Media Officer

Package Description

Responsible to: Head of Media and Public Affairs

Starting salary: £42,955

Working Hours: 35 per week

Contract details: Full time, permanent. Hybrid working with some mandatory office days required.

If you have any queries or would like to informally discuss the role, please contact Gemma Kappala-Ramsamy, Head of Media and Public Affairs - gemma.kappala-ramsamy@londoncouncils.gov.uk

Please be advised that the application deadline for this role will close at 11:59pm on Monday 10th March 2025. Interviews are due to be scheduled for Wednesday 26th March 2025.

Job Introduction

In a fast-evolving media landscape, do you have the determination, creativity and skills to ensure local public services in London get the media attention they deserve?

We want to recruit a highly-motivated, confident and astute Media Officer to join our communications team.

You will have a background in media relations, politics or campaigns with knowledge of and keen interest in London local government. 

You will have a track record of success in creating and delivering impactful media relations strategies to support organisational priorities.

You will also have the political skills to be able to work effectively in a cross-party organisation. Exceptional written and oral communication skills are essential, as is a commitment to London and its people. This is an opportunity to work London-wide in a prominent role.

You will need to be a team player and be confident talking to colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.

The job includes planning, research and writing plus daily contact with journalists and politicians. 

This is a politically restricted post, under Section 2 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Please note that anyone using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT or Copilot to answer sift questions may be marked down if they do not also include original content that demonstrates their aptitude, experience and skills. Using these tools also runs the risk of plagiarism.

Main Responsibilities

1.  To contribute to the development and implementation of proactive media strategies for London Councils’ policy and lobbying priorities.
2. Provide a responsive and efficient service to journalists and other callers, by answering calls and emails and providing follow-up information, including as part of a shared staff out of hours rota.
   
   
3. Deliver high-impact media relations covering the full range of London Councils work as required, proactively pursuing opportunities for influencing and creating stories.
   
   
4. Organise events, media interviews and other opportunities to promote London Councils.
   
   
5. Provide excellent advice and support to lead Members, senior officers and policy teams to identify and implement agreed media opportunities.
   
   
6. Monitoring and analysis of media coverage and journalist relationships on London issues.
   
   
7. Provide detailed, comprehensive and accurate briefing material to assist members and officers when they are dealing with the media.
   
   
8. Represent London Councils as required at external events.
   
   
9. Write articles and speeches for external use; write copy for internal and external publications.
   
   
10. Use, update and maintain to a high standard the media monitoring software used by London Councils, accurately recording media enquiries in real time and sending out media releases.  Maintain up to date mailing lists and record coverage.
    
    
11. To play a role in actively promoting media campaigns and lobbying activity on London Councils’ website and social media channels.
    
    
12. Ensure that all work takes account of legal requirements, including media law, copyright, data protection, rules governing local government publicity, and London Councils’ policies and protocols.

Read about the job activities in more detail in the Job Description and Person Specification document attached below.

The Ideal Candidate

Listed below are the requirements needed to undertake this job.  These will form a key part of the selection process.  In addition, all jobs with London Councils require satisfactory work performance and a good attendance record together with good standards of conduct and personal behaviour.  Evidence of these will be sought as part of the selection process.

Experience and qualifications

1. Experience of successful delivery of media relations services within a complex organisation.
   
   
2. An NCTJ/CIPR qualification and/or evidence of professional development is desirable but not essential.

Knowledge and skills

1. Good understanding of the London political landscape and good contacts in the media.
   
   
2. Good understanding of London Councils’ objectives and the financial, legal and political context of local government, especially in London.
   
   
3. Ability to build up comprehensive policy knowledge across the range of London Councils’ activity and to develop expertise in particular areas.
   
   
4. Skills to develop creative, impactful and deliverable media initiatives and campaigns that result in desired media coverage, raising the profile of London local government and the issues that matter to Londoners.
   
   
5. Ability to build positive relationships with elected members, partners and colleagues and provide advice and guidance that is well respected and valued.
   
   
6. Ability to build positive relationships with journalists. 
   
   
7. Ability to manage a varied workload, meeting tight deadlines.
   
   
8. Ability to plan and monitor own work in a team context, feeding regularly into a central planning grid.

All applications will be processed using a blind sifting method. This means that personal identifying details will be removed to ensure fair and unbiased shortlisting of applications.

About The Company

London Councils is the collective of London local government, the 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation. They come together through London Councils to work in collaboration to deliver their shared ambitions for London and Londoners.

Through lobbying, collaboration and partnership, we ensure the voice of the London boroughs are united, and heard at a local, regional and national level.

We also run a number of services on behalf of the boroughs including the Freedom Pass, Taxicard and Health Emergency Badge (HEB) and London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS).

Read more about London Councils - London Councils