Media Officer

Job Title: Media Relations Officer

Pay: £17.81 per hour

Overall Purpose of the Role: The Media Relations Officer is responsible for providing information to the communities served by Thames Valley Police via the media, the TVP website, and social/digital channels. The aim is to promote understanding of, and support for, the work of the Force and to promote Thames Valley Police at a local and national level.

Key Accountability Areas:

- Respond to daily and out of hours enquiries from local, national, and specialist media, including writing and distributing regular press releases. Act as an official spokesperson for the Force for local, national, and specialist media when required. Respond directly to public enquiries about incidents and activity via social and digital channels.
- Organise broadcast media interviews, manage the media at operational incidents, press conferences/briefings, and campaign launches. Support the communications officers in planning and attending open events to promote the work of the Force directly to the public.
- Monitor traditional and social media interest and coverage of national policing issues relating to TVP. Alert the Media Manager and Head of Department to any media/social media related risks to TVP and work with senior officers, including the Chief Constable's Management Team to prepare Force responses to critical incidents and national policing issues.
- Maximise opportunities and originate ideas for proactive media relations. Act as point of contact for officers in operational support functions, deal with all reactive and proactive media queries, and maximise proactive opportunities to promote the successes of the Force and engage with the public.
- Work closely with the communications teams to ensure the flow of information is appropriately timed for the media, communities, and staff. Support the implementation of public relations and local policing initiatives by contributing copy to the internet, intranet, social and digital channels, and other media appropriate to the audience.
- Contribute to media training to prepare student officers for media contact and provide guidance to officers and staff on media relations.
- Record information accurately on Vuelio and other press bureau systems to produce demands, workloads, and performance information on a regular basis.
- Monitor and evaluate traditional media and social media coverage of Force initiatives. Prepare briefings on coverage for senior officers and keep accurate records for high-profile incidents and disclosure purposes.

Knowledge and Skills Required (Essential/Desirable):

- A good standard of education with a nationally recognised communications qualification or working towards accreditation (e.g. NCTJ Proficiency Test, CAM Dip) or relevant equivalent experience. (E)
- Recent and proven experience of working with national, local, and specialist media for a high profile organisation. (E)
- Proven writing skills and an ability to give high quality interviews to the broadcast media, both live and recorded. (E)
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to remain calm and respond quickly and accurately while under pressure. (E)
- Excellent IT skills with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to learn new IT systems. (E)
- A working knowledge and understanding of social networking systems and the ability to use video and recording devices for use on YouTube, etc. (E)
- Prepared to work unsocial hours on a shift rota which includes weekends, being on-call, and out of hours working. (E)

Contact Lewis Ashcroft
Phone: 01772 208962