Media Relations Specialist - Account Executive at Ogilvy South Africa

• A Media Specialist - Account Executive should be a capable communications and public relations professional able to handle a broad variety of tasks with increasing independence and sound judgment, in particular - liaising with media and securing earned media coverage on behalf of clients.
• A Media Specialist - Account Executive has demonstrated professional knowledge and skills. She/he should be able to manage the media liaison functions of specific accounts, this would include the placement of content as well as securing media interviews. She/he must have an in-depth understanding of the broad and industry-specific media landscape. Know and maintain relationships with journalists both in the general news environment as well as in the specific areas that clients operate in. Track movements in the media landscape, know editors and have the ability and relationships to pick up the phone and speak to journalists regarding a specific story or enlist the support of the Senior Media Specialist - Account Manager to do so.
• She/he should, with the support of the Senior Media Specialist - Account Manager, be able to advise clients as well as client services teams on angles, and media motivations or approaches for clients based on their needs to secure earned media coverage as well as give detailed feedback and advice on media interviews. Start developing the skills and knowledge required to contribute to content strategy.
• She/he should feedback to the client services team regarding coverage secured and advise on placement opportunities secured to assist the client services team in accurate reporting.
• He/she takes responsibility for the projects he/she manages, ensuring excellence in execution.
• A Media Specialist - Account Executive demonstrates the ability and wherewithal to deliver on our vision and performance requirements as Ogilvy PR. A Media Specialist - Account Executive strives to build strong media relationships and keeps up to date on the news agenda and current affairs as it relates to clients and more generally. She/he is up to date on the needs and strategy of their clients and has a strong working relationship with the client services team to be able to deliver on the earned media needs of clients.

PURPOSE

• To positively impact the share of voice in the media landscape of Ogilvy PR clients and secure top tear, relevant media opportunities for clients as well as be an integral team member and positive contributor to the Ogilvy Newsroom.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Impacting delivery and quality

• Secure earned media coverage for clients.
• Issuing of press releases by or before 9h00.
• Conduct media call downs and provide detailed feedback to client services on media responses to content.
• Implements events such as press conferences, media briefings, analyst meetings, media tours third-party advocacy, etc.
• Demonstrates competence at using internal and external research capabilities and in preparing analyses and proposals for the media and otherwise.
• Ensure that content distributed to media is relevant and specific to the journalist and media house shared with, (do not spray and pray for media releases)
• With the support of the Senior Media Specialist - Account Manager and Newsroom Director, advise client services on content and distribution approaches.
• Understand the different types of content and where they are applicable to what media, for example, do not send a press release to the opinion editor of a publication, and do not send consumer content to a business journalist.
• With the guidance of the Senior Media Specialist - Account Manager, prepare clients for media interviews with comprehensive briefing documents and where required briefing sessions.
• With the support and guidance of the Senior Media Specialist - Account Manager and Newsroom Director, advise clients on the fundamentals of how they should conduct themselves in the interview and prepare them in terms of what they should expect from the person conducting the interview this includes but is not limited to advice on what they should wear, what questions they can expect and the interview style of the journalist conducting the interview to ensure the client presents well and has the best possible experience in the interview.
• With the guidance of the Senior Media Specialist - Account Manager, give feedback and advice to clients based on how interviews were conducted to ensure they feel supported, but are also able to improve and build on their experience for the next interview.
• Keep media, clients and client services abreast of any changes to the interview schedule.
• Read coverage received and provide feedback as to client services, on if the key messages and narrative landed as intended, and if spokespeople were accurately quoted in context.
• Raise any issues that may arise from the coverage with client services immediately.
• Proactively ensure all general/client-specific/industry-specific media lists are updated by the last day of every month and can be located in a central repository (MS Teams, media specialist group)
• Keep abreast of the news cycle and proactively propose at least one motivation or angle per client per week, and track this with the client services team to ensure it is impactful.
• Drafting compelling and newsworthy media motivations to be approved by client services.
• Work with newsroom/ media specialist colleagues to advise the broader team of movements or developments in the media landscape via an emailed report by the 20th of every month.
• Actively participate and contribute to the morning Newsroom meetings.
• Host the Newsroom meetings as per the agreed-upon schedule, ensuring that the news presented is relevant to clients, their industry or the broader macro environment our clients operate in, and attempt to find ways for clients to infiltrate the news agenda.
• Update the newsroom tracker and ensure that client services are tagged and able to share the suggestions that emanate from the Newsroom meeting before 10h00 daily.
• Ensure the newsroom tracker is up to date and that client services give feedback on any suggestions by Friday to ensure that maximum value is derived from the Newsroom meetings.
• Actively seek our guidance and support from the Senior Media Specialist - Account Manager and Newsroom Director to grow and improve on the quality of work, content angles, content strategy, media motivations and client feedback.

Impacting relationships

• Establish at least two new media contacts per month.
• Arrange one media meet and greet session for the newsroom team per month.
• Arrange one meet and greet session between key media and clients every quarter or as required by the client.
• To foster and nurture good working relationships within the team.
• To drive a positive, can-do culture in the agency

Impacting the broader Ogilvy PR team

• Adherence to office hours
• Punctuality for meetings both internally and externally through effective diary management
• Routinely contributes to agency growth and performance as project, team, group and agency leader.
• Proactive and works with a sense of urgency.
• Routinely recommends and implements solutions when problems arise.
• Assists peers in problem-solving.
• Uses talents of colleagues in own problem-solving.
• Routinely seeks and shares information with colleagues.
• Routinely invests in building agency and client accounts and resources.
• Works with Newsroom to identify and address training, leadership and career development needs.
• Continually seeks new ways to learn, improve and contribute.
• Exhibits creative thinking and solutions for new business and existing client work.
• Participates actively in teams, staff and client meetings.
• Highly organized and administratively sound.