Trainee Exec in the Digital Marketing and PR

The Keogh Partnership

The Keogh Partnership will shortly launch an affiliate social media company, brand to be announced imminently.

We are looking for a suitably knowledgeable and enthusiastic trainee executive to work with us. Eligibility for the Job Bridge intern scheme would be an advantage but not absolutely necessary.

Are you suitably qualified and interested or do you know someone who might be? If so please contact, hello@thekeoghpartnership.ie for more information and forward a current CV and letter of interest.

Instituto Cervantes

Intern

Major cultural institution in Dublin looking for a motivated intern interested in building up a career in media and journalism. The candidate must be a native English speaker with a conversational level of Spanish. This is a non paid position, but free language courses and training will be provided. There is no salary involved, but language courses and training will be offered.

JOB DESCRIPTION

- Writing and editing articles and texts.

- Internet researching.

- Contacting media.

- Managing internal press tools.

- Interviewing guests and artists.

- Must be able to commit 15 hours a week.

- Training and free courses provided.

EXPERIENCE

- Student or recent graduate looking for work experience.

- Relevant studies in journalism, communications, translation studies or Spanish Studies.

- Native English speaker with Spanish.

- Experience with Adobe Photoshop and/or Indesign or video editing is a plus.

- Responsible, flexible and energetic.

Send motivation letter and CV to serloladub at gmail.com

INTRODUCING…

TOM BRUNKARD, account director of The Keogh Partnership, and chief rocker in Mods and Rockers digital agency.  He has been working in communications in various forms for over a decade for brands as diverse as Toshiba, Lastminute.com and organisations such as the EU Commission Dublin mission. His role covers some gold ol’ fashioned PR with a focus in handling technology clients while also managing digital marketing, web design and social media for all types of clients.

Not only is Tom a talented PR pro but he is also the lead guitarist in Delorean – Europe’s greatest 80s tribute band.

He has recently returned to blogging at his site www.brunkard.com

1)    Why did you choose a career in Advertising/Marketing/PR/Media?

I’m a comms idealist – i.e. I believe that 90% of everything that goes wrong between humans is caused by a communications failure.  Really!

I got interested about communications and how the internet works in the broadcasting of ideas from running a record label and helping out with electoral campaigns.  The media and how people engage with it in all its forms is fascinating to me.

2)    How did you get into your chosen career?

After a degree in philosophy I did my diploma and literally started working.  I built websites, wrote communications plans and a whole heap of communications work for various good causes.  I kept a blog, built a network and I pitched for work where it came available.  Pretty soon I was pro.

3)    Tell LovePR? About your average day?

I don’t really have an average day. Every day is radically different and can involve anything from liaising with journalists and meeting clients to writing a piece on kitchen designs and developing a Facebook app.  To be honest anything can happen!

4)    What has been the high point of your career to date?

There have been some successful pitches and some big wins in terms of getting results but there’s no way I could call a high point yet this early in the game.

5)    Any advice for new graduates in your field?

PR is not like any other profession.  You don’t just get your papers and walk in the door of an agency into your career.  You need to be very flexible and be the ultimate “can do” type of person.  Here’s a few points for starters:

1. Write.  Your copy writing skills are incredibly important.  A good vocabulary, an understanding of style and good use; of’ punctuation: all make you very good at your job!  Write a blog, keep a diary, write for the college newspaper.  You will be writing about anything and everything as a PR professional so hone your craft.
2. Get smart with the Internet – it’s not good enough to use Facebook like a sycophantic narcissist.  Learn about how internet marketing works, write a blog, follow blogs and maybe even try build your own website replete with a Facebook Page.  It’s a cliché but one that hasn’t turned into the norm with aspiring PRs.  Digital is now not tomorrow.
3. Get out there.  Every opportunity to network should be clasped with both hands.  Keep an eye out for events and don’t be afraid to go  straight up to a stranger and find out what they’re about and make sure they know what you can do.
4. Read the news – all the news.  Really!  And pay attention to who is writing about what!
5. Work on your handshake.  Really.  A rubbish handshake can stifle your introduction to a new contact.
6. Never play leap frog with a unicorn

INTRODUCING…

Ruairi Keogh, Owner of The Keogh Partnership and a partner in the soon to be launched “Mods & Rockers”.  PR professional for 20 years +, collector of interesting people, devoted Dad and Spurs fanatic.

1)  Why did you choose a career in Advertising/Marketing/PR/Media?

I was an archaeologist but it’s a bit wet in Ireland to spend your life in pits and bog cut aways with a trowel and brush so it was advertising or PR and PR won out as I always wanted to run my own show and the costs of entry were low.

2)   How did you get into your chosen career?

Got sent home from the Ceide Fields in disgrace and got an internship in Slattery PR after doing a year in DIT, getting a post grad in PR.

3)   What has been the most creative advertising/marketing/ PR campaign you have seen/been involved with to date?

Lots of good stuff, was part of the think tank that came up with “Carlsberg Don’t Do” which has been a mainstay of the brand’s communication for a decade.  Also won a number of awards for clients including Dundrum Town Centre, Carlsberg, Boyle Sports and others.  Most fun was working the late Sebastian Horsley (artist, dandy and general reprobate) and managing to put him on the national airwaves without ending up in court or in prison!

4)    Tell LovePR? About your average day?

Quick run in the gym at around 7.45, yes really, it’s a new thing!  At desk at 9.15 having already checked the papers online via my trusty HTC One X.  Review of the coming day and day’s work, a quick chat with the most talented AE in the country (that’s Niamh Fitzsimons, anyone know her).  30 minutes on FB then seeing how my client’s online activities are progressing, then another 30 minutes with reactive tweets. FB updates etc.  2- 3 hours writing press releases, or notes/sell in’s to media. 2 hours in communication with clients on phone and e-mail.  Then whatever needs to be done including billing meetings with clients, media etc.  Leave the office at around 6.30 or 7.00 to get home.

5)    What has been the high point of your career to date?

Setting up The Keogh Partnership and working with brilliant people like Tom Brunkard, Niamh Fitzsimons, Paula Delaney and our other Bull’s-eye Partners.  Also greatly looking forward to getting Mods & Rocker’s out of the blocks and creating something very special in the social media and online space.

6)    Any advice for new graduates in your field?

Read More Irish Publications!  It’s lovely to read Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, your international mag of choice but you’ll rarely if ever try to sell them a story, know your Irish media and know who to sell a story to.  Also get “tuned in” online, PR people are/will be the most qualified to talk on behalf of a brand or company in the online space so if you’re not a net native at least become a naturalized net immigrant!

Last Thursday, saw the opening of Wilde Bar, Club & Venue on Wicklow St., Dublin 2. PR wise this is an interesting one as I was looking after the PR for this account.

Wilde is a new Bar, Club and Venue situated in the heart of Dublin’s fashion District on Wicklow Street, curated and directed by entertainment impresario and leading talent agent, Julian Benson. Situated just a few steps from Grafton Street, Wilde is nestled between Weir’s Jewellers, Louis Vuitton at Brown Thomas and Tower Records on one of the hippest streets in Dublin 2. Wilde’s VIP guests were treated to an extravagant black and gold themed party to match the luxurious interior of the new venue. Billed as the party of the summer, the sound of beating drums, Fire eaters, stilt walkers, snake charmers and dancers greeted guests upon arrival.

Open 7 nights a week from 6pm until late, Wilde has an exciting and varied entertainment programme catering for all tastes, which has left the PR strategy wide open as there are so many avenues to pursue!

Nights are individually themed and host a number of the biggest and best entertainers on the Burlesque Scene including a Glamtastic experience on Fridays hosted by the “Ultimate Party Girl”, Davina Divine. Other features include ‘Cirque du Wilde’ a Saturday night high energy experience which will feature aerial acts, podium dancers and other breath-taking entertainment.  Some highlights include Bunny’s Burlesque Boudoir at Studio 94 hosted by Bunny and Hollywood’s undiscovered starlet ‘Lady Portia di Monte’.   Wilde About Music, Oscar’s Movie Night and Cocktails & Cupcakes are just some of the other delights and treats in store.

With something for everyone, nobody will leave Wilde disappointed. Wilde….we’re all inclusive, not exclusive!

The Keogh Partnership have an ongoing contract with Wilde to look after their PR but we tag teamed with Invoke PR for launch night. It was interesting to work with another PR & events company on the launch night (which incidentally was a huge success), and which is definitely something you won’t see happening too often in Ireland…

Coverage has landed across all media sectors, particularly online, but I must admit, while it may have been one of the more stressful pieces of coverage, without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite piece of Wilde coverage to date has been a 6 page spread I managed to land in LIFE Magazine, thanks to the wonderful Constance Harris.

Working on landing a spread of drag acts brought it’s own pro’s and con’s as I struggled to marry each owners birth name and alter ego, but I perservered and was proud as punch when the shout landed on August 12th, just in time for the opening of Dublin’s most spectacular new venue. A total first for LIFE, I believe as Constance assured me, no other bar, club or venue has ever managed to secure a shoot in LIFE. And I bet they wouldn’t fancy their chances when they see the bevvy of beauties we have up our sleeve! We also set up a number of online competitions with Entertainment.ie, The Daily Update, GCN and Gaelick.ie, and this in addition to  the average tabloid mentions worked a treat. Natalia Mc Carthy (Fixated on Fashion) and Deborah Leonard (OneStepCloser2Fabulous) both had a sneaky peek at the venue in the run up to the launch night, with both their posts going viral!

Social Media has really knocked this one out of the bag, with the WildeVenue.com website featuring it’s very own integraded social network, another first in Ireland or so I’m told, I see this baby booming.

Here’s to many more, Wilde!

Take a peek at some of the guests on the night…

Love Niamh x