of our work. 

HCWH is a broad-based international campaign designed to reform the environmental practices of the health care industry. This includes educating the media and the public about dioxin and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the health care industry's contribution to these problems; advocating for policies to eliminate the indiscriminate incineration of medical waste; changing purchasing and materials management practices of hospitals and purchasing groups; supporting local campaigns to oppose medical waste incinerators and reform local hospitals; 
researching and advocating safer waste treatment alternatives; and building a broader environmental health movement.

The Health Care without Harm Media/Communications Assistant will 
* help to draft and implement the HCWH media plan; 
* build and maintain relationships with radio, television and print journalists and producers; 
* produce media kits, including press advisories, press releases, background materials; 
* pitch stories to reporters and producers; 
* help to increase the number and quality of feature and news stories about HCWH in the media, 
* monitor press coverage; 
* assist local HCWH member groups with the local media relationships; 
* respond to media inquiries.

Other possible tasks might include formatting and loading HCWH publications to our web site;  participating in conference calls to help frame concepts, story ideas; filing; maintaining databases; preparing training materials for HCWH member groups; and participating in and assisting with media trainings; etc. Qualified applicants must have a minimum of two years of professional media/communications 
experience at the national and local levels. This includes experience in mounting and implementing strategic media campaigns (story placement and development in print, radio and television; tracking stories; responding to coverage in news outlets, extensive interaction with national and local reporters and producers). Other important qualifications include excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to work with diverse groups of people, including community activists, farmers, religious leaders and health professionals as well as members of the media; computer/internet proficiency; and ability to work under deadline and with group decision-making. Knowledge of environmental and/or medical issues, fluency in Spanish or French will also be considered.

People of color strongly encouraged to apply. Salary based on qualifications. Benefits include sick/vacation pay, health insurance. Some travel may be required. 
This full-time position will work directly with the HCWH Communications Coordinator, based at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in Minneapolis, as well as with campaign coordinators in Boston, MA and Falls Church, VA. Please send resume/curriculum vitae and two samples of your previous media work (press kits, media advisories, press releases, etc.) by September 15, 1999 to 

Jackie Hunt Christensen,
Health Care Without Harm
c/o IATP
2105 1st Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55404.
Fax: 612-870-3424
Noharm@iatp.org
No calls please.





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Neil TANGRI