Shine

Media Programme Officer

Job title: Media Programme Officer

Reporting: Media Programme Lead

Contract: Permanent role

Hours: 21 hours per week

Location: Hybrid, with 1 day per week at our Maynooth office

Salary: €34,008 pro-rated to €20,405 for 21 hours

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About Shine

Shine’s vision is a more compassionate Ireland where those affected by mental illness and stigma are supported and included in all aspects of society. We specialise in supporting and educating individuals, family members and communities impacted by mental illness and stigma.

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About the Media Programme

Our Media Programme is responsible reporting and representation of mental illness and suicide in Ireland. We are a recognised global leader in innovative media and mental health practices. The media has an enormous impact on how people form their opinions about others and the society in which they live. This includes how people form their opinions on mental health and illness. Shine Media Programme works collaboratively with media professionals, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders to reduce suicide contagion via the media, improve the media’s ability to cover mental health stories, and enhance audiences’ understanding of mental health experiences. We achieve this through our media monitoring, student and professional workshops, research, policy collaborations, fellowships and awards. Most recently, Shine Media Programme has provided recommendations to the World Health Organization on their suicide reporting guidelines, Coimisiún na Meán on the Code of Programme Standards and Online Safety Code and has presented at the World Congress on Suicide Prevention.

Our primary functions are:

To support Irish media in their work of covering difficult, and sometimes traumatic mental health content, through resources, awards and fellowships
To provide training and educational supports to journalism and media professionals, and third level students
To create an evidence base through monitoring and data gathering, for the improvement of mental illness representations and mental health reporting practices in Irish media
To participate in national and international policy and research in the field of media and mental health.

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Purpose of Role

The primary purpose of this role will be to monitor reporting of suicide and mental illness in Irish media. This requires reviewing and analysing content using our new media monitoring model. Comprehensive training will be provided. In addition, the Programme Officers will work with the Shine Media Programme Team Leader across many core services, including the annual Mental Health Media Awards.

The Programme Officer will be a dynamic, resourceful, energetic, resilient and creative professional who has a passion for positive change. They will be curious by nature, with excellent attention to detail and be solution oriented. They will have an interest in Ireland’s media landscape or mental health and have a good understanding of working with data.

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Duties and Responsibilities

Media Monitoring

Work with other Programme Officers as a team to periodically monitor and analyse reporting of suicide and mental illness in Irish media
Compile quarterly monitoring reports, identifying trends relating to media coverage and representation of mental illness and suicide
Engage with media professionals on best practice reporting
Participate in external supervision for safe practice

Programme Support

Work with the Shine Media Programme Team Leader in the management and administration of the annual Mental Health Media Awards and other communications tasks
Provide editorial support to Shine Media Programme team as needed on all publications, public responses and policy positions
Work with Shine’s Comms team in the preparation of press releases and content to develop and promote the work of Shine Media Programme
Support all Shine Media Programme functions

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Essential Requirements

Fluency in English language
Professional proficiency of Microsoft Office software, especially Excel
Well-developed analytical skills and capable of critiquing research articles
Excellent communication, interpersonal & organisational skills
Experienced report writer and presentation skills
Skilled in building relationships with both internal and external stakeholders and in working collaboratively
Be enthusiastic about the nuances of language and framing
Highly motivated self-starter capable of taking initiative while also working well within a small team
Third level qualification in media, mental health or research-related field or equivalent experience
Candidates must be domiciled in and be eligible to work in Ireland

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Desirable Previous Experience

Previous experience as a journalist, researcher, content moderator, or experience in news media, media academia
2-3 years professional experience
Experience working with content analysis or data entry and interpretation
An interest in mental health
Demonstrable resilience when working with mental health content

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Benefits

Support and supervision provided by external supervisor
Training and ongoing professional development
Employer contribution to pension, including Death in Service benefit
Access to Employee Health Plan
Access to Employee Assistance Programme
24 days annual leave per annum (pro rata for part time employees)
Additional leave of one wellbeing day per annum and Good Friday
Flexible and hybrid working
Paid maternity and paternity leave

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