How to become an advertising media director.

An advertising media director is responsible for managing the purchase of print space in newspapers and magazines, and broadcast time on radio and television, or the outdoor space for billboard advertising for the clients of the advertising agency. In the media department media buyers and media planners often handle a few accounts whereas the media director is responsible for all accounts within the advertising agency. Advertising media directors oversee the media department and are responsible for managing the client's media buying and planning needs. Advertising media directors will have to meet with media sales people attend strategy meetings for obtaining new business for the agency, pitch to potential clients in order to obtain their business, contact clients to discuss their advertising campaigns, they must also manage the media department, keep an eye on the status of client accounts and plan for future media buys. Media directors must have knowledge of new media developments, media trends and media opportunities. Most Media Director positions require a bachelor's degree and/or related experience within the advertising media department. Most companies ask for at least five years of experience in media planning and buying. So starting out as a media buyer or planner is your best bet to obtain a position as an advertising media director. In order to be a media director one must posses strategic leadership abilities, must have experience with client contact, must have a background in advertising and understand the media industry, strong organizational skills are necessary as is unprecedented communication skills, you must be a team player as with many of the advertising positions out there.

In the advertising industry there is tough competition for open high level positions being that many of the director and management positions must be earned and cannot be entered into coming right out of college, you will face keen competition from many with experience. In order to stand out get as much experience as possible and critique your management skills.