Student Communications Assistant

Title: Student Communications Assistant

Employee Classification:

Division Name: Presidential

Department: Media Relations

The Office of Media Relations and Strategic Communications (MRSC) at Illinois State University is seeking a student to assist with day-to-day operations. This position provides hands-on experience in university communications while helping the office tell Illinois State University’s story, monitor issues affecting higher education, and communicate effectively with campus audiences.

Areas of focus may include:

1. Media monitoring and intelligence

Monitor coverage of Illinois State University, higher education, state higher education policy, and peer institutions.

Use daily Cision reports to produce a weekly digest of relevant coverage, emerging issues, and potential opportunities for university experts to contribute to news stories.

Track recurring topics, narratives, and media requests affecting public higher education to assist in producing a database of university experts.

Flag time-sensitive or potentially sensitive coverage for professional staff.

2. Media relations and outreach support

Research journalists, news outlets, podcasts, and other media opportunities relevant to university priorities.

Maintain media contact lists and assist with tracking pitches, story opportunities, and media inquiries.

Identify faculty, staff, students, research, and campus initiatives that may be newsworthy to pitch to local, regional, or national media.

Help compile background information and supporting materials for media pitches and interviews.

3. Editorial and content production

Draft press releases, news briefs, website content, and other communications for MRSC staff review and approval.

Assist with writing, editing, fact-checking, proofreading, and formatting Redbird Report content.

Help develop headlines, summaries, links, and calls to action that make university communications useful and engaging.

Maintain editorial calendars, monitor deadlines, and help organize content submissions.

4. Student perspective and audience engagement

Offer a student perspective on university messages, communication channels, tone, and timing.

Identify student questions, information gaps, and communication preferences.

Review proposed student-facing communications for clarity, accessibility, and relevance.

Research student communication trends and practices at peer institutions.

5. Communications analytics and reporting

Help compile media coverage, audience engagement, newsletter performance, and website referral data.

Assist with maintaining media placement logs and communications tracking spreadsheets.

Identify patterns in coverage and engagement to help the office assess what's working.

Prepare basic charts, summaries, and reports for internal planning.

6. Office operations and project support

Answer and route incoming phone calls and greet visitors as appropriate.

Coordinate conference room scheduling, setup, and readiness for meetings.

Assist with media interview scheduling, event logistics, media briefings, and other office projects.

Maintain organized digital files, contact lists, editorial resources, and reference materials.

Media Relations and Strategic Communications offers members of the media a greater understanding of university resources, policies, and programs as well as subject experts to enrich and deepen stories for the public. The department also serves communication support functions of the University. MRSC has three full-time employees, including one director.

Student employees are eligible to participate in the University’s 403(b) Plan. More information can be found here.

$15.00/hour

• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and research…