This is public information and promotional work at the advanced level. Employees in this class have overall responsibility for a departmental public relations and public information program or work in the City's central public information office which has responsibility for informational and promotional activities for the Mayor's Office and municipal departments and agencies. Work includes planning promotional programs and preparing and disseminating informational, publicity and ceremonial materials. Contact with departmental and mass communications media personnel is a significant aspect of the work. Work is performed under the direction of a technical or administrative superior.

ALLOCATING FACTORS:
(The following conditions must be met for a position to be approved for this class.)

1. Positions in this class must be located in the Office of the City Representative or have overall responsibility for a departmental public relations program.

2. With the exception of the City Representative's Office, allocations to this class will be limited to one per department.

• Plans, develops, and implements departmental public information and public relations programs; works with departmental officials to determine public information and public relations needs; develops overall strategy to address public information and public relations needs, promote departmental services and enhance customer and community relations.
• Works with departmental officials in gathering and disseminating information about departmental functions; coordinates the activities of employees engaged in performing research on departmental functions and activities; prepares, edits, and directs the production and distribution of informational materials.
• Develops concepts for informational and promotional programs; prepares program materials such as speeches, texts, scripts, brochures, and activities schedules; develops mailing lists, oversees the production of press kits, and arranges for print and electronic media coverage for special events.
• Advises departmental officials regarding public relations programs and the response to media questions; prepares speeches, news releases and official announcements; arranges press conferences and radio and television interviews for departmental officials; serves as spokesperson for the department at media events and community meetings.
• Establishes and maintains liaison with representatives of news media; establishes contacts with community groups to encourage community participation and develops programs and strategies to enhance the public's perception of departmental services.
• Prepares news releases, speeches, fact sheets, event rundowns, citations, ceremonial documents and other informational materials for City departments and agencies; conducts research and contacts community and civic agencies to gather data required to prepare informational materials.
• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• English usage, grammar, rhetoric, punctuation and spelling.
• modern journalistic principles and practices.
• methods and techniques of disseminating information to the public, and of the facilities and print and electronic media available for such activities.
• public relations principles and practices used in the preparation and dissemination of informational and promotional materials in all types of media.
• speech writing techniques, including data compilation, research, preparation of final drafts.
• practices and techniques of writing promotional and informational materials.
• public speaking techniques.

ABILITY TO:

• prepare interesting and informative news releases, articles, speeches, bulletins, reports, scripts and other informational materials.
• evaluate various subject matter materials critically from the standpoint of user interest, organization of material, context and style.
• formulate strategies to publicize departmental activities, programs and special events.
• plan promotional programs to improve customer and community relations and encourage community participation in departmental activities
• coordinate the production and dissemination of informational materials.
• represent the department at municipal functions.
• communicate various aspects of departmental operations and services to the public.
• prepare comprehensive written reports.
• arrange press conferences and radio and television interviews for departmental officials.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, the public, local civic and business officials, and representatives of radio and television media and the press.

EDUCATION

• Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in journalism, communications, marketing, public relations or a related area.

• Two years of experience in print or electronic media news writing, the preparation of informational material for popular release, or serving as informational representative for a governmental or private agency.

• One year of full performance level experience in print or electronic media news writing, the preparation of informational material for popular release or as informational representative of a governmental or private agency.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

PAY RANGE: EP20
Class Established: 1/1953

Latest Spec. Revision:
  CSC - 10/1991 ; Ad Board - 12/1991

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