Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior Comms Director At A Media Company
Nikki's biggest challenge lies in balancing the need for speed in a 24/7 news cycle with the crucial accuracy of information, while also constantly demonstrating the value of specialized communications expertise to colleagues who often think, "oh, a press release. I can write that," requiring constant education and justification of the role. For example, advising colleagues that "the law in Canada is rather strict" regarding using media clips online.
Corporate Communications, Media Relations, Crisis Management, Legal Compliance, Industry Trends
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nikki Wheeler
Senior Director Global Corporate Communications
Media Company
Metropolitian State College of Denver
Georgetown, MA
Political Science, American Studies
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Business Strategy
Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Balancing speed and accuracy in communication is a key challenge.
2. A significant challenge is demonstrating the value and expertise of communications professionals to those who believe they can easily do the job.
3. The 24/7 news cycle and keeping up with trends creates constant pressure and the need for rapid responses.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your role?
It's interesting when you think about challenges. You always want to be fast, but you also need to be accurate. So you're balancing the speed in which you need to communicate with the accuracy of information.
You're also dealing with a field where everyone thinks they can do your job. Everyone thinks, "Oh, a press release. I can write that." Or, "I can do media interviews." I often find myself saying, "You don't see me coming into finance and saying, 'Let me do some forecasting for your financial results.'"
So what makes you think you can come into my office and say, "Hey, let me write this for you"? You're constantly having to level up and prove your value and help others understand exactly what you do.
A good example of this is a colleague who wanted to use a media clip from a news outlet in Canada. She thought she could just put it on our social media or share it. Thankfully, she ran it by me, and I pointed out that the law in Canada is rather strict.
You can't just post it; you need permissions and to follow specific guidelines for usage. It's an example of how someone trained in the field and understanding communications law can help those who think they can just do communications.
There are many different challenges. The 24/7 news cycle, keeping up with trends, and constantly dealing with the speed of replies and expectations are all part of it because everything is 24/7. It can be a challenge, but you know what you're in for, and that's part of the excitement.