The position
To create a buzz around BookTrust in the media, positioning us as the go-to organisation for anything involving children’s reading. Alongside, delivering high quality media coverage that delivers BookTrust’s key messages, and builds our profile in the most positive way possible.
Main Responsibilities include:
1. To support the Head of Communications & Campaigns in creating and delivering BookTrust’s media strategy
2. To develop, deliver and evaluate media plans for all BookTrust campaigns, parent-facing programmes and prizes
3. Targeted story generation
4. Expertise of media; both publications and individual journalists
5. To generate creative hooks and campaign ideas which help to ensure high quality coverage for BookTrust and its key stakeholders
6. To review key media and identify possible hooks or conversations that BookTrust could be part of
7. Propose ideas and putt together comments/opinion pieces/letters as appropriate
8. To develop an in-depth knowledge of consumer and parenting media
9. Pitching of stories and ideas
10. To develop an in-depth knowledge of BookTrust’s messages, research, evidence and campaigns to inform all press activity
11. To work with the campaigns, digital and marketing teams to ensure a joined-up approach
12. To create compelling copy for our parent newsletter, working closely with the Children’s Book team and Fundraising team
13. To manage our celebrity ambassadors, identifying opportunities for them and ensuring that our relationship is positive and effective
14. To develop and maintain excellent working relationships with colleagues, external partners and key media contacts to ensure high quality media coverage
15. To deal with all media enquiries in a timely and efficient manner, either responding directly or passing on to the relevant spokesperson within BookTrust
16. To arrange interviews and ensure spokespeople are clearly briefed
17. To draft press releases, letters to the media, articles to sell in to the media in a timely fashion
18. To source stories and write copy for other forums, including the website, blogs, and marketing materials as required
19. To research and communicate a weekly briefing of relevant consumer news to all BookTrust staff
20. To ensure that all staff are made aware of major press activity and that senior staff are fully briefed on messaging etc
21. To display cuttings, produce reports and monitor media coverage as required
22. Ensure a clear and concise database of media contacts
23. To attend BookTrust events and ensure that the media are briefed, and introduced to relevant spokespeople
24. To act as a BookTrust ambassador to the media as required
Required skills and experience:
25. Strong creative ability in the generation of appropriate story ideas
26. Ability to create profile opportunities by responding to the news agenda
27. Adept at communicating key organisational messages using social media
28. IT skills including Word and Excel
29. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
30. Relationship management skills
31. Significant experience either as a journalist or in-house press officer
32. Experience of managing media campaigns for newspapers, other publications, TV and radio