DESCRIPTION: Reports to the Assistant AD for Communications. Responsible for helping to create and maintain a positive image for the university’s program of intercollegiate athletics for student-athletes, accomplished primarily through local, state and national news media, internal and external partnerships, and more direct communication with the university’s audiences.  

This position is an intern position and will receive $1,000 per month and free on-campus housing. This person will serve the primary contact for sports to be determined based on the needs of the office.

This person serves as one of ACU’s three primary media and community contacts for athletics; helps maintain historical sports files; helps write and edit various internal and external sports-related publications; and helps supports the Vision goal of helping ACU be perceived as a national leader in Christian higher education.

1. Basic Responsibilities

1. Media relations
2. Writing/Editing
3. Event Management/Statistics
4. Publications
5. Event Broadcasts
6. Web, video, web streaming
7. Conference/National Organizations
8. Athletics Marketing/Image Management

1. Essential Duties include the following.Other duties may be assigned.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

1. Media Relations
   1. Work with news media at ACU events to provide the best possible press box services to ensure adequate coverage.
   2. Maintain good relationship with news media and create atmosphere of trust and respect.
   3. Report on events not attended by the director or representatives of the news media.
   4. Manage and assure accurate and complete statistics for same-day game coverage by news media, for historical purposes and for reporting to conference and nation organizations.
   5. Ensure that stories and ideas published reflect the mission and ideas of the university. Continuously extend and expand coverage into new markets.
   6. Serve as a team liaison to the entire campus, developing a positive, trusting relationship with people at all levels.

1. Writing/Editing
   1. News releases
   2. Daily maintenance of content associated with and relating to the ACU athletic website, ACU athletics Facebook and Twitter pages.

1. Event Management/Statistics
   1. Compilation and maintenance of statistics and results

1. Event Broadcasts
   1. Responsible for working selected radio or online broadcasts of ACU athletics.
      
      
2. Web, video, web streaming
   1. Responsible for helping maintain ACU athletics’ Web presence on the sports Web site (acusports.com).
   2. Responsible for keeping ACU fans, lettermen and alumni updated on ACU athletics through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media channels.

1. Conference/National Organizations
   1. Provide required/requested information (schedules, statistics, biographical information, records, scores, etc.) to Western Athletic Conference and National Collegiate Athletic Association.
   2. With a goal of benefiting the university, its program to intercollegiate athletics and its student-athletes, volunteer for and become involved with local, state and national athletic organizations (examples: sportswriters association for team rankings and all-American honors, College Sports Information Directors of America for academic all-America)

• Professional Development Requirements:

1. Skills
2. Knowledge of stat keeping programs (Stat Crew, NCAA Live Stats, etc.)
3. Strong writing/grammar skills, preferable journalistic writing experience
4. Project management and teamwork skills
5. Knowledge of news media (newspaper, radio, television, magazine)
6. Supervisory skills (other university employees, student employees, volunteers, event staff, etc.)
7. Knowledge of athletics
8. Photography
9. Knowledge of printing
10. Proficient with Macintosh, Word, Excel, QuarkXPress, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, and Statistics software.
11. Marketing and research evaluation understanding
12. Exceptional communication skills

1. Training Modules Required
   
   
2. Continuous improvement of project management/time management skills
3. Computer software
4. Marketing/integrated marketing
5. Annual writing/creative training, writing/PR/media sports relations conferences
6. Web publishing

1. Qualifications:

ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.

1. Professional
   
   
2. Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations or marketing with proven writing/editing abilities.
3. At least 1 year of responsible experience in sports writing, sports marketing or in a sports information office, with some supervisory or management experience preferred.
4. Demonstrated commitment to accuracy and quality of work.
5. Experience with computers and appropriate software for writing, web design, and statistical record keeping.
6. Broad understanding of/and interest in numerous sports.

To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, writing samples and other applicable materials to Jordan Herrod, Assistant AD for Communications at jbh21a@acu.edu.