How to hire a media relations assistant

How to hire a media relations assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step media relations assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a media relations assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new media relations assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your media relations assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a media relations assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a media relations assistant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a media relations assistant that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of media relations assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Media Relations Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Media Relations Assistant	Public relations specialists create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. They design media releases to shape public perception of their organization and to increase awareness of its work and goals.	$15-29
   Campaign Coordinator	A campaign coordinator is responsible for managing media campaigns and press communications for marketing efforts on business or other industry needs. Campaign coordinators perform administrative and clerical duties under the supervision of a campaign manager and develop event activities according to the campaign theme and requirements... Show more	$13-29
   Publicist	Public Relations Supervisors are responsible for implementing the media and public relations strategy of an organization. Their duties include developing public relations campaigns, organize public relations events, assist in emergency response planning, updating documentation, monitoring media, improve management of press office, and manage media databases... Show more	$14-39

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Press Releases
   • Athletics Website
   • Press Conferences
   • Alumni Events
   • NCAA
   • Twitter
   • Donor Database
   • Softball
   • Instagram
   • Facebook
   • Expense Reports
   • Adobe Indesign
   • Feature Stories
   • Travel Arrangements

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage athletic contest statistics using various programs including Dakstats and other software.
   • Calculate statistics for basketball, soccer, volleyball and baseball to later be publish online.
   • Assist in developing PowerPoint presentations, including graphs and charts.
   • Experience with all Microsoft office products, Photoshop, and accounting software.
   • Travele with men's basketball, baseball, and to championship events.
   • Increase daily likes of official Facebook page (160k likes) by 300 percent in six months.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your media relations assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A media relations assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, media relations assistants' average salary in mississippi is 49% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level media relations assistants earn 48% less than senior-level media relations assistants.
   • Certifications. A media relations assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a media relations assistant's salary.

   Average media relations assistant salary

   $45,450yearly

   $21.85 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level media relations assistant salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a media relations assistant job description

   A media relations assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a media relations assistant job description:

   Media relations assistant job description example

   What You'll Do

   • Supports and demonstrates IMA's core values
   • Values and understands the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion among all IMA associates
   • Works with Shareholder Relations Manager and equity platform vendor to assure accuracy and completeness of IMA shareholder ownership records (purchases, sales, basis, transfers, etc.)
   • Assists with tracking termed shareholders and provides Shareholder Relations Manager with quarterly term details
   • Creates term notices and completes liquidation requests forms to go out quarterly
   • Assists with IMA's shareholder cap table, including administration of ASPP, LTIP and redemptions
   • Assists with maintenance of IMA Central Shareholder Relations site, including all plans, updates, FAQ's, etc.
   • Assists with communications with all shareholders details of ASPP, LTIP and redemptions
   • Become proficient in all agency management systems, and other technology tools
   • Perform special projects as needed

   You Should Have:

   • 4 year college degree required
   • Highly organized with the ability to prioritize
   • Detail oriented
   • Strong analytical skills
   • Self-starter
   • Flexible and adaptable
   • Proficiency with Microsoft products required (specifically Excel)
   • Oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
   • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks
   • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
   • Trustworthy, especially as it relates to maintaining the confidentiality of information

   This Job Description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising this position.

   The IMA Financial Group, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The IMA Financial Group, Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

   #LI-JK1

   Compensation & Benefits Being a part of IMA has its benefits. When you become part of the IMA family, you become eligible to take part in our valuable benefits and rewards package designed to benefit you, your family, and your life. Our plans are cost-effective, convenient and provide progressive ways for staying healthy, protecting loved ones, pursuing financial security and living a full and balanced life. This role is eligible for the following:
   
   Annual Performance Bonus, Stock Purchase, Medical Plans, Prescription Drugs, Dental, Vision, Family Assistance Program, FSA, HSA, Pre-Tax Parking Plan, 401(k), Life/AD&D, Accident, Critical Illness, Long Term Care, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Business Travel Accident, Identity Theft, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Sabbatical, Gift Matching, Health Club Reimbursement & Fitness Device (Fitbit), Personal and Professional Development Why Join IMA?

   We've built a reputation for putting our associates first

   What if we told you that you could be an integral part of an entrepreneurial, expanding company, develop lasting relationships, earn competitive benefits, plus claim part ownership? It's this unique ownership business model that makes working at IMA so appealing.

   We work in teams. We sell in teams. We win and prosper as a team

   We provide support systems and resources that enable each of our associates to focus on what they do best. And as an independent company based in the Midwest, we're big enough to write business all over the world and small enough to implement your ideas quickly.
   
   We are recognized nationally as a leader in our industry.

   • 2020-2022 Business Insurance Magazine Best Places to Work in Insurance
   • 2021-2022 Inc. 5000's List of Fastest Growing Companies
   • 2022 Kansas City Business Journal's Best Places to Work
   • 2021-2022 Los Angeles Business Journal's Best Places to Work
   • 2021-2022 Puget Sound Business Journal's Washington's Best Workplaces
   • 2021 Wichita Business Journal's Best Places to Work, #1 in extra-large category
   • 2021 Denver Business Journal's Best Places to Work
   • 2021 Dallas Business Journal's Best Places to Work
   • 2021 Utah Business Best Companies to Work for in Utah
   • 2021 Alaska Journal of Commerce's Best Workplaces in Alaska
   • 2021 Civic 50 Colorado Honoree Recognizing 50 Most Community-Minded Companies
   • 2021 Wichita Business Journal's Fastest Growing Companies List

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find media relations assistants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find media relations assistant candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as pr news job board, pr council, prsa job center, hoojobs.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with media relations assistant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new media relations assistant

   Once you've found the media relations assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new media relations assistant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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