Science & Engineering Editor

Department and Salary

Department: Global Marketing/Communication
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

The primary focus of the Office of Global Marketing and Communications (OGMC) is communicating Northwestern's academic agenda—to all internal and external audiences—in order to strengthen the University’s identity and improve its reputation among peers, potential students, and the public.

The Science and Engineering Editor is responsible for promoting the research of Northwestern University physical scientists and engineers to national, global, and local media, and for procuring coverage in top news outlets. This versatile writer/editor will pitch individual reporters on groundbreaking new research and write press releases to promote important studies that will be published in peer‑reviewed journals. The ability to translate complicated research into accessible language is essential to the position.

The editor also contributes stories about trending research efforts across schools and units at Northwestern.

The writer/editor writes media advisories to promote Northwestern faculty experts who can comment on breaking news related to the science and engineering beat. This role requires the ability to communicate effectively with some of the world’s top researchers and to stay on top of relevant science and technology news. The editor must have a strong understanding of the news gathering process and experience working with reporters on deadline.

This position will be a hybrid schedule—three days per week in the office, based in Evanston, Illinois.

Note:

Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Cover letter required for consideration.

• Serve as one of two primary media contacts for the physical and life sciences in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and the McCormick School of Engineering.
• Develop relationships with science and technology reporters and know their particular interests and beats; learn the media landscape to identify important outlets (print, broadcast, digital).
• Proactively contact reporters and pitch media outlets across local, national, and global media landscapes, including tier‑one outlets.
• Match faculty with breaking news stories to place faculty as expert commentators in the media; connect reporters with faculty expert sources for stories.
• Work with scientists and engineers to translate complicated research into lay language that is accessible to reporters and the public.
• Engage in ongoing and frequent outreach to physical/life science and engineering faculty to learn about upcoming research for publication.
• Write and send press releases (under embargo when possible) and media advisories about key research and other news and events from the science and engineering beat; write clear, concise, and engaging content with strong headlines and leads in Associated Press style and house style.
• Use and maintain a database (Cision) of media contacts and lists for press release distribution.
• Collaborate with fellow editors in media relations within OGMC.
• Partner with communications team members at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and the McCormick School of Engineering.
• Collaborate with communications team members at the Office for Research and with Northwestern research centers and institutes related to the science and engineering beat, such as the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics and the International Institute for Nanotechnology.
• Post press releases and media advisories on OGMC’s internal news channels, including the “Northwestern Now” and “For Journalists” websites; create press kits, including multimedia, for releases posted on the “For Journalists” website.
• Participate in media training of faculty, as needed.
• Coordinate and staff onsite broadcast shoots between science and engineering faculty and media, when necessary.

• Minimum of five years of applicable experience in journalism, media relations, or marketing/communications roles.
• Undergraduate degree in journalism, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent experience (preferred but not required).
• Experience writing…