Press and Media Coordinator Job - US Mission in Uganda

Job Title: Press and Media Coordinator

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Salary: UGX 86,951,739 /Per Year

Position Number: Kampala-2023-043

About US Embassy:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Peace Corps

Job Summary: The Press and Media Coordinator monitors Ugandan press and media coverage of issues of importance to the United States. Identifies and advises Mission leadership on strategies for promoting accurate and balanced Ugandan press and media coverage of U.S. foreign policy and American interests, correcting misinformation and countering disinformation. Builds productive relationships with press and media professionals in person and online.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Press and Media Engagement Operations (60% of time)

Designs and implements press and media activities for the Mission to promote balanced and informed coverage of U.S. policy, respond to breaking stories, correct misinformation, and counter disinformation.
Continuously monitors Ugandan press and media to identify stories of importance to U.S. policy and American interests, either through in-house personnel or contract services; analyzes Ugandan media trends and outcomes of press and media placement for the Mission and Washington agencies.
Analyzes and compiles regular summaries of press and media coverage and its impact; prepares regular verbal and written reports to Mission leadership and, as required, to the Department of State (DOS) on Mission media engagement.
Recommends and organizes Mission initiatives to engage effectively with the press and media, whether in response to Ugandan coverage or to initiate dialogue on specific issues.
Assesses the news cycle to determine the best timing for media interactions, specific points to be made or avoided, the appropriate protocol level, and other means for conveying information on or off the record.
Prepares Mission personnel for direct interaction with press and media.
Compiles background information on media outlet(s), prepares briefing materials, and compiles relevant DOS or other guidance on the topics of discussion, including for potentially difficult questions or issues that may arise.
Coaches Mission personnel on the appropriate use of the top five local languages for policy issues and remarks to the press depending on the region or target audience.
Ensures that Mission press and media interactions conform to agreed-upon ground rules.
Produces policy-specific information (e.g., press releases, media kits, fact sheets, background papers) in English and one of the top five local languages.
Determines journalists’ and outlets’ interests, points of view, and priority issues and distributes information to them on U.S. policy and other topics.
Collaborates with the Strategic Content Coordination (SCC) team to develop content for the Mission’s digital properties and online dissemination.
Ensures that materials accurately convey all nuances of complex U.S. policies and are of professional caliber.
Assists journalists and outlets with fact checks or requests for verification.
Plans and coordinates Ugandan and U.S. media coverage and press logistics for high-level visits (e.g., Presidential, Cabinet-level, Congressional), working closely with the Resource Coordination team.
Recommends Public Diplomacy (PD)-sponsored press and media tours, training, and exchange programs; identifies and recommends appropriate institutions and participants.
Develops Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for press and media activities, as appropriate.
Facilitates (I) visa processing for professional travel of Ugandan journalists to the United States.

Strategic Planning (20% of time)

Develops and recommends strategies for Mission engagement with Ugandan press and media.
Analyzes media’s audience, geographic reach, political tendencies, and credibility.
Recommends priority engagement with outlets that reach audience groups of the greatest importance to Mission priorities.
Recommends media engagement strategies for the Ambassador and other Mission leadership based on analysis of individual skill, language ability, portfolio, experience, and expertise.

Intra- and Interagency Coordination (10% of time)

Guides Mission colleagues on how best to promote U.S. policy positions with press, media, and online outlets to maximize accurate and balanced coverage.
Coordinates press and media engagement for all Mission agencies and advises Mission personnel on optimal press and media strategies for judicial, legal, consular, economic, political, cultural, military, and other issues.
Recommends Mission press and media responses to sensitive issues in coordination with DOS Public Affairs offices.

Administrative Functions (10% of time)

Budgeting and Financial Resources: Prepares, manages, and tracks annual budgets for press and media related activities and contributes to the overall PD annual budget allocation in consultation with the Resource Coordination unit.
General: Maintains office records and files and ensures that press and media activities and initiatives are recorded in PD Tools and contact databases as needed.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.

The applicants for the United States US Embassy Press and Media Coordinator job opportunity should hold a University degree in Journalism, Communications, International Relations, Political Science, Economics, or local equivalent is required.
At least four years of experience in a media outlet, international organization, government, or the private sector, with experience in communications, journalism, public relations, or public affairs is required.
A comprehensive understanding of Ugandan press and media institutions, professional journalism standards and practices, and trends in audience preferences for information consumption (print, TV, radio, online) is required. Must have an understanding of communication trends in the region and internationally as they affect the Ugandan information landscape and must be familiar with influence patterns in information flow. Must have knowledge of marketing techniques, market analysis, and audience analytics in Uganda.
Detailed knowledge of U.S. foreign policy objectives and American interests in Uganda, especially as they apply to press and media professionals, outlets, and online publications, is required. Must have an understanding of U.S. historical, political, economic, social, and cultural forces that shape U.S. foreign policy, as well as U.S. press and media standards, norms, and practices. Detailed knowledge of DOS PD engagement tools and the related policies and procedures for each is required.
Analytic Skills: The ability to identify, analyze, predict, and continually assess the attitudes of press and media outlets and information consumers across a wide range of thematic policy areas is required. Must be able to perceive significant changes in the Ugandan influence landscape and to adjust press and media operations and products to maximize balanced coverage for priority audiences.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Must have excellent customer relations, interpersonal, and cross-cultural communication skills. Must be able to identify influential voices in both traditional and digital information outlets and engage them to positive effect. Excellent written and oral communication skills in order to speak publicly; write reports, press releases, and other products; engage in online forums; and contribute to publications in English and one of the top five local languages.
Must be able to tailor communications to fit formal and informal situations.
Must be able to brief U.S. officers and visitors on a variety of issues and interpret between English and one of the top five local languages for public programs.
Management Skills: Strong event and management skills are required. Must be able to organize and run events such as press conferences, interviews, workshops, and journalism training seminars, often on short notice or in emergencies.
Technical Skills: Good keyboarding and data entry skills are required; excellent familiarity with electronic discovery tools, in particular the internet, and standard information retrieval practices and procedures is required.
Thorough knowledge of various computer software programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and databases, is required.
Detailed knowledge of and the ability to use digital platforms, tools, and products are required.
Must have good numerical skills to develop budget projections and statistics for press and media analytics.
Must have basic familiarity with TV and radio production skills to oversee logistics for press and television coverage.
The ability to use social media and mobile platforms, photo editing software, photo and video sharing sites, and podcast creation tools is required.
Language: English: Level 4 (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing English is required. This maybe tested. Host-Country Language: Level 4 (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing (for one of the top five local languages, Luganda, Luo, Lugbara, Runyakitara, Ateso) is required. This maybe tested.