Media Relations Fellowship (Entry Level)

Who We Are:

Ripley PR, Inc. is an award-winning global public relations agency specializing in skilled trades, franchising, manufacturing and B2B technology. Founded in 2013, Ripley PR has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top 5 Franchise PR Agency and was named to Newsweek’s America’s Best PR Agencies list in 2024. The agency was also named as No. 2 PR Agency in the greater Knoxville area by the Knoxville News Sentinel. These awards represent our focus and commitment to creating PR campaigns that drive results for our global clients.

Orange Orchard, a division of Ripley PR founded in 2018, focuses on promoting animal welfare organizations.

What We Do:

Offering a full range of strategic communication services, including traditional media relations and crisis management strategies, Ripley PR uses a blend of strategic business accounting and creative public relations branding to tell compelling stories and deliver measurable results.

How We Work:

At Ripley PR, we are solution-focused, outgoing, positive, and rally around producing high-quality work and results for our clients. We’re different than most PR agencies. Our teams of specialists provide clients with simple, ongoing analytics, showing the true return on investment. We want clients to know what we do on a daily basis to promote and advocate for their brand. We enjoy a fast-paced environment with open communication. With a work hard, play hard mentality, we enjoy a challenge as much as we enjoy our free office snacks, goal incentives, and bi-monthly office massages.

What You’ll Do:

Ripley PR is looking for a recent grad for our media relations fellowship. We’re looking for someone who loves writing and is eager to create engaging media pitches for our agency and clients. Our ideal candidate is ambitious, ready to learn and excited to grow in the PR world.

Our interns and fellows report to the Managing Director and will also be assigned a senior level mentor. During this 3-6 month program you will have the opportunity to work directly on our client teams, learn more in-depth PR expertise from our mentors, and work with media to secure opportunities for our clients. Select fellows will be offered full time jobs at Ripley PR.

As a Media Relations Fellow, you must meet the following requirements:

• Must live in the greater Knoxville area and be able to come into the Maryville agency office during assigned office hours
• Actively enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, any accredited college or university, and studying communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or advertising
• Have strong writing skills; general knowledge of AP style is a plus
• Be detail-oriented, demonstrate good judgment and excellent time management skills
• Be able to work independently and as part of a team
• Smart, creative, assertive, and eager to learn
• Previous PR or Marketing internship experience is helpful, but not required
• Proficient in PC, MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, WordPress, content management systems

Responsibilities may include:

• Must be able to write clearly and consistently produce materials with accurate spelling and grammar; Excellent verbal communication skills; Strong knowledge in AP Style

• Create media lists and monitor editorial calendars
• Pitch client stories and press releases via telephone and email to all levels of media
• Develop, plan and execute public relations tactics for assigned clients
• Participate in assigned client meetings; create agendas and meeting minutes
• Collaborate and brainstorm with other members of the agency team
• Provide essential administrative support for client teams
• Maintain agency time sheets, records and generate reports as assigned
• Work well under pressure and in a fast-paced environment
• Coordinate, arrange and participate in client events, meetings and other activities as needed

If you’re passionate about public relations and ready to kickstart your career we want to hear from you.