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Description 

This is an ideal career for creative thinkers. A media director has the ultimate responsibility for an advertising agency’s or media buying agency media buying, including the negotiation of overall buying rates with print and electronic suppliers, management of agency clients media buying and planning needs and ensuring a profitable outcome for the agency.

Career Advice - Media Director Career

The position sits at the top of the media tree and has reports from media strategists, media planners, media analysts, media buyers and business development staff. 

Your reports help the client determine a budget and advertising goals; how best to research their target audience; buy print space in magazines or newspapers; and purchase broadcast time on radio or television. You manage your client’s media programs. Your role also requires you to meet with media representatives, to ensure that the agencies and the client’s budget and long-term objectives are continually being met.  

Generally, you will have to complete years of experience in the media department before you can achieve the position of a media director. Working as a media buyer or media planner are both productive ways to gain experience. 

What you do every day 

Like most positions in advertising, a media director works full time and long hours. Media directors work closely with clients and other advertising and media representatives, discussing marketing strategies to ensure the highest quality and position of media material possible. 

In a standard day, you may undertake a range of tasks. You may research your client’s product or service, develop an understanding of your client’s competition and their marketing material, analyse the target audience to determine the most effective advertising techniques, and attend meetings and briefs. 

You may pitch to potential clients, or contact current clients to discuss their ventures. You will also be required to constantly monitor your client’s budget and spend to ensure objectives and commitments are being met.  You will also be responsible for managing your team. 

Personality that best fits this career 

Overall, media directors must have highly developed functional or technical skills such as research, analysis and creative thinking, combined with leadership and interpersonal skills to lead people and persuasion, influencing and negotiation skills to make and close commercial deals.  You will need to have an interest in advertising and media, with special interest in marketing and its strategies. 

You are also required to have an understanding of what advertising approaches and techniques will persuade people to pay attention. Communication skills are vital, for interacting with your clients, media representatives and sales people will produce the most effective advertising possible. On top of this, you will also need the ability to work independently and as a team, to a deadline, and under pressure. 

You must also be well organised, willing to work long hours, and professional in appearance and persona. 

Best thing about this career 

The best aspect of being a media director is the opportunity to deliver great advertising campaigns at the most effective and cost-efficient prices possible. Marketing opportunities are limitless, and you can determine and size the most appropriate to your client’s product or service. You will be in a position of importance and respect within your workplace. 

Your years of experience will bring you valuable knowledge and an ability to work successfully. Not to mention that you will rarely be at a loss for work – the advertising world never sleeps. 

Worst thing about this career 

The experience required to get a job in this position can take years, in excess of a decade depending on your employer. The pressure to consistently meet deadlines can also heighten stress levels and it is your responsibility to know your competitors’ marketing strategies at all times.