PR Consultant Needed for Medical School – Earned Media & Press Placement (US-Based)

Saint James School of Medicine is an accredited Caribbean-based medical school seeking a results-driven PR consultant to help us secure earned media coverage for newsworthy developments — including accreditation milestones, student/alumni success stories, faculty research, community health initiatives, and industry commentary on medical education. We're not looking for a big agency retainer — we need a hands-on, experienced freelancer who knows how to pitch education/healthcare stories to journalists, build media relationships, and land real coverage (not just send out press releases into the void). What We Need: A media strategy tailored to our news and goals (not generic templates) Direct pitching to relevant journalists, outlets, and podcasts (higher ed, healthcare, Caribbean business, local/regional news, trade publications) Help identifying and shaping "newsworthy" angles from routine updates Drafting or refining press releases and pitch emails Tracking outreach and reporting on results (placements, impressions, follow-ups) Requirements: Proven track record of securing earned media placements (please share examples/clips) Experience in education, healthcare, or professional services PR strongly preferred Must be based in the United States Strong understanding of current journalist/media landscape and how to build genuine relationships (not mass-blast pitching) Comfortable working independently and proposing a concrete, executable plan — not just "let's brainstorm together" Excellent written communication skills To Apply, Please Include: A short outline of how you'd approach media relations for a small niche institution like a Caribbean medical school 2–3 examples of past earned media placements you've secured (links preferred) Your hourly or project-based rate Availability (hours/week)