Description

The Post and Courier, South Carolina's premier news source, is seeking a Community Engagement & Marketing Strategist with a journalism background to develop, execute and monitor the success of marketing efforts aimed at growing The Post and Courier subscriber base in two of our key markets — Columbia and Myrtle Beach.

This position is part of a special project funded by the Knight Foundation aimed at growing our reach and building a stronger subscriber base in two key Post and Courier markets — Columbia, the state capital, and Myrtle Beach, a coastal city known nationally for its beaches and tourism industry. The Community Engagement & Marketing Strategist will be key to the success of this special project, working closely with the Managing Editor leading the Knight Foundation project and overseeing these newsrooms.

The Post and Courier began expanding throughout South Carolina in 2020, seeking to fill a void in news deserts or areas where local news coverage had withered. Columbia and Myrtle Beach represent key markets for our continued success. Part of that success depends on growing our brand in these markets, making readers aware of our local efforts, local journalists and local newsrooms. The Community Engagement & Marketing Strategist will help take The Post and Courier's well-respected brand from being seen as a Charleston newspaper to a vital, local news source in each of these markets.

Successful candidates will be passionate about journalism and local news. They will possess a spirit of collaboration, able to get buy-in from journalists to participate in various campaigns and events. And they will be willing to serve as public ambassadors of our brands, alongside our local journalists, sales force and other Post and Courier staff.

This in-person position will be based in Columbia.

The Post and Courier, a Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper, values in-depth storytelling, innovative reporting approaches and a commitment to accountability. Based in Charleston, we have expanded throughout the state with reporters and newsrooms in Columbia, Florence, Greenville, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill and Spartanburg. While most in the news industry face significant headwinds, The Post and Courier is growing.

Marketing responsibilities

• Develop, coordinate and execute paid digital marketing plan for each market around:
  • Local journalism and digital content
  • Reporter personalities
  • Post and Courier-sponsored events
  • Local events with which The Post and Courier participates
• Assist in the building of multi-channel campaigns using tools such as Piano, Blueconic, Hubspot, social media management platforms, etc.
• Assist in testing and optimization of offer/pricing and segmentation strategies using our subscription and audience management systems
• Owns KPIs around brand recognition using surveys, NPS, etc.
• Manage paid search and social budgets
• Manage other paid marketing budgets
• Report on campaign success and make recommendations for further optimization and tests

Events responsibilities

• Develop, coordinate and help lead events aimed at:
  • Community stakeholders who we can grow into ambassadors for our brand
  • General public to build our brand
  • Subscriber retention
  • Key content areas that will help build readership in strong, niche areas
• Oversee non-digital marketing budget
• Develop partnerships for content and events
• Develop community source-building program to engage our readers and encourage them to provide news tips and participate in news-gathering efforts as community journalist

Qualifications

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Strong journalism skills and experience in a newsroom environment preferred.
• Experience developing, executing and managing paid digital marketing efforts.
• Experience coordinating or leading community engagement events.
• A demonstrated record of success in growing and engaging digital audiences
• Experience understanding and communicating analytics to guide decisions.
• Experience with social media and an understanding of how different types of content excel on different platforms.
• The ability to move projects forward in a collaborative environment.
• The ability to juggle multiple projects across multiple markets at one time.
• Strong writing and sharp editing skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours including early mornings, nights and weekends as needed.

Requirements, minimum education level and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing or related field.
• At least 3 years of demonstrated marketing or audience engagement experience.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organization and prioritization skills with excellent follow through.