Sarah Flocken Email & Phone Number

Greater San Diego Area

The “SLH” in SLH Communications stands for “sound like a human,” and that’s precisely what we aim to help every client do. We like working with nerds, experts, visionaries, policy wonks, do-gooders, and others with complicated but important messages to get out there. Above all, we love words and stories, and we’d love to help you tell yours. We provide comprehensive public relations and strategic policy communications support, editorial services, personal branding for professionals, and… Show more The “SLH” in SLH Communications stands for “sound like a human,” and that’s precisely what we aim to help every client do. We like working with nerds, experts, visionaries, policy wonks, do-gooders, and others with complicated but important messages to get out there. Above all, we love words and stories, and we’d love to help you tell yours. We provide comprehensive public relations and strategic policy communications support, editorial services, personal branding for professionals, and consulting for PR agencies looking to sharpen their teams' confidence and skills. Show less

Washington D.C. Metro Area

U.S. Travel is the 1,200-member organization representing the travel industry in Washington, focused on promoting policies that increase travel to and within the U.S. I drafted nearly all public-facing content for U.S. Travel's award-winning public affairs team, and played an integral role in the organization's online content strategy and media relations efforts. I was the managing editor of U.S. Travel's policy blog, The Itinerary (https://www.ustravel.org/news/itinerary), which I… Show more U.S. Travel is the 1,200-member organization representing the travel industry in Washington, focused on promoting policies that increase travel to and within the U.S. I drafted nearly all public-facing content for U.S. Travel's award-winning public affairs team, and played an integral role in the organization's online content strategy and media relations efforts. I was the managing editor of U.S. Travel's policy blog, The Itinerary (https://www.ustravel.org/news/itinerary), which I launched at the beginning of my tenure with U.S. Travel. From there, I led the blog's rebranding and relaunch as The Itinerary, and formulated several regular features, which I edit or ghostwrite, including a regular summary of U.S. Travel's research outlook. Outside of The Itinerary, my responsibilities included writing articles and opinion pieces for senior leadership staff, directing ustravel.org's editorial calendar, and coordinating closely with the industry communications and social media teams. I have written, edited, and pitched op-eds placed in the Tampa Bay Times, the San Antonio Business Journal, Roll Call, The Hill, Huffington Post, CNN.com, U.S. News & World Report, and Worth magazine, and authored statements quoted by CNN, Fox News, the Washington Post, and dozens of other high-profile print and broadcast media outlets. In addition, I wrote scripts, speeches, and talking points for the CEO and other senior staff ahead of major events, press conferences, and board meetings. I provide copy and content editing for economic research products, board communications, and outreach to U.S. Travel members including top hotels, car rental companies, travel booking sites, and state tourism organizations. I was onsite in Washington, DC for this role from November 2015-October 2017. I worked remotely from San Diego, CA during October and November 2017, and have performed the duties of this role in a contract capacity since January 2018. Show less

Washington D.C. Metro Area

I directed media relations and PR strategy for all editorial content and events from Government Executive Media Group, which encompasses Atlantic Media's tech/innovation, defense, and government publications: Defense One, Government Executive, Nextgov, and Route Fifty. My work required collaboration with editorial, marketing, events, and sales teams on optimal promotion strategy for breaking news, exclusives, long-form investigative features, live events, and digital viewcasts. I… Show more I directed media relations and PR strategy for all editorial content and events from Government Executive Media Group, which encompasses Atlantic Media's tech/innovation, defense, and government publications: Defense One, Government Executive, Nextgov, and Route Fifty. My work required collaboration with editorial, marketing, events, and sales teams on optimal promotion strategy for breaking news, exclusives, long-form investigative features, live events, and digital viewcasts. I enabled earned media coverage by pitching GEMG stories, features, and events to TV, radio, and print reporters. I positioned journalists and GEMG leadership as experts in their areas, preparing them for broadcast appearances by facilitating media training and developing relationships with producers, and helped introduce them to new audiences through "Meet the Editors"​ events, for which I guided program structure and audience outreach. Notable achievements during my time as the inaugural Director of Communications for GEMG included tripling media mentions for Defense One in my first three months on the job, managing the messaging and PR effort around launch of Route Fifty, Atlantic Media's newest publication, and booking GEMG journalists on outlets including CNN, NPR, Fox, Al Jazeera, and MSNBC. Show less

Washington D.C. Metro Area

As inaugural manager of the Online Citizen Engagement Grant from the Rita Allen Foundation, I had the opportunity to develop CRP's audience outreach strategy, which aimed to rally U.S. voters around issues of government transparency by making campaign finance data on OpenSecrets.org more engaging and accessible. The position also allowed me to create the Advocacy Intern role, and train and manage four interns. My daily duties included managing social media, tracking engagement metrics… Show more As inaugural manager of the Online Citizen Engagement Grant from the Rita Allen Foundation, I had the opportunity to develop CRP's audience outreach strategy, which aimed to rally U.S. voters around issues of government transparency by making campaign finance data on OpenSecrets.org more engaging and accessible. The position also allowed me to create the Advocacy Intern role, and train and manage four interns. My daily duties included managing social media, tracking engagement metrics, producing quarterly analytics reports, managing media relations and inquiries, coordinating media appearances for senior staff, producing press releases and newsletters, maintaining media contact lists, formulating weekly PolitiQuizzes on OpenSecrets.org, and where appropriate for audience engagement purposes, writing posts about the site's technical tools and original data-based stories for the award-winning OpenSecrets Blog. I developed the organization's first "best practices" guidelines for content promotion, collaborated closely with development staff on fundraising efforts, championed the use of new analytics, chart-building, and media monitoring software, and drove a 12% increase in offline engagement through educational presentations about OpenSecrets.org and its data to community groups. Show less

Washington D.C. Metro Area

After beginning at CIFA as the Women & Girls Programs Fellow, I was quickly promoted to Associate for Women & Girl Programs and Communications. In this position, I designed educational curriculum content for a Nike Foundation-funded women and girls'​ empowerment program, aimed at ending harmful traditions including FGM/C and child marriage, and managed promotion of all CIFA projects (including malaria and HIV prevention) via social media channels and the organization's blog. In my dual… Show more After beginning at CIFA as the Women & Girls Programs Fellow, I was quickly promoted to Associate for Women & Girl Programs and Communications. In this position, I designed educational curriculum content for a Nike Foundation-funded women and girls'​ empowerment program, aimed at ending harmful traditions including FGM/C and child marriage, and managed promotion of all CIFA projects (including malaria and HIV prevention) via social media channels and the organization's blog. In my dual research-communications role, I compiled information on region-specific child development and health practices in sub-Saharan Africa, edited field partner notes for board and final grant reports, and also collaborated with a graphic designer and videographer for the creation of educational materials and promotion of the program to prospective funders. I also provided editorial and research support for a Hewlett-funded maternal and child health grant, and served as the main point of contact for CIFA's IT firm and web designer, guiding the organization's technical transition to a remote office. CIFA was eventually absorbed into Religions for Peace International. Show less

Washington D.C. Metro Area

I provided layout and copy editing for financial statements during busy tax season as part of the Document Production Services team. I served as an interface between proofreaders and the audit teams, and delivered consistent formatting in high-pressure work environment under tight deadlines, often working overtime and weekends.

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

While working on my master's thesis on women in comedy, I coordinated media relations and publicity for the sketch and stand-up comedy shows produced by the University of Edinburgh's official comedy society at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In this role, I directed promotion strategy, from writing press releases and copy for online advertising to overseeing flyer design and distribution on the Royal Mile, all while carefully keeping within the advertising budget. Leading up to the… Show more While working on my master's thesis on women in comedy, I coordinated media relations and publicity for the sketch and stand-up comedy shows produced by the University of Edinburgh's official comedy society at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In this role, I directed promotion strategy, from writing press releases and copy for online advertising to overseeing flyer design and distribution on the Royal Mile, all while carefully keeping within the advertising budget. Leading up to the festival itself, I was the liaison with the Fringer organizers'​ media division, and with the venue manager. My status as a member of the sketch comedy show's cast, with a role in developing the show's content and format, also gave me an advantage when pitching the show to reporters/potential reviewers. Show less

Los Angeles, Ca

I worked with my co-editor to formulate op-ed ideas, assign topics, solicit submissions, and edit pieces on deadline for Occidental College's weekly student newspaper. On layout nights, I worked with the Layout Editor to ensure all stories and artwork fit in the spaces allotted, crafted headlines, and occasionally stepped in and wrote a piece to fill space as needed. I then uploaded all completed op-eds to occidentalweekly.com. I checked in with op-ed contributors and offered guidance… Show more I worked with my co-editor to formulate op-ed ideas, assign topics, solicit submissions, and edit pieces on deadline for Occidental College's weekly student newspaper. On layout nights, I worked with the Layout Editor to ensure all stories and artwork fit in the spaces allotted, crafted headlines, and occasionally stepped in and wrote a piece to fill space as needed. I then uploaded all completed op-eds to occidentalweekly.com. I checked in with op-ed contributors and offered guidance during the writing process, and led editorial workshops for staff and students interested in writing for the Weekly. I was heavily involved in coordinating publicity for the Weekly, and aiding its continued growth by reaching out to community advertisers. I simultaneously served as Circulation Coordinator for the Weekly's print edition (a role I took on in October 2009). Show less

Orange, Ca

During a summer as an intern with County Counsel of Orange County, CA, I became familiar with the proceedings of family and juvenile court. As the only undergraduate in the intern pool, I observed hearings, performed discovery for child abuse, custody, and dependency cases, relayed communication between County Counsel and other legal units within the courthouse, and provided other administrative support as needed.

Costa Mesa, Ca

South Coast Repertory Theater's Summer Youth Conservatory provides students from elementary to high school, with all levels of experience, with a summer dedicated to theatrical exploration, collaboration, and performance. As an education assistant, I substitute taught classes, supervised all grade levels in between classes, led morning warm-ups for students, provided administrative assistance for the enrollment office, and assistant-directed the advanced middle school ensemble's workshop play.

Msc, Literature And Modernity: 1900-Present

Activities and Societies: Edinburgh Revue

Ba, English & Comparative Literary Studies

Activities and Societies: STAND, Delta Omicron Tau Sorority, KOXY, Occidental College Theater, The Occidental Weekly, Dean's List

Conservatory Acting Program

Completed Long-Form Improv Curriculum