Communications Contractor

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is hiring a creative and independently driven Communications Contractor to help advance our mission of building durable, independent local news organizations to serve the public interest.  

The Institute is seeking someone to assist with day-to-day communications activities, including coordinating grant announcements, managing press relationships, and supporting social media and newsletter production.  

Key responsibilities include:  

• Draft press releases and other communications, including blog posts, newsletters, and social media posts.  

• Coordinate announcements with program teams, Institute leadership, and external funders to ensure appropriate sign-offs and assist with promotion.  

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to support program teams and communication initiatives, ensuring all publications are consistent with the Institute’s messaging framework, align with Institute style, and are accurate and clear. 

• Assist with digital production on the Institute website, newsletters, and social media.  

• Support and facilitate event sponsorships and other Institute branding opportunities.  

• Create marketing and fundraising materials, such as slide decks and one-sheets, as needed.  

Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s Degree 

• 3+ years of communications or journalism experience 

• Familiarity with local journalism and/or nonprofit communications, preferred.  

• Strong writing and editing skills 

• Curious, self-directed, and comfortable working with a high degree of autonomy on multiple projects or assignments simultaneously 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal) 

• Collaborative and able to work with team members with different skill sets and backgrounds. 

• Commitment to diversity and inclusion 

Helpful, but not :  

• Familiar with Philadelphia’s local news ecosystem 

• Experience with graphic design tools and video editing 

Contract Details:  

• Role type: Independent contractor 

• Contract length: Six months, with the possibility of an extension 

• Location: Our staff currently works on a hybrid schedule with staff working in the office once per week on Wednesdays. We will prioritize candidates from the greater Philadelphia region but will also consider remote candidates.  

• Hours: 40 hours/month 

• Compensation: $45-$55/hour 

About The Lenfest Institute for Journalism:  

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism exists to help local news organizations build durable, independent businesses that serve the public interest. 

Our work takes three forms: 

 1. We Unlock Capital. We galvanize philanthropic investment, develop diversified revenue models, and identify new forms of monetization.

2. We Spur Innovation. We harness technology and consumer insight to make local news more accessible, valuable, and profitable.  We help local news providers develop, test, launch, and measure the impact of new products and services.

 3. We Take it to Scale. We forge powerful alliances and openly share what works — and what doesn’t — to fuel growth across the entire local news ecosystem. 

For more, please visit: lenfestinstitute.org 

Please include:  

• A brief note explaining your interest in the role 

• A resume 

• 3-5 writing samples