Media Relations Apprentice

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

New York, New York, NY, US

30+ days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $27.00 To $30.00 Hourly

The Mellon Foundation ("Foundation") is a not-for-profit, grant making organization that believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and we believe that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive.

The Foundation makes grants in four core program areas - Higher Learning, Arts and Culture, Public Knowledge, and Humanities in Place - and through its signature Presidential Initiatives. The Foundation seeks an apprentice for our Media Relations Communications team.

The Mellon Foundation's team of communications professionals are responsible for building and stewarding the Foundation brand, telling its story, and driving outreach and engagement efforts both internally and externally. Our work strives to:

• Build broad brand affinity and connection with the Mellon Foundation's work
• Encourage appreciation, understanding of, and engagement with the work of our grantees
• Broadly advocate for the centrality of the arts and humanities in culture

This position, reporting to the Media Relations Senior Associate with oversight from the Director of Media & Public Relations, will support a wide range of media relations efforts within the Foundation’s New York-based Communications department. Responsibilities include administrative and organizational duties, research support, media monitoring, drafting materials, and outreach.

This is a 12-month, full-time position with a start date of early June 2026.

Responsibilities may include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Support media and public relations efforts through a variety of projects, both internal and external facing.
• Provide support in developing press materials, including press releases, media alerts, pitches, bios, media and speaking engagement briefing documents, recap reports, and media analysis/reporting.
• Assist with prep documents, including talking points and messaging to prepare Mellon spokespeople for external speaking engagements and interviews.
• Review and respond to inbound telephone calls and e-mail correspondence in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Track media coverage, reporters, industry news, and peer organization activities.
• Maintain up-to-date media contact lists and editorial calendars.
• Contribute to PR planning and strategy ideation.
• Help maintain an organized system of tracking, monitoring, and prioritizing tasks using the Foundation’s primary project management tools:  and
• Oversee confidential and non-routine information with sensitivity.

• Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, or: within one year of graduation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with an interest in honing an ability to think about media relations from a strategic and creative perspective.
• Familiarity with , Cision, Lexis Nexis and/or PR Newswire.
• Media pitching experience, especially on topics of arts, culture, and the humanities.
• Strong interest in learning about communications and media relations in a nonprofit setting; demonstrated interest, through work history or career objectives, in developing hands‑on experience with media and public relations.
• Dedicated follower of news of the day, current events, and current trends in the arts, culture, and humanities spaces.
• Flexible, highly organized, and able to juggle multiple and competing tasks with exceptional follow‑up and attention to detail.
• Work history demonstrates an ability to anticipate next steps, take initiative, exercise discretion, and apply sound judgment.
• High level of interpersonal skills and discretion to manage sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to be highly productive working independently…