Publicist, FMUK in London

Reports to: Director of Communications, Fremantle UK

Location: Stephen Street, London

Contract: Permanent

Type of Work: Hybrid Working (3-4 days in office)

About Fremantle UK

Creating the Extraordinary, Together. Fremantle is one of the world’s leading creators and distributors of content, with an impressive creative heritage that dates back over 100 years. As an independent group of producers, studios, talent and content makers, Fremantle is responsible for some of the most watched shows around the world. In the UK, Fremantle has built a portfolio of industry-leading production companies, spanning unscripted, scripted and digital programming.

Our Purpose

We are driven by a shared purpose of Creating the Extraordinary, Together. We tell stories that connect people around the world, reflecting and celebrating the diversity of the communities we serve. Through compelling and irresistible entertainment, we aim to engage, inspire and create meaningful cultural impact. To achieve this, we bring together talented people from all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives both within our teams and across our productions. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture and creating opportunities for diverse talent in everything we do.

The Role

The publicist works closely with the Director of Communications and the rest of the FMUK communications team to provide PR support for key programmes from across the Fremantle UK labels and companies. The person will be comfortable implementing PR strategies across key shows and delivering dynamic, creative and effective campaigns across target media (press, tv, radio, online) which put digital at the heart and will include a strong focus on non-traditional media. The successful candidate will manage relationships with production, high profile talent, agents, PR’s, traditional and non-traditional media contacts, online journalists, social editors, bloggers, influencers and show contributors.

Main responsibilities

• To deliver strategic, proactive publicity for key programming generating widespread and favourable coverage
• To continually look for creative and innovative ways to increase positive coverage
• To be able to demonstrate digital PR campaigns that have generated widespread and measurable traction across social media (Twitter, FB, Instagram, Snapchat, bloggers and influencers etc)
• To organise and manage press days/launches/events/photo shoots/briefings with key talent
• To develop and maintain relationships with key media and other contacts
• To oversee unit photography and delivery of stills/picture packages, liaising closely with network picture teams
• To work collaboratively with colleagues in the social media and digital teams, ensuring all external communications is co-ordinated and cohesive
• Issues management – spotting potentially negative issues and working closely with the Director of Communications to prepare for them and react quickly to any issues as they occur and dealing with them in an effective and timely manner
• Establishing and maintaining effective communication and relationships with all production personnel, stakeholders, talent, agents and PRs

Skills and Experience

• An excellent news sense with the ability to spot and generate news stories, along with a strong understanding of the news gathering process in the written press, as well as radio and television
• Proven record of achievement in press and public relations - with some experience, ideally in TV/Entertainment, and demonstrable successes in the delivery of high profile, proactive publicity campaigns
• Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written and the ability to deal effectively with a range of different people (stakeholders, production, media, talent)
• Proven creativity – trying out new ideas/ways of thinking and an appetite to produce and try out new ideas and ways of securing favourable publicity
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• The ability to work effectively under high pressure and in changing circumstances, ensuring that a high standard of work and editorial judgement is maintained
• Good working knowledge of the media industry and the TV production process
• Experience of managing high profile talent and building effective working relationships
• Experience of organising and managing press events and launches
• Excellent IT skills, including advanced skills on social media platforms e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat
• Knowledge and passion for TV
• Experience of editing software and proven content creation
• Ideally some existing relationships with bloggers and influencers or else an ability to build and maintain these relationships
• An understanding of social analytics monitoring tools to be able capture reach and impact beyond traditional measures

Core Skills

• Networking: Develops and maintains relationships, both inside and outside of the business. Uses networks to gather information for business purposes, by establishing useful contacts
• Communication: Exceptional communication skills - ability to present accurate information in a clear and effective manner in line with overall strategy. Able to establish and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of people
• Creativity: Able to think creatively – come up with solutions, new ways of working – and continually try new ideas out, especially in the social space.
• Planning and organising: Ability to handle logistical aspects of work, using time and resources effectively and planning ahead. Being able to deliver work to an agreed deadline as well as being able to manage competing priorities.
• Flexibility: Ability to adapt to and work effectively with a diverse range of situations, individuals and groups. Is receptive to new ideas and different ways of approaching things, is able to adapt easily in a fast-changing environment.
• Working Together: Works collaboratively across functions, and across different levels of business to achieve maximum results. Actively co-operates with colleagues and is pro-active about supporting other team members.

Additional Information

Our benefits include generous company pension, summer Fridays, audience tickets, employee assistance program, access to free courses and training, EV scheme, cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan and volunteer days.