Local Democracy Reporter

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

We are looking for someone to join us on a 12 month fixed term contract as a Local Democracy Reporter to live and breathe the decisions being made by Walsall Council in the heart of the West Midlands.

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 and public bodies to account through a BBC-supported service.

Your work will mean that everyone in Birmingham and the West Midlands will get to hear about what the council are doing in their name

If you’re a politically-minded reporter, ready to stalk the corridors of power in Birmingham and the West Midlands searching for brilliant and engaging stories for our audience 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 role is home and hub based and linked to our Birmingham Hub. We are therefore open to candidates based in and around Walsall, or with the ability to travel into the office.  

You will be expected to occasionally attend in person meetings outside of normal hours, so will need the ability to be flexible around this.  
 

What will the role involve?

• A day in the life of a Local Democracy Reporter looks like this
• You’ll be covering the work of the Walsall Council as well as the political and social issues affecting the community
• 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

Who are we looking for?

• You are an NCTJ qualified journalist, with an understanding and interest in the issues of your local community
• Previous experience reporting on local government/councils
• 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 by the local council and government, want to hold politicians to account and ensure the local community are heard

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.