The Role
Cover breaking news, crime, courts, local politics and community stories across Swindon and Wiltshire. Produce digital-first, accurate journalism for websites and social platforms, build patch contacts, source stories via social media, and collaborate with editors to shape content and daily news agendas.
Summary Generated by Built In
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious News Reporter to join our high-performing newsroom, covering one of the most dynamic patches in the region.
This is a fast-paced role where no two days are the same. You’ll be at the forefront of breaking news, court reporting, community stories and in-depth features, producing content that informs, engages and resonates with local audiences across Swindon and Wiltshire.
Working as part of a supportive and driven team, you will help deliver digital-first journalism across our websites and social platforms, playing a key role in ensuring we tell the stories that matter most to our communities.
This role is open to senior journalists looking for a fresh and bigger challenge as well as trainee reporters entering the industry for the first time.
To apply please send your CV and a covering letter explaining why you are the right candidate for the role. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
Key Responsibilities
In this role you will:
- Report on breaking news, crime, courts, local politics and community issues
- Identify and develop exclusive stories, features and human-interest content
- Produce accurate, engaging and balanced journalism to tight deadlines
- Ensure all content is written and presented in a digital-first way, optimised for online audiences
- Build strong contacts across the patch, including emergency services, councils and community groups
- Use social media to source stories, engage readers and promote content
- Work closely with editors and colleagues to deliver impactful coverage
- Contribute ideas to content planning and help shape daily news agendas
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
We’re looking for a candidate who is:
- Passionate about journalism and committed to high editorial standards
- Digitally skilled, with a strong understanding of how audiences consume news online
- A confident writer with the ability to produce clear, engaging copy
- Highly organised, able to work quickly and accurately under pressure
- Proactive, curious and full of ideas for stories and content
- Comfortable using social media as a reporting and publishing tool
- A strong communicator, able to build and maintain professional relationships
You should ideally have:
- A journalism qualification (NCTJ or equivalent) or relevant experience
- Knowledge of media law, IPSO regulations and ethical reporting standards
- Experience working in a newsroom or similar environment (desirable but not essential)
- A Driver's Licence and your own car
Job Benefits
This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your career with one of the UK’s leading local media organisations.
- Be part of a high-performing, supportive newsroom with a strong track record
- Gain experience across a wide range of stories, from breaking news to in-depth features
- Develop your digital journalism skills, including SEO, social and audience engagement
- Access structured training, development and career progression opportunities
- Enjoy a competitive benefits package including pension, holiday and staff discounts
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
- Passionate about journalism and committed to high editorial standards
- Digitally skilled with strong understanding of online news consumption
- Confident writer able to produce clear, engaging copy
- Highly organised, able to work quickly and accurately under pressure
- Proactive, curious and able to generate story ideas
- Comfortable using social media as a reporting and publishing tool
- Strong communicator able to build and maintain professional relationships
- Journalism qualification (NCTJ or equivalent) or relevant experience
- Knowledge of media law, IPSO regulations and ethical reporting standards
- Experience working in a newsroom or similar environment
- Driver's licence and own car
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The Company
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.
