BBC Publicist

JOB BAND: C
CONTRACT: 12-month Fixed Term Contract, Part-time
DEPARTMENT: Communications, BBC Chief Operating Group
LOCATION: London Broadcasting House/Salford Quay House
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: Up to £40,000 pro-rata, plus London weighting if applicable, depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

We’re happy to discuss flexible working. If you’d like to, please indicate your preference in the application, although there’s no obligation to do so at this stage. Flexible working will form part of the discussion at offer stage.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
This is a fantastic opportunity to join the BBC as a Publicist, working flexibly across a wide range of priority content and corporate projects.

The role will be working across a range of briefs, but there will be a focus on the BBC’s speech radio and podcast offer, including Radio 5 Live and content on BBC Sounds. It would suit a creative and enthusiastic communications professional with a strong interest in audio, news, sport and topical programming.

You will help audiences discover distinctive BBC content through creative, digital-first storytelling, from major live news and sporting moments to compelling investigations, documentaries, interviews and podcasts. You will also work flexibly on other communications priorities from across the BBC, according to changing editorial and organisational needs.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM?
This is an opportunity to work at the heart of BBC Communications, promoting some of the UK’s most trusted, distinctive and talked-about content.

The role will be working across a range of briefs, with a focus live radio, podcasts and on-demand programming covering news, sport, culture, entertainment and investigations. This could include major moments on Radio 5 Live, as well as priority speech audio titles and campaigns from across the BBC.

You will work closely with programme makers, editors, commissioners, senior stakeholders, presenters and contributors to develop creative publicity that drives listening, reaches different audiences and sparks wider conversation.

As part of the BBC’s wider Publicist team, you will also have opportunities to contribute to campaigns beyond your core areas of interest and expertise, developing your experience across different genres, services and parts of the organisation.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

As a Publicist, you will:

• Lead creative, integrated publicity campaigns for priority BBC content, talent and editorial moments across print, online, broadcast, social media and digital platforms.
• Develop creative, digital-first ways to tell stories about BBC content and talent, working collaboratively to shape publicity for the platforms and audiences it is intended to reach.
• Deliver proactive campaigns from planning and messaging through to press materials, pitching, interviews, talent coordination, press events and other media opportunities.
• Identify compelling stories, develop clear narratives and build trusted relationships with journalists and media contacts across news, sport, entertainment, culture, audio and digital media.
• Manage reactive press activity, including journalist enquiries, breaking news lines and sensitive or high-profile editorial issues, and take part in an out-of-hours and weekend on-call rota.
• Work confidently with senior stakeholders, editors, commissioners, programme makers, presenters, talent, agents, producers and external publicists, providing clear communications and reputational advice where required.
• Collaborate with Publicists and communications colleagues across the BBC, contributing flexibly to forward planning, campaigns and projects beyond your principal areas of focus in line with wider BBC priorities.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

We are looking for an experienced, creative and collaborative communications professional who can combine strong publicity instincts with sound editorial judgement.

An interest in speech radio, podcasts, news and sport would be particularly valuable for this role, alongside the flexibility and curiosity to work across the breadth of BBC content and priorities.

ESSENTIAL

• A proven track record of planning and delivering creative, effective publicity campaigns that secure strong coverage across print, online, broadcast and digital media.
• Excellent news judgement and a strong understanding of the media landscape, with the ability to identify compelling stories, respond confidently to a fast-moving news agenda and handle sensitive or high-profile issues.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to turn complex information into clear, accurate and engaging press materials, briefings, reactive statements and digital content.
• Strong creative instincts and ideas for using digital-first storytelling to engage audiences across social, video and other digital platforms, alongside traditional media.
• Strong stakeholder management, organisational and prioritisation skills, with the confidence to provide clear communications advice, build collaborative relationships and deliver high-quality work across multiple priorities and tight deadlines.

DESIRABLE

• A demonstrable interest in speech radio, podcasts, news, sport and distinctive BBC storytelling, with an understanding of the role of public service media.
• Experience of delivering publicity for radio, podcasts, audio or other editorial content within a media, cultural or creative organisation.
• Experience of working with content creators, presenters or digital talent to develop engaging publicity opportunities that reach broad and diverse audiences.

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

Redeployment

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Find out more about the BBC

Life at BBC

Here you will benefit from:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pensionscheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract.

Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

Candidate pack

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy

Disability confident

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.

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