Senior Publicist - BET

This is a Full Time Job

About The BrandBET Networks, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news, and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe. Overview and Responsibilities

The Senior Publicist will work closely with the Director, Communications & Publicity to develop and execute internal and external communications strategies for BET Music and Specials. This position will play a key role in continually developing and upholding the company's corporate, industry and consumer-facing reputation, and communicating strategy to key partners. The role will support in the development of creative positioning and strategy for consumer-facing talent initiatives, series and film launches and events. Additional responsibilities to include:
• Develop and execute comprehensive and creative communications strategies for scripted and unscripted original series, as well as Award shows and specials

• Liaise with production to coordinate on-set press visits for assigned programming or specials. Pitch and secure coverage across broad range of media, and respond to media requests for pre-premiere, in-season and bridge/evergreen stories. Proactively identify traditional and unique opportunities to maximize press coverage across multiple platforms

• Track budgets for media campaigns

• Create, write and disseminate press materials for programming including press releases, talking points, fact sheets, briefings, show synopses, pitches and media alerts/items. Identify and pull clips for strategic placement; make recommendations for review coverage

• Cultivate and expand positive relationships with the media across broadcast, print (weekly, long lead), online/blogger (mainstream, niche), and entertainment trade segments, as well as emerging media

• Spearhead communications with trade outlets to message production news stories. Pitch and secure seasonal network programming stories (TV previews and highlights)

• Work cross-functionally to nurture relationships with internal and external stakeholders to strategize and execute successful promotional campaigns. Work closely with show creators/executives, talent, production and programming executives, as well as outside PR representatives. Work across departments including original programming, marketing, legal, digital, social media, creative services, post production to ensure an open pipeline between content creation, promotion and publicity. Partner with social and digital teams to share assets, capture content and coordinate roll-out strategies across platforms

• Plan and execute all aspects of press events including local/regional/national media tours, SMTs, press junkets, etc.

• Join PR team in staffing tentpole events, escorting talent, managing red carpet flow, staffing the ''top of carpet'', and filling in media gaps when needed

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 years' experience in public relations industry

• Minimum bachelor's degree

Additional Qualifications

• Excellent communicator with strong oral and writing skills

• Interest in the entertainment industry, with particular emphasis on experience at a broadcast or cable network

• Ability to support initiatives that require teamwork in a fast-paced environment and maintain a positive and professional attitude

• Self-starter who can juggle multiple projects at one time under time constraints

• Ability to create and follow timelines and be successfully detail oriented

• Adept at social media tools and trends