As a publicist at Canwest Global Television, Jacqueline manages media relations for a variety of hit shows including The Apprentice, Glee, ET Canada and Canadian breakout, Rookie Blue. During TIFF, her job becomes extra crazy as ET Canada transforms into Festival House, or takes over the rooftops of Yorkville to host four consecutive parties. Beyond the hectic fall season of television premieres, Jacqueline is out late into the night ensuring that each ET Canada bash runs smoothly – on the red carpet, the roof and every nook and cranny in between. It’s a job that requires total dedication, an insane amount of energy and top notch organizational skills. Those are the minimum requirements but Jacqueline excels because she’s a natural at relationship building and a magnet for fun. We don’t call just anyone a PR Ninja.

What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up – to heading to bed?
Wake up. Put on something black to wear (no really, it’s all I own and practically a publicists uniform). Grab my sunnies, hit Starbucks and land at my desk. Then I read four different newspapers to check out what kind of coverage we’ve gotten for whatever show is launching that week (nothing is sweeter than getting ink for a story you pitched). The rest of my day is peppered with conversations with journalists, setting up interviews with the actors featured in our Global shows and pitching story ideas for Print, Radio, Online outlets. A typical Thursday could also mean picking up a show talent and executing a press junket or heading to our ET Canada studios for a paparazzi photo call with one of their in studio guests. And it wouldn’t be a Thursday in the city if it didn’t conclude with an event. That’s when the LBD you begrudgingly pulled on at 6am that morning comes in handy.

What was your first job out of school?
The morning after my last exam of university I jumped on a plane and flew to Manhattan for an internship at a boutique fashion PR firm called Cashman and Associates. After three months I was working as a Junior Publicist and forever changed. I don’t think I’ve laughed, cried or shopped as hard as I did that year…New York, I miss you.

What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well?
1) A thick skin. Tears don’t come very easily anymore.
2) Sense of loyalty. I’ve seen some dirty moves while working in PR and it always comes back to bite the person who pulled them. There’s a fine line between being clever at your job and screwing people over.
3) Know your words. There is an incredible amount of creative writing in entertainment publicity. Proper grammar and a great thesaurus are a must.

What do you love most about your career?
I love the combination of glamour and business. I think that’s why publicity was always such an obvious fit for me in terms of a career. I get to work with the actors, producers, directors, stylists, etc, but I also get to attend meetings with top executives and be a part of decisions that shape the industry in which I work.

Do you have any warnings?
A lot of the time people get into Publicity with a hidden desire to be on-camera. It’s a disaster and usually incredibly obvious to their peers. Know yourself. If behind the scenes action is your thing, you’re on the right track.

If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be?
Pack up shop, turn in my ‘berry and move to Interlaken, Switzerland where the most difficult thing I do in a day is make cappuccinos. Part of me knows I would go insane after a week but a girl can dream, can’t she?