Media Relations Officer

Placements24; Vereeniging; Hybrid; ZAR 420,000 - 640,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Life cover

Retirement annuity

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a seasoned Media Relations Officer in Vereeniging to lead media engagement, craft press materials, and shape public messaging. The role blends in-office collaboration with remote flexibility in a dynamic financial services setting.

The ideal candidate has at least 5 years in media relations, strong writing and editing skills, and the ability to build journalist relationships. A tertiary communications degree is required, with a preference for SA market insight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in media relations, PR, or journalism, preferably within the financial services sector.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with media contacts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong editing and proofreading abilities.
• Experience in drafting compelling press materials and pitches.
• Understanding of media monitoring and reporting tools.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Knowledge of the financial services industry is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in MS Office and experience with media databases.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute media relations strategies to enhance brand visibility and reputation.
• Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, and other PR materials.
• Respond promptly and professionally to media inquiries and requests for information.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, and broadcast producers.
• Monitor media coverage and report on key trends and opportunities.
• Assist in developing messaging and talking points for spokespeople.
• Organize and coordinate media events, interviews, and press conferences.
• Manage social media outreach related to media engagement.
• Provide support for crisis communication efforts when necessary.
• Stay abreast of industry news and competitive media activity.

Skills

Media relations

PR writing

Stakeholder mgmt

Editing

Crisis communication

Project management

Communication

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field

Tools

Media databases

Media monitoring tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent financial services institution, is seeking a dynamic Media Relations Officer to join their growing communications team in Vereeniging, Gauteng . This role is crucial for managing the company's relationship with the media, ensuring accurate and positive coverage of its services and initiatives. You will be responsible for developing media strategies, writing press materials, responding to media inquiries, and building strong relationships with journalists and industry publications. The ideal candidate possesses a keen understanding of the financial sector and the media landscape, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. This position offers a collaborative work environment with a Hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. You will be instrumental in shaping the public perception of our client within the competitive financial services market in Gauteng.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute media relations strategies to enhance brand visibility and reputation.
• Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, and other PR materials.
• Respond promptly and professionally to media inquiries and requests for information.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, and broadcast producers.
• Monitor media coverage and report on key trends and opportunities.
• Assist in developing messaging and talking points for spokespeople.
• Organize and coordinate media events, interviews, and press conferences.
• Manage social media outreach related to media engagement.
• Provide support for crisis communication efforts when necessary.
• Stay abreast of industry news and competitive media activity.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in media relations, PR, or journalism, preferably within the financial services sector.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with media contacts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong editing and proofreading abilities.
• Experience in drafting compelling press materials and pitches.
• Understanding of media monitoring and reporting tools.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Knowledge of the financial services industry is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in MS Office and experience with media databases.

Benefits

This role offers a competitive annual salary of . Our client provides a comprehensive benefits package including medical aid, life cover, and a retirement annuity. We are committed to the professional development of our employees and offer opportunities for training, workshops, and industry events. This Hybrid position offers a flexible work arrangement, allowing for a healthy work-life balance with time spent both in our offices in Vereeniging, Gauteng and working remotely. Employees will have access to modern office facilities and a supportive team culture. Performance bonuses are awarded for outstanding contributions.