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Media relations director vs community relations manager

The differences between media relations directors and community relations managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a media relations director and a community relations manager. Additionally, a media relations director has an average salary of $115,268, which is higher than the $71,899 average annual salary of a community relations manager.

The top three skills for a media relations director include web content, spokesperson and crisis communications. The most important skills for a community relations manager are patients, medicare, and business development.

Media relations director vs community relations manager overview

Media Relations DirectorCommunity Relations Manager
Yearly salary$115,268$71,899
Hourly rate$55.42$34.57
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs32,39132,850
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 84%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a media relations director do?

A Media Relations Director spearheads and oversees the brand image and overall media relations of an organization. They are responsible for making advertising and marketing decisions, setting goals and guidelines, establishing budgets and timelines, managing and coordinating directors, liaising with internal and external parties, delegating tasks among teams, and developing strategies from planning to execution. A Media Relations Director leads and encourages staff to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does a community relations manager do?

Community Relations Managers take care of the company's relationship with a specific community. Often, they are employed by a nonprofit organization, and they take care of the community that the organization serves. They are in charge of coordinating with community leaders to identify the people's needs, creating programs that would address these needs, and raising funds for their projects. Community Relations Managers oversee the implementation of the company's community projects. They manage the project's budget and workforce allocation. Community Relations Managers ensure that the good relationship between the company and the community is maintained at all times.

Media relations director vs community relations manager salary

Media relations directors and community relations managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Media Relations DirectorCommunity Relations Manager
Average salary$115,268$71,899
Salary rangeBetween $70,000 And $188,000Between $47,000 And $107,000
Highest paying CityPhiladelphia, PAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNevadaNew Jersey
Best paying companyPhoenix Children'sNVIDIA
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between media relations director and community relations manager education

There are a few differences between a media relations director and a community relations manager in terms of educational background:

Media Relations DirectorCommunity Relations Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 84%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorCommunicationBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityStanford University

Media relations director vs community relations manager demographics

Here are the differences between media relations directors' and community relations managers' demographics:

Media Relations DirectorCommunity Relations Manager
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 61.2% Female, 38.8%Male, 30.5% Female, 69.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between media relations director and community relations manager duties and responsibilities

Media relations director example responsibilities.

  • Hire, train and manage play-by-play broadcasters guaranteeing a professional and informative listening experience.
  • Initiate and supervise development of new media technologies including iPhone and iPad apps, Facebook, YouTube and mobile website.
  • Create daily posts on Facebook and engage with people there.
  • Develop and implement online SEM efforts optimizing conversion rate for e-commerce.
  • Direct internal communications tactics including newsletters, Intranet, domestic and international executive meetings, and special events.
  • Champion agency competency growth in SEO and digital marketing.
  • Show more

Community relations manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage social networking, such as Facebook.
  • Plan and execute project grand openings and manage all social media platforms (Facebook/Twitter )
  • Manage the creation and display of both user-generate and resort-developed videos for YouTube.
  • Maintain strong working relationships across all departments to manage successful on-site opportunities, content and multimedia asset development and spokesperson requests.
  • Provide a strong database of community, affordable housing and economic development opportunities for bank to meet CRA goals.
  • Provide continuing education to patients and families regarding palliative/hospice care services and placement options.
  • Show more

Media relations director vs community relations manager skills

Common media relations director skills
  • Web Content, 13%
  • Spokesperson, 8%
  • Crisis Communications, 4%
  • Press Conferences, 4%
  • Communications Strategies, 4%
  • Facebook, 4%
Common community relations manager skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Medicare, 10%
  • Business Development, 8%
  • Community Events, 6%
  • Health Fairs, 5%
  • Local Community, 5%

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