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What are the Different Types of Media Relations Jobs?

G. Melanson
G. Melanson

While large organizations such as universities and corporations often have a communications department with several types of media relations jobs, people in the public eye also hire media relations professionals for their individual needs. Media relations firms and departments offer a wide range of opportunities across the public relations spectrum. Some of these media relations jobs include communications officers, directors, assistants, administrators, publicists, and writers. While some of these positions may be hired as permanent staff, others are recruited on an as-needed, for-hire basis to supplement the firm or department’s existing manpower.

Communications officers have some of the most diverse responsibilities in public relations, including fielding queries from the press, media monitoring, speech writing, and issuing press releases. While a communications officer may participate in the development and implementation of media strategies, it is usually the responsibility of a media or communications director to lead a long-term plan. A director might make decisions regarding the type and manner in which information should be relayed when announcing a policy development or implementing damage control. Some of the more entry level media relations jobs include communications assistant or communications coordinator and administrator. A communications assistant’s responsibilities might include media monitoring and fielding incoming inquiries, whereas an administrator’s responsibilities are likely to include a more broad range of administrative duties unrelated to media relations.

Being a spokesperson is a type of media relations job.
Being a spokesperson is a type of media relations job.

Unlike a media relations department, which only represents the larger organization it’s part of, a media relations firm is a business that’s contracted by a number of different clients. Some of these clients may be famous individuals such as actors, musicians, or professional athletes, who often employ numerous people themselves and have the same media relations needs that a company might. Media relations jobs that entail representing celebrities often have the title of spokesperson or publicist, and involve releasing statements on behalf of the celebrity, arranging and supervising interviews and press conferences for the celebrity, and advising the celebrity on general issues pertaining to his or her public image.

A publicist may arrange press conferences for celebrities or politicians.
A publicist may arrange press conferences for celebrities or politicians.

Writers who can produce communications material are also part of most public relations teams. Media relations firms or departments might employ a writer amongst their other media relations jobs, or they may outsource a freelance writer on an as-needed basis. Media relations writers write speeches, media releases, grant applications, newsletters, website content, and other external communications material.

Discussion Comments

ZipLine

I work for media relations of a company. My job basically entails contacting various media companies for advertisement. I do research and look at statistics to determine which media platforms to work with that would best increase our client base.

serenesurface

@SteamLouis-- I don't think it's true for most people. It is true that people in media relations that work with well known people disseminate information about the person to various media sources. But this is usually about their work. A publicist will also schedule interviews with papers and magazines, organize photo-shoots, etc. It's basically PR work with the media and I think that most people use it with good intentions.

In fact, it's usually the publicist that warns about negative news in the media and looks for ways to avoid it in the future. There are also well known people who do not have a media relations manager. They do all their communications themselves, it's rare but still occurs.

SteamLouis

I don't know if there is any truth to this, but I've read that some celebrities use their media relations people or publicist to create news about the celebrity. So let's say a celebrity is losing popularity, she or he may create hype in the media about a new relationship or a new work projects. A lot of the times, it's just not true but it works in garnering attention for the celebrity again.

Like I said, I don't know if this is true, but I certainly wouldn't want to be a part of a media relations team that does these things.

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    • Being a spokesperson is a type of media relations job.
      By: Gino Santa Maria
      Being a spokesperson is a type of media relations job.
    • A publicist may arrange press conferences for celebrities or politicians.
      By: picsfive
      A publicist may arrange press conferences for celebrities or politicians.
    • Media relations includes customer representatives who can promote a company's products.
      By: lightwavemedia
      Media relations includes customer representatives who can promote a company's products.