News and Media Specialist

Join UNEP to enhance news media engagement and support environmental communications

This opening expired 1 year ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Tuesday 11 Mar 2025 at 00:00 UTC

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Overview

Join UNEP to enhance news media engagement and support environmental communications

You have:

  • Minimum three years experience working in news media engagement and media monitoring including drafting press releases and putting together analytics
  • Expertise in crafting messaging to ensure informative media pieces, pitching, conducting news campaigns, and tracking media coverage
  • Strong experience creating and placing media assets - opinion pieces, press releases, key messages, media advisories, etc
  • Knowledge and experience using media monitoring, analytics, and scheduling tools
  • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills
  • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing
  • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners
  • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment
  • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications
  • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines
  • Desirable: French language proficiency
  • Sound security awareness

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

UNEP is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP’s Communication Division communicates UNEP's core messages to all stakeholders and partners, raising environmental awareness and enhancing the profile of UNEP worldwide. This position is located in UNEP’s News Media unit which leads corporate news media engagement across the organization

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the News and Media Unit, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Draft press releases, media responses, advisories and other material for publishing in news media outlets and UNEP channels; • Prepare regular analytics reports on UNEP’s news media activity; • Support media engagement for UNEP digital campaigns • Identify opportunities for media interviews for UNEP spokespeople; • Monitor the UNEP Newsdesk email account for questions from journalists; • Support media accreditation and registration for environmental negotiations, UNEA-7 etc.
• Conduct research on news media developments and analytics tactics;
• Participate in and conduct staff trainings on various elements of news media work; • Coordinate with UNEP’s account managers and pillar leads to ensure effective integration of news media aspects into comms activities as required;
• Upload press releases on the website
• Serve as the news media monitoring focal point for report launches and other initiatives • Liaise with UNEP Regional Offices as necessary. • Perform other duties as assigned.

• Communication • Planning and organizing • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making

• Minimum three years experience working in news media engagement and media monitoring including drafting press releases and putting together analytics
• Expertise in crafting messaging to ensure informative media pieces, pitching, conducting news campaigns, and tracking media coverage • Strong experience creating and placing media assets - opinion pieces, press releases, key messages, media advisories, etc; • Knowledge and experience using media monitoring, analytics, and scheduling tools. Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Desirable: French language proficiency • Sound security awareness;

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighbouring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO).

Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP.

The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience with drafting press releases? We want to understand your practical skills in creating media communications. Detail your past roles and how you've effectively drafted and published press releases.
How do you approach media analytics and reporting? This question assesses your analytical skills in media performance. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a successful media campaign you've led. What were the key strategies? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How would you handle a difficult request from a journalist? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What tools do you utilize for media monitoring and analytics? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org