Newsquest Media Group

Local Democracy Reporter

Posted 3 Days Ago

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Darlington, Durham, England, GBR

Hybrid

Senior level

AdTech • Marketing Tech

The Role

Report on local government across County Durham and Darlington: investigate council decisions, budgets, planning, transport, housing and social care; produce immediate online updates, video and live coverage plus in-depth explainers and exclusives; hold power to account and translate complex policy into human-focused stories for local communities.

Summary Generated by Built In

Join one of the UK’s biggest regional news brands as our Local Democracy Reporter for County Durham and Darlington – at one of the most exciting moments in local politics.

The Northern Echo is looking for an exceptional senior journalist who can live and breathe the political landscape across County Durham and can spot the real story lurking behind every council agenda and committee report, not just who said what in the council chamber, but what it means on the streets of Durham, Darlington, and the communities in between.

Key Responsibilities

This is a patch at the heart of the national conversation: the North East’s evolving devolution settlements, a shifting local government political map, and the Darlington Economic Campus - firmly branded “Number 11 North” - putting Treasury decision‑making, civil service jobs and economic policy on our doorstep.
You’ll dig into decisions on budgets, planning, transport, housing and social care, and turn complex policy into sharp, human‑focused stories that matter to local people. You’ll shine a light on how taxpayer money is spent, who really benefits, and what it means for residents’ day‑to‑day lives.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

This is a role for a proven reporter with strong contacts, sharp instincts and the confidence to challenge those in power.
You’ll be as comfortable with live updates and video from a heated council meeting and filing for online within minutes as you are crafting in‑depth explainers and exclusives.

Working as part of the BBC‑funded Local Democracy Reporting Service and The Northern Echo’s newsroom, you’ll help set the agenda on local government coverage across County Durham and Darlington, providing original, impartial journalism that informs, engages and stands up for our communities.

You will be NCTJ qualified, with shorthand and must be able to drive. If you think you have what it takes, get in touch.

Benefits

25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
Structured career progression & ongoing training
Pension plan
Employee Helpline counselling and advice
Perks & discounts including:
- Gym membership
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Eye care
- Retail discounts
Team building days & annual volunteer charity day

About
A name you can trust - we’ve been a part of your community for generations.LOCALiQ is the name for all that Newsquest Media Group does today, from trusted local newspapers and websites to digital marketing services that can help you reach new customers as you’ve never been able to before.LOCALiQ is the name that combines your trusted local news brand with digital marketing.It hasn’t replaced the name of your local Newsquest newspaper and its website, but it encompasses everything we can offer.Those services include online advertising and best-in-class digital marketing, backed by data gathered from our 1.5 million local campaigns and 45 million monthly users.Put our experts to work for you, and we believe you’re hiring the best marketing partner a business can have.

Skills Required

NCTJ qualification
Shorthand
Ability to drive
Proven reporting experience with strong contacts and investigative instincts
Ability to produce live updates and video and file online quickly
Ability to write in-depth explainers and exclusives

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The Company

HQ: London

1,788 Employees

What We Do

We are a media company with a difference. We are committed to bringing a voice to your region by investing in a passionate team of journalists who proudly serve their communities by sharing authoritative news that readers trust. Our sales teams provide local businesses with highly responsive digital advertising and marketing solutions. We are one of the largest regional news publishers in the UK and have a portfolio of more than 250+ local news brands and magazines online and in print. With an online audience of 41 million users a month and 7 million readers a week in print, our content is read by a substantial proportion of the UK population. In addition to our local news brands, we own a number of digital pure play and specialist media businesses such as s1jobs and s1homes, Exchange & Mart, and Newsquest Specialist Media. We also own LOCALiQ, an award-winning digital marketing agency that specialises in driving more leads, increasing online growth and generating return on marketing investment on behalf of thousands of UK SMBs. Our parent company is Gannett Inc, the largest news publisher in the US. Gannett is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.