Media Relations Specialist

TURNER, a full-service public relations and digital communications agency specializing in travel, tourism, outdoor and active lifestyle brands, is seeking an earned media powerhouse with a passion for storytelling and media relations for the industries we serve. Candidates must have 5 to 6 years of travel + tourism media relations experience (SAE level) with demonstrated results and showcase forward-looking insight into an ever-changing landscape. The role can be based in our NYC or Denver office; we work in a hybrid work environment, in offices two days per week.

We’ve built our business around innovative brands, and our passion translates to trusted relationships and outstanding results. Named by Outside Magazine as one of the 50 Best Places to Work, we are the niche agency that speaks to each of our core audiences with authenticity.

Overview:

The Media Relations Specialist, Travel/Tourism joins a team of creative experts, and is responsible for driving results through strategic planning, creative storytelling and ongoing earned media. This role will be expected to build, maintain and own relationships with relevant media and collaborate with teams across the agency to deliver compelling brand and business stories.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and develop strong relationships with top-tier national media online and in-person.
• Identify new media and continually seek and create opportunities to place stories in all types of media, from print and digital to national broadcast, podcast and custom publishing.
• Provide consultation and support to clients and team on media industry shifts.
• Working with teams, develop earned media strategies for planned campaigns, real-time news events, and news engine programs to ensure ongoing, positive coverage.
• Understand clients’ business objectives and dive into data and business developments to find newsworthy threads.
• Build/edit relevant media lists in our shared CRM; facilitate developing new information and freelancer contributors to our network, with a keen eye on ensuring diverse voices are engaged in outreach.
• Collaborate with teams to successfully manage complex, fast-paced and unexpected communications challenges.
• Assist in managing junior staffers' media relations efforts on key accounts, including editing pitch lists and written materials as needed.
• Understand and prioritize the objectives of each assigned client; help define KPIs for earned media programs and ensure that those building reports are accurately and properly tracking all earned media programs. Analyze coverage monthly or quarterly to provide shifts in planning to ensure the team is meeting placement KPIs.
• Lead creative brainstorms as needed. Assist the team in creating compelling media engagement programs, tailored to the budgets and needs of each client, that stand out to media in a crowded landscape.
• Voraciously consume all relevant (and even non-relevant) media, maintaining constant awareness of industry trends, cultural currents, media moments and the competitive landscape.

Qualifications

Our Ideal Candidate:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a role focused on earned media outreach, with a majority of efforts in outbound media relations.
• Proven ability to secure consistent, high-quality media coverage. Ideally, depth placing consumer stories that highlight brand, business and thought leadership.
• Must have agency or in-house experience in the travel and tourism industry.
• Vested interest in the cultural conversation, including trends, influencers and the media landscape.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• A natural collaborator, as this position sits at the intersection of the company and work across teams.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to perform well in a fast-paced environment.
• Positive, solution-oriented, creative thinking.
• Proficiency using Cision, Muck Rack, or similar media database.
• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, English, marketing or a related field.

It Would Be Dreamy If You Have:

• Experience negotiating earned media with production fees or within paid narrative spaces
• If you have experience crafting a strategy for e-commerce earned pitching tied to affiliate programs.
• A strong desire to wax on about the intersection of social and earned media; the ability to strategically explain how a brand can leverage earned media across their own channels

For immediate consideration for this position, please submit your resume & work samples, cover letter and salary requirements. Must be based in NYC or Denver. Salary range, $72,000-$80,000 plus great benefits package. Please, no phone calls.

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship.