Senior Media Relations Specialist

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 540,000 - 720,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development support

Access to media monitoring tools

Remote work environment

Home office reimbursement

Opportunity to influence high-impact 캠

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Media Relations Specialist to lead outreach, craft compelling press materials, and build durable media partnerships from a remote location. You will steer campaigns, monitor sentiment, and drive positive press coverage for our clients across PR outlets.

The role emphasizes strategic communication, proactive media engagement, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a remote setting while maintaining high-quality outreach and relationships with journalists.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Communications, PR, Journalism or related field.
• 6+ years hands-on media relations experience, agency or in-house PR preferred.
• Proven success securing placements in reputable outlets.
• Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills for persuasive storytelling.
• Strong network of media contacts and knowledge of industry trends.
• Experience with media monitoring tools and PR databases.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute targeted media outreach to secure coverage.
• Cultivate relationships with journalists, bloggers, and media outlets.
• Craft press releases, pitches, and media kits.
• Serve as main media contact, responding to inquiries promptly.
• Monitor coverage, analyze sentiment, and report outcomes.
• Help develop crisis communication plans when needed.
• Pitch stories and product news aligning with company goals.
• Collaborate with content and marketing for cohesive messaging.
• Identify opportunities for media engagement and thought leadership.
• Maintain up-to-date media contacts database and track outreach.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Pitching & media outreach

Storytelling & writing

Relationship building

Remote work discipline

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Tools

PR databases

Media monitoring tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a distinguished entity within the Media & PR sphere, is actively recruiting a highly skilled Senior Media Relations Specialist for a completely remote position. This role is fundamental to cultivating and strengthening our client's connections with the media landscape, ensuring positive and prominent coverage. The ideal candidate will be a proactive and strategic communicator with a deep understanding of media trends and a proven ability to secure impactful placements. As a remote-first company, we empower our employees with the flexibility and resources to succeed from their chosen location. This is a prime opportunity to leverage your expertise in media outreach and storytelling to significantly influence our client's public profile. We are looking for a passionate individual who can drive narrative and build lasting relationships within the journalism community.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute targeted media outreach strategies to secure positive and prominent coverage.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with key journalists, bloggers, influencers, and media outlets.
• Craft compelling and newsworthy press releases, pitches, and media kits.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for media inquiries, responding promptly and professionally.
• Monitor media coverage across all platforms, analyze sentiment, and report on key outcomes.
• Assist in developing and executing crisis communication plans, providing support as needed.
• Pitch stories and product news to relevant media contacts, ensuring alignment with company objectives.
• Collaborate with content creators and marketing teams to ensure cohesive messaging.
• Proactively identify opportunities for media engagement and thought leadership placement.
• Maintain an up-to-date database of media contacts and track outreach efforts.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of hands-on experience in media relations, preferably within an agency or in-house PR role.
• Demonstrated success in securing media placements in reputable publications and online platforms.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a talent for crafting persuasive narratives.
• Strong understanding of media relations best practices and current industry trends.
• Proven ability to build and maintain a strong network of media contacts.
• Experience with media monitoring tools and PR databases is essential.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines in a remote setting.
• A proactive approach to identifying and capitalizing on media opportunities.
• Knowledge of the media landscape in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, ZA is advantageous.

Benefits

• A competitive annual salary of R.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Generous paid time off and annual leave.
• Support for professional development and continuous learning.
• Access to industry-leading PR and media monitoring tools.
• A supportive and collaborative remote work environment.
• The opportunity to contribute to impactful campaigns for a well-respected organization.
• Reimbursement for home office expenses.