Media Officer - GCS - Cabinet Office Communications
You will be operating at the very heart of government, helping to shape news coverage on issues that affect everyday lives. One of the main aspects of your role will be responding to incoming queries from the media and participating in the round-the-clock duty rota.
This will involve proactively monitoring for breaking news and coverage that might require correction or clarification, providing swift and effective responses to requests for comment and keeping the department abreast of developments.
To be successful in this role, you will be confident in turning complex information into clear content that resonates with diverse audiences. You’ll be responsible for developing innovative communication plans across multiple platforms, beyond traditional print and broadcast media, working creatively with colleagues on digital and social media channels to reach different audiences.An essential part of this role is collaboration, and you will work closely with ministers, communication professionals and other stakeholders to create clear communication strategies and finalise messaging.
About the GCS
By joining a communications team, you will become a member of the Government Communication Service, a profession of over 7000 communicators working in government departments, agencies and arm’s length bodies. You’ll benefit from continuous professional development from our new learning and development curriculum, a network of skilled communicators sharing best practice, mentoring opportunities and more!
The Cabinet Office is seeking an ambitious new Media Officer to join its communications team, to help it execute targeted media campaigns around a wide range of key Government policies.
You must be a talented, proactive and creative communications professional with experience of working with traditional and digital media to secure favourable coverage and manage negative reporting.
This is a unique position which provides exposure to senior officials and Ministers across a range of high-profile, sensitive issues.
You will also support the team’s delivery of a quality 24/7 media relations operation for our Ministers and will seek out positive news stories from across the Cabinet Office’s broad policy remit.
You will be comfortable speaking to national media, including political and Whitehall correspondents, and have a passion for creating creative and engaging news stories to explain Government work to the public.
The Media Team explains and promotes the work of the Cabinet Office by turning the department’s activity into compelling stories which engage our target audiences and illustrate our purpose and can be used in digital and traditional media.
The press office works closely with the department’s external affairs and internal communications teams to provide an integrated communications capability for our Ministers and senior officials. And being part of the centre, we also work flexibly to support the Prime Minister’s communications priorities when needed.
The Cabinet Office has a vital role at the heart of the UK’s government, responsible for the effective running of government and taking the lead in certain critical policy areas. More information about our work can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office/about
Working under the guidance of a Senior Media Officer and team-lead Chief Media Officer, you will:
- Deliver creative news stories and media content that engages our audiences and the public on the vital work of the Cabinet Office and cross-Government priorities.
- Work constructively with senior policy colleagues and partners to hunt out good news stories within the Cabinet Office’s extensive policy areas.
- Provide considered communications advice to ministers, special advisers and senior officials on new, developing and existing policy.
- Support Ministers on external visits to manage media interviews and help create photo and video content for social media.
- Demonstrate excellent written and editing skills to deliver quality and timely press releases, rebuttals and lines to take in response to developing stories.
- Deliver strong evaluation of media output to inform future proactive and reactive media campaigns.
- Participate in the out-of-hours duty rota (for which an overtime allowance is paid) and respond to emerging news stories in a timely manner, rebutting inaccuracies and supporting more accurate coverage.
- Support the delivery of engaging digital media content, ensuring our announcements play out across social media platforms.
- Working on our weekly ‘grid’ of communications activity, seeking necessary approvals for proactive communications and planning activity to ensure maximum impact.