Publicist

Closing date for applications: 20 August 2025

Salary: Basic salary per annum starting from £33,688.00

Job Title: Publicist, unscripted (documentaries, factual entertainment, specialist factual and current affairs)

Location: Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow

Reports to: Head of communications, unscripted (documentaries, factual entertainment, specialist factual and current affairs)

Department: Content communications

Grade: P2


Want to spend your days promoting brilliant content for one of the most innovative and dynamic broadcasters in the UK?

We’re looking for an outstanding publicist to join Channel 4’s busy content communications team. In this role you would join the team promoting Channel 4 documentaries, factual entertainment, specialist factual and current affairs, the departments responsible for some of the most ground-breaking and distinctive shows on television – from 24 Hours in Police Custody, Gogglebox, Educating Yorkshire and Virgin Island, to Open House: The Great Sex Experiment, First Dates, Jeremy Kyle Show: Death on Daytime, Leaving Neverland, SAS: Who Dares Wins, Hunted, Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Dispatches and Grand Designs.

The content communications department is responsible for generating and shaping media coverage and driving buzz around Channel 4’s programmes, content, vision, services and talent. The department proactively publicises Channel 4's programmes and content across all newspapers, digital, TV and radio, magazines, trade publications, podcasts and with influencers - with a view to driving audiences and amplifying its brand and reputation. The department is responsible for communicating the effectiveness of Channel 4's delivery against its public service remit and protecting the reputation of the organisation, its individuals and programming. The content communications department handles all media requests for programme information, talent and executive interviews, clips and pictures.

The publicist role is to develop, implement and manage creative, targeted, noisy publicity campaigns that generate conversations and drive audience viewing to Channel 4’s programmes and content as well as effectively communicating its unique remit and brand values. This role will manage campaigns for a range of programmes, with particular focus on promoting unscripted content across our documentaries, factual entertainment, specialist factual and current affairs slates. The publicist will work as part of the wider content communications team overseen by the director of content communications, and they will have the opportunity to work across multiple programming genres and with different members of the department.


Responsibilities

Reporting to head of communications, unscripted (documentaries, factual entertainment, specialist factual and current affairs), the publicist will:

• Develop and implement stand out publicity strategies for key priority programmes across the slate and come up with innovative ideas for generating noise around key projects across all broadcast channels and streaming
• Lead the proactive promotion of assigned programmes to all target media – print, broadcast, digital, podcasts and influencers
• Develop a network of excellent working relationships with journalists and influencers across a range of media
• Identify and manage issues arising out of Channel 4 projects, in conjunction with the publicity leads and head of communications – preparing Q&As, drafting lines against enquiry and fielding/answering calls
• Write and create all press materials – including press releases, press information/billings, press packs and clips etc
• Organise and manage press events, junkets, set visits and screenings
• Provide written reports and critical evaluation of priority programme campaigns, presenting to stakeholders internally and externally as required
• Work closely with picture publicity, marketing and social to deliver creative integrated PR campaigns
• Develop excellent working relationships with Channel 4 commissioning teams, independent production companies, agents and personal publicists, acting as main point of contact on assigned programmes
• Work with publicity assistants in the team to mentor and develop their PR skills and share best practice
• Participate in out of hours duty press officer rota

Knowledge, skills and experience

Technical/professional skills

• A track record of developing and implementing proactive, creative and innovative consumer PR strategies and campaigns
• A comprehensive understanding of PR and its place in the wider communications mix
• Experience of identifying, managing and mitigating contentious issues and crisis comms
• Proven flair for creative and effective writing
• Fluency in social media and a clear understanding of best practice in a PR context
• Knowledge of and some experience in incorporating digital and social/influencer innovation within press campaigns

Relationship management

• Experience of working with senior executives
• Experience of working closely with talent, managers and publicists
• Outstanding communication skills and an ability to form and maintain positive working relationships with diverse stakeholders
• An impressive network of contacts in the media and an interest in building and developing relationships with online influencers and digital media

Managing resources

• Evidence of an ability to manage a heavy workload, deal with multiple projects and to handle a busy environment with tight deadlines
• Demonstrable experience of delivering creative PR campaigns with limited budget

Autonomy/judgement/decision making

• Proven ability of writing press lines and managing press enquiries to deadline
• Ability to work with confidence and independence and as part of a close-knit team

Complexity/problem solving

• Proven record of managing press, logistical and resource issues
• Proven record of managing conflicting priorities and demands
• Business impact/strategic perspective
• Ability to think strategically under pressure

Content

• A passion for factual content
• An interest in working for Channel 4 and an understanding of its core values and remit

Desirable

• Experience in a creative, content-led or news making sector – TV, film, the arts, sport, politics etc
• Understanding of the TV and media industry
• Ability to cut clips using editing software and optimise these for different social platforms

Channel 4 is committed to diversity and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.