Position: Coalition Coordinator

The Sunshine in Government Initiative, a coalition of media groups committed to promoting policies that ensure the government is accessible, accountable and open, is looking for a coordinator in the Washington, D.C. area. The ideal candidate will coordinate the constituent groups of SGI and promote the group's mission through public outreach, research and development of educational materials.

Requirements:

A full-time professional staff member with excellent written and verbal communications skills, knowledge of and interest in national politics and legislative affairs, background in journalism, computer and Internet skills, commitment to First Amendment values.

Duties:

• Prepare fact sheets, talking points and other materials in support of the coalition's educational efforts with members of Congress, member and committee staff, agency executives and others.

• Prepare materials to assist in briefing publishers, broadcast station executives and others asked by the coalition to contact their congressional representatives in support of legislative measures the coalition is advocating.

• Assist in scheduling, planning and coordination of meetings and briefings in Washington or elsewhere for educational efforts with elected or appointed officials and other coalition targets, allies and constituencies.

• Work with the coalition's constituent organizations to promote news coverage or commentary on legislative issues of concern to the coalition, targeting efforts to states or regions where the coalition has determined the coverage is most needed.

• Conduct research on open government issues in support of coalition goals and positions and in response to requests additional information about those positions.

• Oversee educational material development for press and membership packets

• Maintain and update the coalition web site with current open government developments.

• Schedule and provide administrative support for coalition meetings. Preside and take minutes.

Additional talents: Ability to write a winning press release, to translate complex topics into street language, and to work with diverse group who have collaborative but independent projects compatible with SGI; inquisitive and persistent enough to track down the provenance of stories that might have come from use of the Freedom of Information Act or other access laws; skill in handling press queries and public presentations if needed, but able to discern when constituent groups, star witnesses or others should be in the foreground.

Salary: Commensurate with experience

To Apply:

Send a cover letter, resume and a list of three references (with addresses and telephone numbers) to:

For more information about SGI, go to www.sunshineingovernment.com.