Public Affairs Press Assistant

Overall Responsibility:

The Public Affairs Press Assistant will support the America First Policy Institute’s Public Affairs Department in the execution of press relations, media outreach, rapid response, and integrated public affairs campaigns. The Press Assistant will provide day-to-day operational and communications support to ensure AFPI’s policy priorities, experts, research, events, and initiatives are effectively positioned for earned media opportunities.

Working closely with Public Affairs Managers, Rapid Response, Digital, policy teams, and other relevant departments, the Press Assistant will help maintain an organized, proactive, and responsive press operation while supporting AFPI’s broader objective of advancing policy outcomes through strategic communications.

The Press Assistant serves primarily as an execution and coordination role, supporting the strategy and priorities established by Public Affairs leadership and Public Affairs Managers.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Press Relations & Outreach
• Support the execution of AFPI’s national, regional, state, and issue-specific press strategies.
• Identify relevant reporters, producers, editors, columnists, podcast hosts, and other media contacts for AFPI policy priorities and initiatives.
• Maintain and update targeted press lists organized by policy area, geography, outlet, and reporter beat.
• Assist with pitching AFPI experts, policy research, events, statements, op-eds, and other content to appropriate outlets.
• Coordinate interview requests and press opportunities involving AFPI experts and leadership.
• Provide reporters and producers with approved background materials, biographies, research, fact sheets, and supporting information.
• Track reporter inquiries and ensure requests are routed promptly to the appropriate Public Affairs Manager or subject-matter expert.
• Support consistent follow-up and relationship management with reporters and producers.

Press Materials
• Assist in drafting and preparing press releases, media advisories, statements, press notes, talking points, reporter pitches, briefing materials, and other external communications.
• Compile background research and supporting information for interviews and press engagements.
• Ensure press materials are accurate, appropriately formatted, and routed through established review and approval processes.
• Maintain organized files of approved press materials for future reference and rapid deployment.
• Coordinate with Public Affairs Managers and policy experts to verify facts, statistics, citations, and policy information before distribution.

Monitoring & Rapid Response
• Monitor national, regional, state, and issue-specific news relevant to AFPI priorities.
• Identify emerging stories, breaking news, developing narratives, and opportunities that may require Public Affairs engagement.
• Elevate significant developments promptly to the appropriate Public Affairs Manager and Public Affairs leadership.
• Assist with gathering background information, previous AFPI materials, relevant research, and supporting content for rapid-response opportunities.
• Track developing stories and coverage to support timely communications decisions.
• Identify opportunities for AFPI experts to provide commentary, analysis, or policy expertise in response to current events.

Press Tracking & Reporting
• Track earned media placements, interviews, mentions, op-eds, quotes, broadcasts, podcasts, and other press activity involving AFPI.
• Prepare media roundups following major announcements, events, campaigns, and policy initiatives.
• Maintain accurate records of press outreach, responses, interviews, placements, and follow-up actions.
• Support regular reporting on press activity and outcomes.
• Capture links, broadcast clips, screenshots, and other documentation of earned coverage.
• Assist in identifying trends in coverage, reporter engagement, message penetration, and press performance.

Public Affairs Campaign Support
• Support Public Affairs Managers in executing integrated campaigns across press, digital communications, rapid response, events, and stakeholder engagement.
• Participate in campaign planning meetings and maintain awareness of upcoming policy announcements, reports, events, and communications opportunities.
• Assist with press workbacks, timelines, deliverables, and outreach plans associated with priority campaigns.
• Coordinate with Public Affairs team members to ensure press-related tasks, deadlines, and deliverables are accurately reflected in department tracking systems.
• Help ensure press activities align with the objectives, audiences, messaging, and desired outcomes established in approved Public Affairs campaign plans.

Event & On-Site Press Support
• Support press operations for AFPI events, policy forums, Speaker Series events, press conferences, roundtables, and other public-facing programs.
• Assist with press invitations, credentialing, confirmations, check-in, interview coordination, and reporter logistics.
• Prepare and organize press packets, biographies, fact sheets, talking points, and other approved materials.
• Coordinate with Events, Public Affairs, Digital, and other relevant personnel to ensure press requirements are addressed before and during events.
• Track and document resulting press coverage following events.

Internal Coordination
• Work closely with Public Affairs Managers, Rapid Response, Digital, policy experts, Events, and other AFPI departments to support coordinated communications efforts.
• Attend relevant Public Affairs meetings, campaign huddles, and planning sessions.
• Maintain clear communication regarding press opportunities, deadlines, reporter requests, and outstanding action items.
• Follow established Public Affairs workflows and ensure press-related requests and activities are properly documented.
• Support Public Affairs leadership with special projects and communications priorities as assigned.

Role Expectations
• Operate with urgency and sound judgment in a fast-paced news and public policy environment.
• Maintain a strong understanding of AFPI’s policy priorities, research, experts, and current campaigns.
• Exercise discretion when handling internal, embargoed, confidential, or deliberative information.
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail, particularly when working with names, titles, statistics, quotes, dates, and press contacts.
• Communicate professionally with reporters, AFPI leadership, policy experts, and external stakeholders.
• Meet deadlines and proactively communicate when obstacles could affect execution.
• Maintain organized and accurate records of press activities and coverage.
• Understand the distinction between strategy ownership and execution support, elevating strategic decisions to the appropriate Public Affairs Manager or Public Affairs leadership.
• Conduct all work consistent with AFPI’s internal policies, communications standards, and applicable organizational requirements.

Performance & Accountability
• Timely response to press inquiries and opportunities.
• Accuracy and quality of press materials and research.
• Effectiveness and organization of press outreach and follow-up.
• Accuracy and completeness of media tracking and reporting.
• Responsiveness to breaking news and rapid-response needs.
• Consistent execution against campaign deadlines and priorities.
• Quality of coordination with Public Affairs Managers, Rapid Response, Digital, Events, and policy teams.
• Contribution to earned media opportunities that advance approved Public Affairs objectives.
• Adherence to established workflows, approval processes, and organizational standards.

Operating Principle
The Public Affairs Press Assistant supports the execution of AFPI’s press and communications strategy but does not independently set campaign strategy. Public Affairs Managers own the strategic objectives, audiences, narratives, integrated tactics, and desired outcomes for their respective portfolios. The Press Assistant helps translate those priorities into disciplined, timely press activity by ensuring outreach, materials, monitoring, coordination, tracking, and follow-through are executed effectively.
The objective is not simply to generate press activity. The Press Assistant should contribute to communications efforts that strengthen AFPI’s policy campaigns, expand the reach and credibility of AFPI’s experts and research, shape relevant public conversations, and contribute to measurable Public Affairs outcomes

Type of Employment:
Full-Time

Qualifications:
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• An understanding of press relations, journalism, communications, public affairs, or public policy.
• Familiarity with the national and regional news environment and the ability to follow rapidly developing stories.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and competing deadlines.
• Strong research skills and the ability to quickly synthesize information.
• Professional judgment when interacting with reporters and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and functional teams.
• Initiative, responsiveness, discretion, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with media monitoring, press databases, communications tracking systems, and digital platforms is preferred.

Salaries for positions will be commensurate with the experience, expertise, and skills of the individual. Please send a cover letter, resume, salary requirement, writing samples, and references.

AFPI is a non-profit, non-partisan research institute offering competitive salaries and benefits to qualified candidates.