IDW Publishing, a leader in the comics and graphic novel industry, is seeking a passionate and experienced Publicist to join its dynamic marketing team. This role will focus on building awareness and generating excitement for IDW's original graphic novels and trade collections, working closely with authors, artists, media outlets, and event organizers. The ideal candidate will have strong relationships with traditional and digital media, a deep understanding of the graphic novel market, and a creative approach to publicity.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Brainstorm, develop, and execute integrated publicity campaigns for original graphic novels and trade collections. Collaborate with editorial, marketing, and sales teams to ensure strategic alignment.Pitch and secure coverage across national and local media, including print, online, podcasts, and broadcast. This includes reviews, interviews, features, and appearances in key outlets such as trade review journals (PW, Booklist, Library Journal), blogs, fan sites, and podcasts.Submit publications to comics and book trade industry awards (i.e., Eisner, Harvey, Ignatz, Pulitzer, National Book Award, ALA, etc.)Support author and artist events, including multi-city book tours, conventions (such as SDCC, NYCC, SPX), virtual events, and in-store appearances. Handle media and event promotion.Represent IDW Publishing at key industry events such as ComicsPro, ALA, MoCCA Fest, TCAF, and book festivals. Coordinate with the marketing team to organize author and artist appearances and secure media coverage at these events.Write and distribute press releases, pitches, and promotional materials for book campaigns. Assist with digital PR efforts to promote key titles.Actively develop and maintain relationships with key media contacts, booksellers, event coordinators, and other stakeholders to generate opportunities for coverage and promotion.Maintain and track budgets for assigned titles and campaigns. Provide campaign analytics to internal teams and external partners to assess effectiveness and improve future strategies.Liaise with licensors, distribution teams, and external partners to communicate marketing plans and secure approvals for marketing assets and initiatives.Qualifications: Minimum of 4 years of publicity experience, preferably in publishing or media with a focus on booking national media coverage. Experience in the graphic novel or broader book publishing market is a strong plus.Proven ability to generate creative pitches and secure media coverage across print, digital, broadcast, and online platforms.Strong experience planning and executing author/artist appearances, book tours, and live events at conventions and trade shows.Experience utilizing digital marketing tools (e.g., Edelweiss, NetGalley, Goodreads) to generate early buzz and reader reviews.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling press releases and present campaigns to authors, agents, and internal stakeholders.Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in managing budgets and reporting campaign results.Deep understanding of the comics and graphic novel industry, including the ability to develop creative approaches to achieve marketing goals.Intermediate proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and experience working in Mac environments. Experience with mass email systems (Campaign Monitor, MailChimp, Klaviyo), social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok), and Google Calendar.
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