Media Planner
Comprehensive Sites
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Advertising and Public Relations ServicesMedia planners gather information on the public’s viewing and reading habits, and evaluate editorial content and programming to determine the potential use of media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, or the Internet. You can find out what it’s like to work in this field of public relations at this page, created by the U.S. Department of Labor. It includes information on employment, projected job growth, potential earnings, and important sources of additional information.
IMedia ConnectionUnder the media strategies department of this site, you will find a repository of information on media planning and buying. Learn how to create a media plan, tap into the strength of Facebook, and find other media planning resources. A job connection is offered, as well as a daily newsletter, and online video of how to work for your brand.
Media Info CenterFind top media stories here, as well as links to interactive stories, film and programming, information on civil liberties in communication, and details and statistics about news consumption.
Occupational Titles
Media Planner
Media Buyer
Media Director
Media Manager
Media Relations Specialist
Salary Levels
PayScale: Media PlannerPayscale’s site for a media planner provides the median salary in several cities across the U.S. The median salary by employer type is also shown, and you can narrow your search with specifics, such as city, experience, skills, and degree. You can also entire any new job title in the box at the left for more information.
Professional Organizations
Advertising Educational FoundationHosting a wealth of resources in career development and advertising education, this organization includes access to book excerpts, case histories and the steps in advertising campaigns. Find discussion group archives, in addition to award-winning documentaries of the creative process. Enter an e-mail address to have the organization’s newsletter delivered to your inbox. You can also find career stories, information on where to study advertising, and a comprehensive guide to the career.
American Association of Advertising AgenciesThis organization is a national trade association representing advertising agencies across the U.S. Members are offered a broad range of services, including publications and research, advocacy, industry news, and career development resources. You can search for ad agencies in the U.S. that may important to be familiar with, or take a look at professional development and scholarship opportunities.
Association of National Advertisers, Inc.Access the Marketing Insights Center to find out about industry information and resources. The training and careers department offers information on upcoming classes and curriculum provided by market leaders. Additional resources of this organization include online discussions and a strong advocacy voice to take a stand on issues and government actions that may interfere with free communication in marketing.
Media Management CenterFrom Northwestern University, this site of the Media Research and Education Center offers news, seminars, publications, and industry research in the field of media planning and buying. Access a YouTube video, read about upcoming events, and find student projects at this page.
Readership InstituteLearn about U.S. readership, with ideas and insights from this organization. Find out what traditional media companies are up to, where market activity lies, and how you can be a productive media planner.
Job Opportunity Sources
American Advertising Federation Job BankThis source is a very valuable one in the industry, providing job seeker links to thousands of opportunities in the advertising industry. You can personalize your own job agent to match your criteria to available positions, or find a wide range of career development tools
IMedia Connection: Job ConnectionEnter your keywords, job title, or location to bring you to a multitude of possibilities in the media management field.
Publications
Journal of Advertising ResearchIntended for those in the field of marketing, media, research, advertising, and communications, this journal offers online access to the current issue and archived tables of contents and abstracts. A student subscription rate is available.
Media Management Center: PublicationsFrom Northwestern University, downloadable publications are available here as a result of innovative research across all areas of real life media management.
MediaBuyerPlannerThis interactive online publication brings viewers a wealth of information in television, print, radio, and direct advertising. Learn how to unleash the power of these media forms, and read about news in the field of media planning and buying. Each story offers interactive features that allow you to send your choices to your Facebook, or find related news at this searchable database of media buying and planning features.
Readership Institute: Research and ReportsThe Readership Institute of Northwestern University offers this collection of experiences and impact studies, which offers insight into the readership of various groups. Learn about reader behavior scores, new readers, content analysis, and content satisfaction, so that you can make the most of your career in promotion and media planning strategies.
Online Forums & Blogs
IMedia Connection: People ConnectionIntended to connect the marketing community, this forum lets you find people by name, title, or company; invite colleagues and peers to interact with you; find and post jobs; and comment on articles posted.
Readership Institute: Get Smart BlogFind out about your audience at this blog, with discussion of tools to assess reader behavior and readership of the media. You will find surprising results of polls, perspectives on advertising, and learn how people get their news and from what sources at current and archived posts.
Career Videos
CareerOneStop: Public Relations VideoHear about public relations jobs as you watch this video, designed to introduce you to the industry and all its related activities.
Media Planner of the Future?Listen to a professor talk about working with ad agencies and how they interact with media planners. The differences between yesterday’s and today’s media planners are introduced, as well as the more modern forecasts for media buyers of tomorrow.
