Senior Media Officer

**Senior Media Officer**
**Southwark, SE1 | £220 Day Umbrella | Initial 3 Month Contract | Full-Time | Start ASAP**

We are seeking a Senior Media Officer to join a local authority based in Southwark, SE London. This role will see you manage the reputation of the council by promotion good work of the organisation using media channel, and responding effectively to reactive media enquiries.
The Media Officer will be part of a core team working on one specific priority area, using their media management expertise to promote the councils work and keep residents informed.

**Role Responsibilities**
- To develop story ideas to promote the policies of the council for print, broadcast and digital media, and to sell stories to journalists with accuracy, imagination and conviction to secure positive coverage for the council.
- To respond effectively to enquiries from print, broadcast and digital media and ensure that the council’s position is credible and effectively communicated.
- To build and maintain close links with national, regional, trade and local media and develop contacts within specialist areas of activity.
- To demonstrate creativity in using media to generate interest in and encourage discussion about key council projects.
- To research, simplify and summarise compelling stories about a range of council services and initiatives to generate positive coverage, and to write engaging copy for a range of council publications.
- To provide an out of hours service in the evenings and at weekends on a rota basis and initiate the council’s emergency communications plan when required in a major emergency. This duty requires being able to issue media statements, respond to enquiries and keep senior colleagues informed of events during non-office hours.
- To brief officers and elected members to take part in interviews with print, broadcast or digital journalists.
- To undertake other duties as directed in line with the overall communications objectives of the council.
- To contribute to the production of council publications with high quality copy and photography.
- To work with the policy and public affairs team, and departmental officers to produce briefing notes, Q&A and other media information.
- To keep up to date with the changing landscape of traditional and digital media, and converse with journalists via their preferred route.
- To keep up with best practice in media relations, attending meetings of professional bodies, training events and reading material as agreed as part of the annual workplan.
- To raise the profile of Southwark by developing and maintaining links with external organisations such as partners, contractors, professional bodies, voluntary sector, media and local and national government bodies in order to augment council communications.

**Person Specification**
- Degree, professional qualification or demonstrable experience in marketing, media or communications
- Up to date knowledge of the changing nature of media relations
- Excellent written and oral communications skills with the ability to present complex issues in a clear, concise and understandable manner
- Background of working in a public sector organisation, local authority or similar is advantageous

**Job Types**: Full-time, Temporary contract, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 3 months

**Salary**: Up to £220.00 per day

**Benefits**:

- Company car
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- On-site parking

Schedule:

- Day shift
- Flexitime
- Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

- London: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in London