Local Democracy Reporter - DevonLive

Do you want to shine a light on the daily decisions of councils, to ensure politicians keep their promises? Do you want to break essential stories about public interest issues?

We are looking for someone to join us at DevonLive as a Local Democracy Reporter to live and breathe the decisions being made by Exeter City Council, Teignbridge District Council and Torbay Council.

About us

Hello, we’re Reach. Every day, our trusted news, stories and content connect with millions of people where they live - whether that’s on their social feed or at their neighbourhood newsstand; through their local community or their take on the hot topic of the day.

We're home to more than 120 brands - from household names like the Mirror, Express, DailyStar and Daily Record, to local titles like MyLondon, BelfastLive, and the Manchester Evening News, and brands making a splash in the US like the Irish Star.

It's our ability to understand people and the things that matter to them that makes us Britain and Ireland's largest commercial news publisher. We reach around 70% of the UK's online population, 10% of the US online population, and over 100 million social followers around the world, connecting with them on who they are, where they live and what they love.

Your story, with Reach

As a modern media organisation, we're much more than just news. And it takes a wide range of people and skills to serve diverse audiences, customers and communities like we do.

We know everyone has their own story to tell, so we’ve built an environment where every background is respected and every day is a day to explore.

We’ll help you build a career that works with your life, while giving you the space to create and grow.

From the state of roads, to local schools, to new recycling services, every one of us is affected by the decisions that councils make. You will be part of a team of 165 reporters working throughout the UK to hold local authorities to account through a BBC-supported service. 

Your work will mean that everyone in and around Exeter, Teignbridge and Torbay will get to hear about what their councils are doing in their name.

If you’re a politically-minded reporter, ready to hold power to account in the South West, then this is the position for you! 

We’re looking for fresh ideas and new perspectives from people from a wide range of backgrounds, and we want you to tell us the stories you believe are important from our many communities so we can continue to diversify our content.

This is a home based role, with regular travel to attend council meetings in person across all three councils. We are therefore looking for candidates based in and around Exeter, Teignbridge and Torbay.

What will the role involve?

• A day in the life of a Local Democracy Reporter looks like this 

• You’ll be covering the key business of Exeter City Council, Teignbridge District Council and Torbay Council, as well as the political and social issues affecting their communities

• Making sure you cover the council meetings and key decisions in a timely manner

• You will build contacts, understand and explore the key issues, write features and break exclusives with your work having the potential to also be shown on the BBC Homepage and used by other local media partners

Who are we looking for?

• You are an NCTJ or NQJ qualified journalist, ideally with 100wpm shorthand skills (or be currently working towards this), with an understanding and interest in the issues of your local community

• Previous experience reporting on local government/councils is highly desirable

• You have the ability to pull the stories out of the local council meetings that our readers want to know about

• A good knowledge of social media and how you can use it to drive audience and engagement from the people in your area is an advantage

• You’re interested in local councils and government, keen to hold politicians to account and ensure the local communities are heard

• You are an expert on all things South West and have a solid understanding of the patch you will be covering

• In order to travel regularly to the various councils this role covers, you ideally have access to your own vehicle

How we'll look after you

We take good care of our people - and that means more than just a pay packet. Whatever your role, you'll get a range of benefits, including:

• 25 days' holiday (plus bank holidays), as well as an extra day after you've been with us for three, five and 10 years. We also have a scheme to help you buy extra holiday if you want to.
• An extra day's paid leave each year to volunteer for a cause close to your community or your heart.
• Big moment day - an extra day’s paid leave for a moment that matters to you - like getting married, moving house or welcoming a new addition to the family (human or furry!)
• Help saving for your retirement - we'll match your company pension contributions up to 6% and you can contribute through salary sacrifice.
• Supportive and progressive people policies - we’re proud to have a range of policies to support people in their lives in and outside work, including enhanced family leave and policies to promote flexibility, inclusion and progression. We believe you shouldn’t have to wait to join us to know what to expect from us, which is why we share this overview of the policies we have in place to support families and carers. If there's something you want to understand more about, just ask - it won’t make a difference to your application.
• A healthcare cash plan - giving you money back for a range of medical expenses and fast access to doctor's appointments.
• Car lease scheme - you can buy a brand new electric or hybrid car through our leasing partner, and pay for it through salary sacrifice.
• Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family.
• Access to lots of discounts - including 15% off with Reach's very own online marketplace, Yimbly, where you can buy everything from homewares to beauty products.
• Interest-free loans - including for season tickets and technology.

If you’re excited about this role but don’t tick every single box, please don’t let that stop you from applying.

We know that everyone has their own story to tell, and we value potential, passion and the perspectives that different backgrounds bring to our work.

Diverse perspectives strengthen our teams and help us better serve our audiences, which is why we’re dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and supported. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

We are committed to a recruitment process that is fair and welcoming to all, without discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.