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Interim Media & PR Manager  

Employer
Independent Age
Location
London (Greater)
Salary
£34,700 pa
Closing date
29 Jun 2018

Job Details

Independent Age offers regular friendly contact, a strong campaigning voice and free, impartial advice on the issues that matter to older people: care and support, money and benefits, health and mobility. A charity founded over 150 years ago, we are independent so older people can be too.

We provide information, advice and support for thousands of older people, their families and carers. We offer a national telephone and email advice service, supported by a wide range of advice guides and factsheets on our website.

Our advice and information services are supported by befriending and practical support from volunteers across the UK.

We use the knowledge we gain from our advice and befriending services to campaign for improvements in policies that affect older people’s lives.

Job Purpose

To provide management of media and PR activity to grow Independent Age’s public profile and promote our work and reputation in the media and public through delivery of an integrated media and PR strategy.

This role will help to deliver Independent Age’s media and PR activity, gaining coverage for our work in a range of print, online and broadcast media outlets including national news, consumer, regional and trade titles. The role will also work on cross-organisational PR campaigns and activity, working within the Media & PR team to build brand, raise awareness and understanding of Independent Age, grow influence, drive action and bring key audiences closer to us and our purpose. 

We are looking for someone with a keen interest in social affairs, who enjoys reacting quickly to the news.  You’ll be a dynamic self-starter who seizes the initiative and is able to spot national and local PR opportunities.  You’ll be used to working in a fast paced media office and good at distilling complex information into short and engaging copy.  This post requires excellent communication skills and the confidence to engage and maintain strong relationships with national broadcasters and senior journalists as well as consumer, regional and trade media.

Main Duties

  • Manage day-to-day media relations.
  • Act as a point of contact for all media requests, briefing journalists and developing media messages on relevant issues.
  • Identify and manage proactive and reactive stories or opportunities for coverage. 
  • Work with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities and devise and execute media and PR campaigns to promote our work.
  • Monitor news and media stories, and keep staff up to date with Independent Age’s Daily Media Briefing email.
  • Create and distribute written material of the highest quality including press releases, statements, articles, crib sheets and briefings. Brief, prepare and advise staff on media interviews and work. De-brief staff after media interviews.
  • Contribute to the development and delivery of cross-organisational PR activities.
  • Build and maintain excellent working relationships and contacts with journalists, building our profile as one of the main go-to charities on older people’s issues.
  • Monitor, evaluate and report back on media and PR activities, feeding into the department’s Key Performance Indicators.
  • Manage the database of press and media contacts, ensuring journalists contacts are kept up to date.
  • Manage our media monitoring services and database of press and media coverage, logging and distributing internally as required.
  • Coordinate the organisation and delivery of media training for spokespeople.
  • Remain up to date on all areas affecting older people and the charity and ensure effective news management.
  • Protect and manage the reputation of Independent Age in the media. To report internally material that could harm the reputation of Independent Age.

Other Duties

  • Contribute to the provision of an out of hours media response service via the press office’s 24 hour media number. As required, to work out of hours and to be available at weekends and on bank holidays.
  • Update the Independent Age website with media materials.
  • To deputise for the Senior Media & PR Manager as required.

Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Independent Age is committed to equality of opportunity and of eliminating discrimination.  All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out in its Equal Opportunities Policy and all other relevant guidance/practice frameworks.

Education and Qualifications

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in media/ PR or journalism
     

Experience and Knowledge

 

 

  • A successful track record in media management.
  • A genuine interest in or knowledge of social affairs and older people’s issues.
  • Expertise in dealing with the media and selling in stories across national, consumer, regional and trade media.
  • Comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the UK’s press and media landscape.
  • Expertise in drafting press releases and press materials.
  • Strong media contacts.
  • Experience of developing and managing relationships with key journalists and media outlets.
  • Experience of handling case studies, sensitively and with care.
  • Understanding of handling reputational management issues.

Skills and Abilities

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to convey complex issues in a simple manner.
  • Excellent negotiating and influencing skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, stakeholders and external contacts.
  • Proven ability to handle sensitive, confidential issues.
  • A keen eye for detail and accuracy with strong editing and proofreading skills.
  • Ability to develop and implement media and PR plans and generate positive media coverage.
  • Ability to work calmly under pressure to tight deadlines.
  • Ability to make sound judgements and have a strong news sense.
  • Effective time management with the ability to plan, prioritise and deliver to tight timescales.
  • A creative and solutions focussed approach with the ability to identify and exploit opportunities.
  • Enthusiastic, proactive and a flexible approach to work.

 

Interviews Friday 29th June

Company

Play your part - Apply today This is an exciting time to be considering joining Independent Age. Our new strategy marks a major expansion of our activities whilst ensuring that older people are at the heart of everything we do. Whatever happens as we get older, we all want to remain independent and live life on our own terms. That’s why, as well as offering regular friendly contact and a strong campaigning voice, Independent Age provides clear, free and impartial advice on the issues that matter: care and support, money and benefits, health and mobility.   Future Plans In 2015 we began our ambitious programme to greatly increase the impact of Independent Age. At the heart of our strategy is the expansion of our services and campaigning activities. Not only does this mean we reach more people, it also gives us even greater experience on which to base all our work. Apply today Read our latest articles on Third Sector: What is it like to work in the policy and influencing division at Independent Age? A wonderful workplace for charity communications A wonderful workplace for innovation: Independent Age

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