CC: So what's your background?
I studied History and American Studies at Nottingham University before doing an NCTJ post-grad course in print journalism. My first job was as a news reporter for a paper in Manchester. I then stayed in journalism for five years, working on the features desk for a magazine and a series of newspapers. Earlier this year, with the newspaper industry looking a bit worse for wear and me in need of a change, I decided to make the move to the world of the press officer. Fortunately it has not proven to be the ‘dark side’ many journalists refer to it as.
CC: How did you get this job, and did getting it fulfil a long-held ambition?
I saw it advertised on a media jobs website and instantly thought it was a job I would love to do. Not only did it offer a great career opportunity but Alzheimer’s is a cause very close to my heart. My grandad had Alzheimer’s disease when I was a teenager and I remember Alzheimer’s Society offering a lot of support to both my mum and grandma. Now I am getting the chance to give something back.
CC: How long have you worked at your current organisation for?
I only started in August but it has been a great first five months.
CC: What was your first charity job? And your first communications role?
This is my first charity job and my first communications role so I feel incredibly lucky to be here. My background was in journalism and I did work very closely with a number of charities during that time, helping promote events and raise their profile.
CC: What do you actually do on a daily basis?
It is a really varied job. In short, my role is to help handle media enquiries and to get Alzheimer’s Society coverage in newspapers, magazines on television and on the radio. This includes writing press releases, planning longer term projects, providing comments on research papers or Government policy and organising interviews. A fair bit of tea is drunk along the way too.
CC: What's been your biggest achievement in this role so far?
A couple of weeks after I started, I managed to organise a comment piece for the Independent with a fairly tight deadline. It ended up on about page 9 so that was good to see. Working with a media company to put together a 16-page dementia supplement in The Times was also a rewarding challenge.
CC: What are the most challenging parts of your role?
Trying to convince busy journalists that your story should take priority can definitely be a challenge. But when you succeed it is definitely worth it.
CC: What do you enjoy most about your job?
The variety of the work and knowing that what you are doing is making a real difference. It is so important that we keep the issue of dementia in the spotlight and make people realise just how much more needs to be done.
CC: Anything you don't enjoy?
Speaking to some of our media volunteers has made me so aware of what a devastating condition dementia is. It can be really hard to hear their stories particularly when they relate to difficulties caused by poor care or lack of support. How willing they are to help us with our work can be really, really inspiring at the same time though.
CC: What kind of personality is best suited to working in a job like yours?
I’d say you have to be the type of person who is willing to expect the unexpected. You can plan all you like but news by its very nature is unpredictable. You also need to be fairly sociable as a press officer is expected to speak to all sorts of people both within and outside of the organisation.
CC: Any top tips for people wanting to follow in your footsteps?
There’s not one path to press office work at a charity. Obviously writing skills are important as is an understanding of how the media works. However, equally important is a passion for the work and the organisation you choose to work for.
Published December 2009