National Media & Communications Director

Job Opening:
Accepting applications on a rolling basis through April 15, 2025!

Critical Resistance (CR), a national grassroots organization working to end the prison industrial complex (PIC), seeks a National Media and Communications Director to direct CR’s media and communications organizing by developing and implementing communication and media plans and strategies to support CR’s projects and campaigns nationally. This role includes but is not limited to: training CR members to carry out the organization’s media and communication plans together;

increasing CR’s national impact and profile; amplifying the concept and practice of PIC abolition nationally and internationally; and co- directing the national organization with other co-directors and staff to maintain the growth and health of the organization.

Position is based in Critical Resistance’s National Office in Oakland, CA. Exceptions can be made for the right candidate. Regular travel will be required, approximately six times a year to chapter cities (currently Portland, OR; Oakland and Los Angeles, CA; Central Appalachia; and New York City) or movement events (conferences and planning sessions at various locations) outside of Oakland.

Note:

Due to COVID-19, CR office staff collectively negotiate office use to ensure safety.

The Media and Communications Director will work with CR members, staffers, and allies to develop, plan, implement, and ultimately direct CR’s communications and media strategies to gain national and local coverage for CR and its projects and campaigns. This position will also facilitate and maintain internal communication practices among CR members organization-wide and within CR’s coalitions.

As a co-director position, the Media & Communications Director will work closely with other co- directors and staff to lead the organization and provide administrative and infrastructural support, maintaining the overall health and strategy of the organization. With the Campaigns Director specifically, the Media & Communications Director will co-lead the CR Programs Team, as well as supervise staff team members.

• Direct and generate media and communications work to expand reach and coverage of CR’s campaigns, projects, and messaging as needed through both mainstream media or press organizing and grassroots media. This includes (but is not limited to): organizing press conferences, coordinating media strategy for campaigns with coalition partners, leading spokesperson trainings for CR members and coalition partners, working with and developing other CR members to lead media and communications work within coalitions, and creating grassroots media with CR members and other partners.
• Lead and coordinate creation and use of press releases, statements, fact sheets, PSAs, and other media materials. Conduct research to develop media and programmatic materials as needed.
• Call reporters to pitch stories, field calls from the press, and build relationships on behalf of the organization with press. Serve as point‑of‑contact for media inquiries and forward reporters’ questions to pertinent people. Represent the organization as a regular spokesperson and coordinate other members and staff to represent CR in interviews and other media opportunities.
• Develop, maintain, record and track local chapter, regional, and national media contacts for the organization and each chapter; design strategies and plans for expanding relationships with strategic media contacts.
• Work with other CR staff and members to manage CR’s website and social media, keeping both current with CR’s organizing news, calls to action, and movement resources.
• Participate in and support coordination of CR’s The Abolitionist Editorial Collective to produce two issues of CR’s cross‑wall newspaper each year. Work with other project‑related staff and editorial collective members to determine what leadership support is most needed (whether editorial, design or distribution related). Also support circulation of the…