Senior Director/Director, Media Relations

The American Gaming Association (AGA) seeks a Senior Director/Director, Media Relations to manage the AGA’s earned media efforts. As an integral member of the strategic communications team, the senior director/director is primarily responsible for advancing the industry through trade, regional and national media engagement.

Reporting to the senior vice president, strategic communications, the senior director/director works to promote the dynamic gaming industry through proactive communications efforts. We are looking for an energetic team player with strong self-management skills and experience working at an association or agency. Candidates should be eager to work in a fast-paced environment and able to manage a diverse workload with competing deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with reporters, editors and outlets.
• Pitch and secure regular coverage in trade, regional and national outlets to advance the industry narrative, ensure AGA inclusion in topical news coverage, and advance storylines that support AGA advocacy efforts.
• Lead writing and editing of compelling media materials including, but not limited to, pitches, messaging, press releases, advisories, letters to the editor, op-eds, quotes and guest columns.
• Provide day-to-day direction to AGA strategic communications agency.
• Manage incoming inquiries on a timely basis by determining relevance, recommending appropriate response, and navigating internal approvals.
• Lead briefing of AGA spokespeople by developing messaging and materials and managing principals through interview process.
• Speak on background to frame the industry’s narrative.
• Identify actionable trends from news cycle and ensure accurate representation of AGA messaging and research.
• Build and maintain media lists.
• Lead writing and editing of compelling member communication across various topics.
• Engage member company peers on collaborative earned media and other programmatic campaigns.
• Spearhead the AGA’s media relations efforts on-site at G2E, the premier international gaming trade event annually.
• Develop speeches and/or talking points for AGA principals and senior staff addressing certain external audiences,
• Support the Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications with ad hoc media and communication projects.



Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Four to eight years’ media relations and communication experience.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to tailor a message to a variety of audiences.
• Concise, persuasive writer with demonstrable experience in writing and placing op-eds, letters to the editor, and thought leadership content.
• Strong project management skills including the ability to effectively juggle multiple, shifting priorities.
• Superior organization skills and attention to detail.
• Effective presence with senior-level leaders.
• Proven experience at securing top-tier media including television, national print outlets and digital programming.
• Command of AP Style and familiarity with Cision, TVEyes and WordPress.