Meet the Bluestripe Team: Joe Campbell
Next up in our Meet the Team series is Joe, our resident beef jerky addict.
What’s your role at Bluestripe Group?
I’m an Account Director at Bluestripe, which means I’ve got my hands in pretty much every part of the PR engine. On the day-to-day, I help lead client accounts - everything from multinational media owners to scale up adtech companies - shaping content, managing activity, and ensuring we hit targets and spark meaningful conversations.
For business growth, I work with the senior team on strategy and positioning, and help keep a healthy pipeline of new clients flowing.
I also guide the wider team so we’re always pushing quality upwards. This covers everything from identifying new trends making waves in the media we need to bring to our clients’ attention, to working out how we can best embed new practices and technologies into PR operations. Most recently, this has involved getting under the hood of GEO and helping the team ensure we’re advising and helping clients appear at the top of AI search summaries.
What drew you to PR?
My dad was the defence editor for The Sunday Telegraph in the ‘90s, and my mum was a feature writer for the Daily Mail. From dodging bombs in Bosnia to interviewing Harry Enfield, media was always in the background for me. My grandmother also worked at the Ministry of Information in the Second World War before moving into advertising in the ‘50s, so storytelling and persuasion were family trades.
That said, like many in the industry, PR did not immediately spring to mind when I left uni. I also graduated in the class of 2020 when the market was turned on its head.
Thankfully, I secured a job working as a PR and Marketing Assistant for an electric bike company in Cambridge. It opened my eyes to the power of the media for brand awareness and driving the path to purchase.
In February 2022, I joined Bluestripe, which was a far cry from the world of ebikes, but equally exciting being at the heart of advertising, media and technology.
What’s your most unusual skill that helps you in your role?
I’ve been called human ChatGPT for my ability to deliver succinct answers to a range of topics. I can be scatterbrained in small things, but I have an almost forensic memory for people, conversations and industry details. It means I can quickly pick up patterns, recall what a journalist said six months ago, or spot when a narrative is drifting from what will actually land. In PR, where content and context are critical, it’s a very useful tool!
How do you stay on top of trends in media, advertising and technology?
I love a good newsletter, especially the ones that really get into the weeds about what’s shifting the space. From AI, measurement, platforms and consumer behaviour, having these to tuck into on my morning commute is great. I also appreciate the chance to talk to clients and meet new people at industry events who are often closest to the cutting edge and know what’s around the corner.
What tool or hack can you not live without at work?
AI search, specifically the deep research function in ChatGPT. Whether I’m sanity-checking a claim, pressure-testing a pitch or building the background on a new prospect, it’s changed the game for me.