Everyday in PR is like opening a lucky packet – JP Roodt
15. Jun, 2009
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Hot on the heels of Davina Martin from Fleishman-Hillard SA and Chantal Riley from PR Worx, in my quest to profile PR practitioners, today the spotlight falls onto JP Roodt from Marcus Brewster Publicity. To quote him “most of the time I’m on the phone or e-mail trying to open doors and influence people for me to advance clients.”
What is your position at Marcus Brewster Publicity?
I am a senior associate with the firm, and the corporate PR practice area at the Cape Town head office. I am also the PR and media relations head for the Rezidor Hotel Group (South Africa), realtor RE/MAX of Southern Africa, the Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography, and creative agency Saatchi & Saatchi Cape Town.
How long have you been with the agency?
Two years.
What were you doing before joining Marcus Brewster Publicity?
I was an account manager at an integrated marketing communications, and handled the public relations arm of the agency for clients hailing from FMCG, transport, property and agriculture industries.
Tell us about your typical day in the office?
My day generally starts with news – I scan major business newspapers and websites for industry intelligence, just to keep up to speed with major developments in the industries my clients operate in. Then, when the clock strikes opening of business day, I engage in activities geared to build and maintain relationships with clients’ external stakeholders, protect their reputations, and help them achieve their important business and marketing goals.
Our agency achieves this mandate through media relations, direct corporate marketing and strategic linkages, communication and now even social media. Most of the time I’m on the phone or e-mail trying to open doors and influence people for me to advance clients. I liaise with writers, journalists or TV producers, convincing to feature news of my clients. If I’m not on the phone with media, I’m in discussions with clients – getting their work briefs, and informing them key developments on PR activities. I also manage a team – this entails guiding and mentoring the executives who are responsible for the implementation of work and general admin.
I also spent time during the day coming up with ideas for clients, and ensuring that PR work is creatively and strategically on track within their brand parameters, business and marketing goals. When the office gets quieter, and the sun sets, I usually write media releases, and reflect and evaluate the day’s developments.
What have been your highlight(s) since joining Marcus Brewster Publicity?
Being acknowledged by the highest communications authority in this country, the Public Relations Institute of South Africa (PRISA), who named me the best professional media liaison in the country, earlier this year at 2009 PRISA Prism Awards, and also receiving other awards for work conducted in the PR fields of business-to-business, sponsorship and social media /ePR.
What do you like or don’t like about your job?
I love working with people, and engaging with them. I’m driven by problems, and having to offer solutions – my team’s mantra is: “If you’re a PR, you move mountains.” The best part of my work is writing – but more importantly writing to inform, but also to influence. The once-in-a-month highlight of my job is attending the occasional creative shoot with a photographer or film crew – I love working with these service providers, who translate your vision into pictures or moving images. As for the stuff that I don’t like – there really is nothing. Everyday in PR is like opening a lucky packet – you don’t know what’s lined up, but you take it, and just run with it, and make it work.
What is your long term goal within the agency?
I would like to further advance the agency’s offering of social media and social networking PR services.
Who is your role model and why?
I am fortunate to have role models, and not just one. I am inspired by everyone in my life – friends, family, colleagues, and clients. I would look at a person’s most salient virtue, philosophy, idea of value, and try to incorporate this in my life.
How do you use the internet to improve your work?
I don’t use the internet – I live on it. From gathering data for stories, Googling clients to see what people are writing and saying about them and keeping tabs of what’s on the public’s mind through monitoring social network sites – I can’t imagine a world without internet or a public relations professional that does not heavily rely on the web.
What do like and don’t like about industry blogs like travelwires.com?
I like openness from editors or bloggers to discuss stories – we’re in the business of supplying content and informing, and can be powerful allies. I am also attracted to Travelwires because of its high rankings on search engine results and the website’s content that is updated as news breaks or around the hour. Stories are often syndicated from Travelwires.com to other websites, which is always a bonus if you want to reach many stakeholders or audiences.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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