Writer & Media Relations Specialist

Job Title and Details

Job Title:

Writer & Media Relations Specialist Job Family:
Professionals Full-Time/Part-Time:
Full time

Pay Type:

Salary Department:
Strategic Communications

As a member of University Marketing & Communications at Furman University, the Writer & Media Relations Specialist is responsible for writing and editing news content, feature stories and copy across multiple mediums, and for proactive and responsive Media Relations with the goal of illustrating the impact of Furman University and its students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and the broader community. The Writer & Media Relations Specialist creates and edits content for a wide range of print and digital communications, including magazine stories, news releases, marketing and advertising materials, web and social content, internal communications and presentations — adapting tone, format and length to fit the platform and the audience, from a long-form magazine feature to a short-form social caption built for the scroll.

The Writer & Media Relations Specialist reports to the Director of Content Strategy and partners with departmental leadership, faculty and staff of the university in developing story ideas and editorial strategy. In addition to storytelling, the Writer & Media Relations Specialist provides daily media relations support under the direction of the Vice President and Assistant Vice President for University Communications — serving as a steady, trusted voice for Furman with reporters and media outlets, and helping protect and build the university’s reputation with both internal and external audiences.

The Writer & Media Relations Specialist collaborates with all members of the University Marketing & Communications team, and with Furman faculty and staff, to deliver creative, accurate and compelling stories. The Writer & Media Relations Specialist is a proven expert in Associated Press style, feature writing and news writing, with the versatility to write well for any channel Furman’s story needs to reach.

Write and edit news content, feature stories, profiles and institutional narratives that illustrate the impact of Furman University and its people. Create and edit copy for a wide range of print and digital communications, including magazine stories, news releases, marketing and advertising materials, internal communications and executive presentations. Interview faculty, staff, students, alumni and donors to source original, accurate and compelling stories.

Apply Associated Press style consistently, along with Furman’s house style and editorial standards, across all written content.

Provide daily media relations support on behalf of the university, under the direction of the Assistant Vice President for University Communications — including responding to reporter inquiries, coordinating interview requests and drafting statements and talking points. Serve as a trusted, front-line point of contact for media, representing Furman with professionalism, accuracy and care in every interaction. Monitor daily news and media coverage of Furman, proactively flagging emerging stories, risks and opportunities to the Assistant Vice President and Director of Content Strategy.

Help shape and protect Furman’s reputation with both internal audiences (faculty, staff, students) and external audiences (media, prospective students, alumni, donors and the broader public), ensuring consistent, accurate messaging across every touchpoint. Support the university’s response to sensitive or time‑sensitive situations by drafting clear, accurate communications quickly, escalating appropriately to the Assistant Vice President.