Media And Communications Officer

Position Summary

• Description: The Media and Communication officer plays a crucial contributory role in developing and implementing comprehensive support to the implementation of communication strategies to enhance our organization's visibility and reputation.
• Their support will focus on tailored media relations, content development and production, and media campaign management, ensuring alignment with CCSI organizational goals.
• Their passion for storytelling, excellent communication skills, and a knack for creative problem-solving is pertinent.

Responsibilities

Media and Communication Support - Portfolio:

• Manage a systemic record of all agreed deliverables and ensure adherence to agreed activities.
• Support media coordination activities for events and field visits, including media interviews, press releases, media appearances, etc.
• Engage and participate in routine check-in calls with clients and other stakeholders, and regular planning calls.
• Support campaign/event project planning and delivery.
• Any other related tasks assigned.

Media relations and engagement:

• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, media houses, producers, and other relevant media stakeholders.
• Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, statements, opinion pieces, media pitches, talking points, and other media materials.
• Coordinate media interviews, press briefings, media roundtables, and other media engagement activities.
• Identify opportunities for the organisation's leadership and technical experts to contribute to public discourse through interviews, expert commentary, and thought leadership.
• Facilitate media coverage of organisational activities, programmes, campaigns, events, and milestones.
• Maintain an up-to-date database of media contacts, outlets, and relevant stakeholders.
• Track media coverage and assess the visibility, accuracy, tone, and reach of stories about the organisation and its areas of work.

Issues management and crisis communication:

• Monitor emerging issues that may affect the organisation's reputation, programmes, partners, or stakeholders.
• Support the preparation of holding statements, key messages, frequently asked questions, briefing notes, and other materials for sensitive or high-profile issues.
• Escalate potential reputational risks and emerging misinformation to the appropriate supervisor or management team.
• Support the implementation of crisis communication plans and coordinate information gathering with relevant teams.
• Verify information before publication and help ensure that organisational responses are timely, factual, consistent, and proportionate.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgement when handling sensitive information and media enquiries

Reputation Management:

• Lead on planning of annual endowment for media and visibility of the events, harvesting analytics regularly with feedback to improve planning and execution.
• Develop media contacts base with regular updating, including compiling profiles of key media contacts.
• Provide support for media engagements throughout the whole process: including setting up interviews, interview coordination, and reporting coverage.
• Provide support with media briefing material in preparation for interviews (ensuring media interviewers are well prepared with pre-reads and any necessary content to help make the interview fruitful for both parties).
• Conduct daily media monitoring, reporting and counseling for reputation management purposes.
• Press trip management, including identifying key stakeholders, providing briefing support, and monitoring the outcomes of press trips.
• Draft Op-ed, written Q&As etc., including pitching for media placements and engagements.

Content Development:

• Develop high-quality communication materials that communicate the organisation's work, achievements, research, and impact.
• Produce news stories, feature articles, human-interest stories, case studies, success stories, blogs, newsletters, website content, and other editorial materials.
• Translate technical reports, research findings, policy documents, and programme outcomes into accessible content for non-technical audiences.
• Identify compelling story angles that demonstrate the human impact of programmes and initiatives.
• Support the production of multimedia content, including short videos, interviews, photography, podcasts, and digital storytelling products.
• Ensure all communication materials are factually accurate, editorially sound, audience-appropriate, and consistent with organisational messaging and brand guidelines.
• Work with programme teams and partners to identify stories, gather evidence, verify information, and secure appropriate consent for the use of photographs, interviews, and personal stories.
• Develop and refine podcast concepts, content calendars, and episode plans to align with target audience interests and podcast goals.
• Manage production schedules, coordinate logistics with hosts, guests, and sound engineers, and ensure timely episode releases.
• Knowledge of basic video editing skills

Media monitoring, intelligence, and reporting:

• Conduct daily or periodic monitoring of traditional and digital media for coverage relevant to the organisation, its partners, programmes, and areas of interest.
• Prepare media monitoring reports, coverage summaries, media scans, and communication performance updates.
• Analyse media narratives, public sentiment, emerging issues, misinformation, and reputational risks that may affect the organisation.
• Identify influential voices, recurring narratives, information gaps, and opportunities for proactive communication.
• Provide timely insights and recommendations to management to inform communication decisions and stakeholder engagement.
• Maintain accurate records of media mentions, published stories, interviews, communication outputs, reach, and engagement metrics.
• Contribute to periodic reports assessing communication performance against agreed objectives and indicators.

Events and stakeholder communications:

• Support communication planning and execution for conferences, workshops, launches, policy dialogues, training sessions, and other organisational events.
• Prepare event briefs, invitations, speeches, presentations, talking points, programmes, and post-event reports.
• Coordinate media attendance, interviews, photography, videography, and event coverage.
• Develop post-event content, including highlights, news stories, social media updates, and summaries of key outcomes.
• Support communication and information-sharing with partners, government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, and other stakeholders.

Communication| Project Visibility | Strategy and Planning:

• Support clients with strategic thought partnerships, plans, and approaches.
• Collaborate with programs team to plan and manage communication-related events, including program launches, donor visits, workshops, Radio/TV campaigns and community outreach activities.
• Conduct media research to keep up to date with new media developments.
• Supporting impactful media campaign management, evaluating successes and lessons learned.
• Represent the organization in communication groups, and media events.
• Support in implementing core communication activities with other departments.
• Provide support in enhancing visibility for all organization's programs and projects.
• Support the development of proposals in core communication RFPs.

Qualifications

Essential Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Demonstrable experience supporting media for development work
• Being technology savvy
• Experience with report writing
• Organizational skills including managing and coordinating activity calendars

Desirable Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced program environment, prioritizing tasks and managing multiple deadlines.
• Familiarity with local culture across regions in Nigeria, including cultural nuances, customs, and traditions.
• Experience working in a diverse and inclusive environment, with a strong understanding of social justice and equity principles.
• Knowledge of local languages (e.g., Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Idoma, Bini, Ibibio etc.) and ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Familiarity with Nigerian media landscape, including local media outlets and influencers.
• Experience with community engagement, advocacy, and/or public outreach initiatives.
• Strong understanding of Nigerian history, politics, and social issues.
• Ability to travel frequently within Nigeria.

Competencies:

• Ability to take initiative with minimal supervision.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to think and act strategically
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in written and oral communications.
• Advanced independent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strong computer skills: proficient with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word and PowerPoint)
• Must have demonstrable and proven strong journalistic skills alongside ability to analyze complex information and identify key insights.