ASSOCIATE, MEDIA RELATIONS  

Detroit, United States

Weber Shandwick has an exciting opportunity for an Associate, Integrated Media / Media Relations to join our team. We are looking for a collaboration-minded person with a passion for successfully engaging media professionals, ability to create story-telling narratives and experience garnering earned attention for consumer products and/or brands. The Media Relations Associate will provide U.S. communications support for an OEM vehicle brand.

Job description:

Fundamentally, we’re looking for a storyteller – someone who has the instincts and ability to tell a story and in doing so considers: what SMEs are needed? What media assets best tell the story? What third-party experts strengthen the story? What are our competitors doing in the space and how can our story differentiate itself?  Why would readers / consumers care about our story? What’s in it for them? Which media should we target and why? How (and what) data could inform my strategies and storytelling?

Those skills will be the foundation for all of the other requirements, including:

• Impeccable AP Style writing skills
• Curiosity and a desire to learn more about the auto industry, related car culture topics, our client’s products and their competitors
• An understanding of how the storytelling – and media – landscape has evolved
• Draft and send daily monitoring reports
• Conduct thorough, meaningful research on OEM products and competitors
• Collaborate with clients and subject matter experts to draft press materials
• Assist with media asset development, including gathering content and ideation
• Media pitching – ability to ideate stories, curate a media list, and report out on coverage received and media reception
• Identify appropriate targets (auto media, lifestyle media, tech media, influencers and thought leaders) and curate stories that garner earned media coverage
• Ability to develop media relations action plans, including goals and objectives, media targets, story angles and outreach approaches, in collaboration with and support from senior media relations experts
• Persuasively engage media and earn high-profile coverage for client partners
• Help develop and manage timelines and action plans to ensure deadlines are met
• Manage detailed tasks associated with planning and implementing special public relations events
• Proactively offer insights and collaboration with media relations teammates about media observations, changes with media contacts, programs and/or formats
• Interact with variety of client facing teams, analytics, creative and integrated media experts, with input on media relations strategies and tactics
• Manage your time efficiently
• Contribute to internal agency activities, volunteer efforts and programs aimed to enhance and foster a dynamic and inclusive workplace where people can be their authentic selves
• Social trend monitoring and proactive ideation, to bring forward culture and social first ideas for our clients

Qualifications:

• 2+ years of communications experience, preferably in a dedicated media relations environment
• Strong media relations skills and relationships with national, regional and local levels and across platforms
• Previous consumer goods/brands and related industries experience
• Excellent communication/presentation skills; verbal and written
• Strong attention to detail and project management skills
• Open to giving and receiving constructive and respectful feedback in a timely manner
• Desire to continuously learn new skills and knowledge, and willingness to share skills and knowledge with fellow team members, as well as client partners
• Commitment to personal accountability
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in communication, journalism, or a related field, though specific academic study is not required in lieu of work experience

The Weber Shandwick Collective recognizes that your health and wellbeing are a priority. This is why we offer a full suite of benefits including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k (with employer match)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Juice Money - $60 monthly reimbursement to be used towards purchases that nourish your health, mind, body, and soul
• MyDays – Flexible holiday schedules
• Short-Term Disability
• Paid Employee Family Leave
• Family Building Benefit

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.