Posted On: November 13, 2019

Media-Related Job

Media Organization: New York City Department of Corrections (DOC)

Company Description

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards the smallest jail system possible without compromising public safety. The DOC is solely responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff, visitors, volunteers and people in custody inside our jails. Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to providing people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with over 12,000 diverse professionals and knowledge experts.

Job Description

The DOC seeks to recruit a Press Officer. The candidate will work closely with the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information and will be responsible for handling all inquiries from the press. The incumbent will be required to handle high volume inquiries from reporters, members of the public, stakeholders, and is responsible for communicating complex, confidential and nuanced issues with clarity and accuracy.

The Press Officer job duties and responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:
• Serve as the lead contacts for the NYC Department of Correction in responding to calls from the press;
• Actively pitch positive news stories to reporters from local and citywide publications and websites;
• Compose press releases, advisories, speeches, talking points, related presentations, and information;
• Prepare senior leaders for media interviews and public events;
• Maintain and expand an extensive list of media contacts, build relationships with reporters and media outlet to ensure accurate coverage of DOC initiatives;
• Help to plan and manage frequent events for staff and stakeholders;
• Participating in on-call weekly rotation on nights and weekends responding to press inquiries;
• Write and edit content for in-house communication tools including websites, social media platforms, publications and newsletters;
• Respond to a variety of public information inquiries;
• Effectively communicate to internal and external parties;
• Perform related work and special projects

Minimum Requirements

1. A Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with 24 credits in English, journalism or public relations, plus five (5) years of full-time paid experience in public relations, journalism or advertising, including two (2) years in an administrative, supervisory or consultative capacity; or
2. A combination of education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above. Graduate study in English, journalism, or public relations may be substituted for up to one year of required experience. However, all candidates must have at least two (2) years of administrative, supervisory, or consultative experience in public relations, journalism or advertising

Preferred Skills

• Possess experience as a journalist or as a communications specialist in handling calls from the press;
• Be a self-directed individual with the proven ability to take initiative as a problem solver;
• Be capable of multi-tasking and handling high-stress crisis communications situations;
• Possess the ability to operate in a high-volume, deadline driven environment;
• Understand and communicate information about sensitive criminal justice issues.
• Familiarity with shooting and editing video.

Additional Information new info

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO APPLICANTS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE OPEN COMPETITIVE ADMINISTRATIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST EXAM #8051, OR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY PERMANENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST TITLE. PLEASE INDICATE IN YOUR COVER LETTER IF YOU HAVE TAKEN THE EXAM OR ALREADY PERMANENT IN THE ASSOCIATE CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR TITLE.

To Apply

To apply go to www.nyc.gov/careers and search for the JOB ID
You can also click on https://a127-jobs.nyc.gov/index_new.html?agency=072 to see all current openings.