Job Description
Free Press and Free Press Action work to amplify the voices of people and communities in the crucial decisions that shape our media. We believe that positive social change, racial justice and meaningful engagement in public life require equitable access to technology, diverse and independent ownership of media platforms, and journalism that holds leaders accountable and tells people what’s actually happening in their communities. We work at the intersection of media and technology to strengthen our democracy.
We're looking for two experienced policy counsels to advance our priorities with the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission and Congress. Issues include antitrust, competition, digital civil rights, privacy and platform-accountability, broadband access and affordability, broadcast ownership, competition and mergers, net neutrality, racial justice, media reparations, resiliency and other media and telecommunications issues.
The policy counsels will be responsible for tracking the daily activities at the FTC and FCC, as well as building relationships with and influencing key staff at the agency. They will also have a deep grasp of the political and corporate actors shaping debates before the FTC and FCC and keep our policy and campaign teams updated and informed. They will strategize around the agency’s interplay with Congress, the Department of Justice, the executive branch, the courts and public debates on major issues shaping the future of media and technology. The policy counsel will track all related legislative, rule-making and adjudicatory proceedings and seek to advance Free Press Action’s positions therein.
The policy counsels work in close collaboration with a cross-disciplinary team at Free Press, and in coordination with coalition partners, strategic allies and outside counsel, to maximize available resources and build our capacity to challenge well-financed opposition.
Desired skills and attributes:
- A commitment to racial equity and experience working with communities of color
- Juris Doctorate degree strongly preferred. Advanced public policy degree paired with issue expertise and experience may also demonstrate qualifications for this position
- Superb legal writing and analytical skills and be capable of producing concise and persuasive filings and other documents
- Experience advocating to lawmakers and policymakers; previous experience at or before the FTC or FCC desired
- Background in public policy, political science, communications, community development and organizing, or related fields will indicate aptitude for the daily work this job requires
- 5 years or more of directly relevant experience in media, technology and telecommunications policy is required
Salary and benefits:
To counter pay inequality and uphold internal parity, we use a nonnegotiable starting salary system. We will make our best and final offer to the finalists for these positions. The starting salary for the policy counsels is $90,000 - $110,000
Generous benefits include
- group medical, dental and vision insurance (employer contribution towards medical premium is 100% for individuals or 75% for families)
- short- and long-term disability insurance
- employer contribution to retirement plans (no matching required)
- flexible health, commuter and dependent care spending accounts
- paid family leave
- annual paid time off is a total of ten weeks, including vacation, health-care leave and holidays
- stipends for business use of personal phones and for home office locations
- all employees receive computers and equipment necessary for the job
- flexible, supportive work culture
Hiring process:
Our hiring process includes an initial 20-30 minute interview with one staff person, one or two hour-long interviews with 3-4 staff members, and reference checks after the final interview.
Complete job descriptions and application directions are at the link.