Press officer

Job Description

Responsible to / Senior communications and advocacy officer
Key relationship / Executive Director, senior and regional directors, regional communications staff, heads of teams
Contract / 2 years
Hours / 37.5 hours, including some evening and weekend hours
Location / ARTICLE 19 headquarters, London
Salary / Circa £28,000

Purpose

ARTICLE 19 re-branded in 2011, launching a new identity that shouts passion and expertise in the defence of freedom of expression and information. Today we are looking for an individual who can take our passion and expertise and create a media profile that conveys our messages and reflects us as an organisation in order to have greater impact.

You will join our small and dynamic Communication team who together are responsible for web, publications, events and media. You will work within the London headquarters to communicate our concerns and messages to the international media and will also spend some of your time supporting our regional offices to do the same.

You will be responsible for generating media coverage in the international media and for proactively working with colleagues worldwide to ensure our key messages are packaged appropriately and proactively targeted at influential media. You will also strengthen the integration of media work in our advocacy and programmatic work and ensure that they generate media interest.

Key responsibilities

  1. To develop and implement our strategic communications plan and priorities with the view of strengthening the integration of media work throughout our programme cycle and strengthening our media profile
  2. To build and maintain an address book of key contacts in the UK and international media and identify opportunities for, and secure, immediate and long-term media coverage
  3. To service the media in the UK and internationally, including by responding to all queries, overseeing the development of key messages and coordinating interviews
  4. To identify opportunities to engage in the media cycle, securing, writing or coordinating influential interventions, such as opinion pieces with the executive director
  5. To write and/or edit press releases and other media related publications, to ensure wide distribution, and to organise media events and news conferences
  6. To provide expert media advice to staff, including assisting them in writing materials for the media, identifying media opportunities, generating media coverage, servicing the media
  7. To ensure consistent and high-quality outputs and maintain our brand integrity
  8. To contribute to the work of the wider Communication team by helping where necessary in the management of our website, social media, print publications and other outputs.

Person specification

Requirements

/

Essential

/

Desirable

Education and qualifications

/ Educated to degree level / Qualification in journalism, communications, or a relevant social science

Experience and knowledge

/ Experience in a communications, public relations or journalist role
Experience of working with the UK and/or /international media
Experience of organising media events, such as press conferences, interview programs or activities of a similar nature
Demonstrable experience of proactively developing media campaigns with impact
Demonstrable understanding of how media coverage can be achieved, particularly in the UK and with international media, and evidence of achieving this on behalf of an organisation
Demonstrable understanding of and a commitment to human rights or development or a similar field / Experience of events management
Experience of working with the media inside and outside one region, e.g. Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America, Middle East or Asia
Experience of acting as a spokesperson and giving media interviews
Experience of working in the human rights, development of similar field
Knowledge and contacts with journalists in international / regional media

Skills and abilities

/ Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to turn complex material or jargon into plain English
Ability to communicate effectively and confidently with staff, external agencies and the general public
Excellent project management skills with ability to see projects through without supervision to tight deadlines
Ability to identify news angles in our materials and activities, and translate our messages into something attractive to the media
Ability to coach others in interview techniques and media work / Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills in Spanish, Portuguese, French or Arabic

Personal qualities

/ Self-starter, with a positive and proactive approach, prepared to generate new ideas and carry them forward
Excellent multitasker who works well under pressure in a busy environment
Good interpersonal skills with an ability to predict and deal with upcoming issues
Ability to work with people from different cultural backgrounds
Willingness to travel if required

How to apply

If you think that you have the skills and experience necessary for the role, and care passionately about defending freedom of expression, please respond with the following:

  • Cover letter: briefly describing your motivation for applying and detailing how you meet the above specification
  • CV

Please submit your application to by 29 July for interviews from 1 August.

For further information or answers to any questions: +44 20 7324 2500