Newsdesk Officer, Grade

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
- Please note: This is a Fixed Term position for 24 m_onths._

**Main purpose of job**:
To actively promote positive stories about the UK in India network to the press, to log and respond to media enquiries in a timely manner, and to build strong working relationships with a broad range of Indian journalists. Lead on monitoring UK-India news and preparing daily news summaries for the organisation.
- We reserve the right to review, revise or amend the roles and responsibilities from time to time reflecting the changing needs of business._

**Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?**:
You will work with a range of colleagues to identify news hooks and opportunities for media engagement, draft press material (including statements and press releases) and proactively promote it to the media. You will know what makes a positive and compelling story and will work with colleagues to create and disseminate them. You will work on high-profile events and directly support Ministerial and senior official visits, in particular through identifying, setting-up and helping to manage interviews and press conferences.

You must have a solid understanding of the Indian media landscape (covering both English and vernacular, and mainstream and regional media) and the key players within it. You will need to build strong working relationships with journalists, knowing when to use off-the-record briefing to temper or rebut inaccurate reporting. You will also identify key contacts across the Indian media landscape for effectively promoting positive stories about UK activities and priorities.

**Specific responsibilities of the Newsdesk Officer include**:

- Actively monitoring the news for relevant UK-India stories and preparing in-house daily media summaries
- Monitor media inboxes to log enquiries and drafting/issuing official responses.
- Staying up to date with current and emerging trends in Indian media, including building relationships where required.
- Providing media advice and guidance to colleagues - including on timing, format and which platforms to use - to deliver key messages effectively.
- Facilitating and supporting media engagement (interviews, press briefings, managing media representatives at events etc.)
- Evaluating and measuring performance of communication outputs and media engagement
- Acting as on-call press officer through a rotational duty system.
- Supporting the budget holder in managing media subscriptions and newsdesk-related vendors

You will join the ‘News and Digital’ team, within the wider Communications team, which leads on all media and social media activity for the British High Commission in New Delhi. This requires close collaboration between the news and digital functions to maximise our impact and outreach. Work is fun and fast-paced, and you will have opportunities to get involved in the full range of activities relating to UK’s work with and in India. You will report to the Head of News and Digital.

**Language** requirements**:
**Language**: English and Hindi

**Level of language required**: The jobholder must have full professional fluency in English with good working knowledge of written and spoken Hindi. Knowledge of additional languages of India is also desirable.

A written test will be included as part of the recruitment process.

**Learning and development opportunities**:
The jobholder will be able to access a wide range of online and face-to-face training delivered for the UK Government in Britain and abroad. They will have opportunities to access specialist training for government communicators. Much of the learning is on the job, which will be diverse and varied.

**Working patterns**:
If the job is suitable for flexible working patterns, please provide details: The British High Commission network across India is committed to providing flexible work patterns. The use of mobile ICT and the nature of the job means that the jobholder will be able to work different hours according to their personal circumstances.

The High Commission is committed to ensuring employees enjoy a good work-life balance. It is a stimulating place to work where we value diversity and inclusion and care about the development of our people.- Weekend duty officer for urgent requests on a rotational basis
- Occasional evening and weekend working, as required, during high-level events and visits

**Any other information (or specific local Post requirements)**:
The job holder may be called upon to support the wider communications team when necessary, so a degree of flexibility is required.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

**Experience / Qualifications**:
**Essential on arrival**:

- 3-5 years of experience in journalism, corporate communications, or public relations.
- Exceptional writing and editing abilities
- Solid understanding of of the Indian news industry

Desirable qualifications, skills and experien