Major Responsibilities

• Under the direction of the director of public affairs and in accordance with the Public Affairs Core Purpose, oversee the day-to-day work of building strategic relationships with key media representatives.
• Implement the Three-Step Process for Building Relationships with Opinion Leaders, adjusted as appropriate for media opinion leaders.
• Serve as the Church’s local contact for media, fielding calls, providing information, and arranging interviews when appropriate.
• Visit the Church Newsroom for News Media regularly to stay abreast of current Church activities and public statements.
• Write and gain approval to distribute appropriate news releases or news or feature story ideas to local media. (Note: Locally produced or published stories of national or international interest may be forwarded to the Public Affairs Department for possible inclusion on www.newsroom.lds.org. Stories from outside the United States and Canada may also be considered for use on the "Newsroom" section of their respective country Web sites.)
• Help prepare designated spokesperson(s) for interviews and media briefings and accompany spokesperson(s) to interviews (in coordination with the director of public affairs).
• Contact journalists, when necessary, to correct significant inaccuracies in their news reports.
• Maintain a confidential record or database of all interactions with media representatives.
• Help plan and implement all projects and activities of the public affairs council.
• Maintain an inventory of informational materials that can be used in visits with media.
• Participate with council members in evaluating council activities.
• Help prepare annual plans and budget requests for submission to the priesthood adviser for approval.

Accountability

• Report to the director of public affairs.

Training and Support

• Receive training and support from the priesthood adviser and through this Web site.