Sports Information Specialist

General Purpose

Under direction, publicizes and promotes college athletic teams and student athletes; develops and distributes a wide variety of media guides, programs, press releases and other materials; attends home team and designated away events to perform a variety of functions in support of the athletic program; and performs related duties as assigned.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

• Develops ideas for, writes and distributes press releases, game stories, feature stories and athlete and coaching staff biographies to promote college sports.
• Writes, designs, edits, lays out and coordinates production and distribution, both in hard copy and electronically, of college sports team rosters, schedules and media guides/programs ranging from simple to elaborate in scale.
• Conducts media relations activities; creates and maintains effective working relationships with members of the sports media; provides media outlets with detailed sports results, stories, background information, statistics, records and photos for publication proactively and as requested.
• Attends and provides radio coverage of sports events; may manage the press box for football games.
• Assists other Communications staff in writing, editing and coordinating publication of a variety of print materials, as assigned.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to and understanding of historically minoritized groups and participates in professional development activities to increase cultural competency to enhance equity-minded practices within the District.
  
  

Other Duties

• Collaborates with photography staff on photography assignments for sports events; maintains copies of photos of student athletes and coaches.
• May update the Athletics website by utilizing web applications to maintain and post a wide range of athletic information, including press releases, game stories, feature stories, scores, photos and statistics; ensures website and web pages meet Americans with Disabilities accessibility requirements.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge Of

• Principles, practices and applications of marketing, public relations, public affairs and media relations.
• Associated Press (AP) and other journalistic standards, methods, procedures and techniques used to write press releases and stories and develop publicity materials.
• Principles and practices of sound journalistic and business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Sports rules, National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) scorekeeping, and statistical guidelines for a variety of sports at a level necessary to carry out assigned responsibilities.
• Digital camera use and operation and lighting and setting conditions that affect photo quality, particularly in a sports environment.
• Research methods and data analysis techniques.
• Provisions of the California Public Records Request Act.
• Standard web applications applicable to areas of assigned responsibility
  
  

Skills And Abilities To

• Market, promote, publicize and generate media interest in sports and student athletes.
• Utilize AP and other journalistic standards to draft and distribute press releases and feature and game articles.
• Write, design, lay out and coordinate production, both in electronic and hard copy versions, of sports promotion publications, such as media guides, game programs, brochures and flyers.
• Represent the college effectively to game officials, coaches, administrators and athletes from other colleges and conferences.
• Develop and maintain contacts with sport media personnel.
• Operate a computer and other standard office equipment and use web publication, spreadsheet, word processing and enterprise software.
• Maintain confidentiality of student files and records.
• Effectively engage and support historically minoritized groups by addressing issues of equity and improving culturally responsive service-oriented practices.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Operate a computer and use standard business software.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.
  
  

Education And Experience

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or a related field, and at least three years of progressively responsible experience working for a media outlet, public relations or marketing organization with a demonstrated knowledge of college-level sports; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Licenses, Certificates And Other Requirements

A valid California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District's vehicle insurance program.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

*Physical Demands*

While performing the duties of this class, employees regularly required to sit; talk or hear, in person and by telephone; use hands repetitively to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms. Employees are frequently required to walk and stand; and lift up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

*Mental Demands*

While performing the duties of this class, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work; work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work with frequent interruptions; work under intensive deadlines; and interact with District managers, staff, the public, the media and others encountered in the course of work.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Employees generally work under typical office conditions, and the noise level is usually quiet. Employees also