A day in the life of a media planner: Talon
Feature
Media planning can feel like an elusive practice to those outside of agencies. In our ongoing series, Talon’s Priya Johal takes us through her daily routine.
Hi, I’m Priya, and I’m a client manager in the planning team at Talon. I’ve worked in media for about five years now, and for the last 18 months I’ve been fully immersed in the world of Out of Home (OOH).
I actually fell into OOH after realising how much I loved the combination of creativity, strategy and the very real impact you can see out in the world, and I haven’t looked back since.
One of the best things about my role is that no two days ever look the same. I get to work with a wide mix of brands, each with different ambitions, audiences and challenges.
That constant variety is what keeps the industry exciting; every campaign is unique, and the landscape is always evolving.
The morning routine
7:30am
My mornings usually start with one of the many alarms I optimistically set the night before, followed by a mad dash to the tube. If the universe is on my side, I’ll score a seat, and even better, I might spot a campaign that the Talon team or I helped bring to life.
There’s something so rewarding about seeing it right there in the wild. If I can, I’ll snap a sneaky pic… assuming I can survive the Northern Line rush.
9:00am
The first thing I do when I get in is grab a coffee (or a matcha if I’m feeling like my best self) and catch up with the team. We align on priorities for the day and check emails.
10:00am
Then I’m usually straight into a mix of tasks, connecting with media owners, updating clients, or building tailored plans using our unique platforms and tools that we rely on every day at Talon.
The creative side of the job
12:00pm
Creative brief sessions and responding to briefs are one of my favourite parts of the role.
We often run idea sessions with clients, media owners, and teams across Talon, including Grand Visual (the creative OOH studio within Talon). These sessions are always buzzing with energy.
It’s such a collaborative environment, and it’s where the best, most imaginative concepts tend to surface, ideas that help brands push boundaries and create real excitement.
One that particularly stands out was working with Howden to mark the reveal of the British & Irish Rugby Lions 2025 squad with a striking 44-foot mural in East London.
Each player’s name was hand-painted in real time as the announcements were made from the O2. It was a bold, live tribute to the 2025 team.
1:00pm
Another big part of my role is building strong relationships with clients. That might be through lunches, drinks or the occasional team outing. Our trip to The Cube in Canary Wharf definitely stands out as a memorable one!
3:00pm
This time is mainly spent continuing to work on plans, often working through client meetings and status updates to keep aligned on upcoming briefs and campaigns, to make sure everyone is across what we are working on.
Getting out and about
4:00pm
Site tours are also a highlight. They’re a great chance to get out and about, explore the evolving OOH landscape and show clients the range, scale and impact of different formats.
Plus, nothing beats seeing live activity up close, especially when you know you played a part in making it happen. I remember when we went to a Pilates class, an opportunity to see the new Gym inventory, but also to squeeze a workout in!
Reflections
What I love most about OOH is that it’s a channel that brings brands into the real world and meets the consumers they are trying to reach where they are. It’s a people-first industry that’s ever-changing.
Especially at Talon, there’s always something new to learn, new ideas to explore and new relationships to build. And because every day brings something different, it stays exciting, creative and genuinely fulfilling.
Priya Johal is a client manager in the planning team at Talon