Newsquest Media Group
Breaking News Reporter, Birmingham
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Breaking News Reporter, Birmingham
Department: Editorial Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time Location: Stourbridge Reporting To: Alicia Kelly
About the Role
We’re searching for an ambitious and driven senior reporter committed to delivering fast-paced, high-impact journalism. This fast-moving digital role at the heart of the newsroom demands someone who thrives on reacting to major incidents—crime, transport disruption, and developing stories as they unfold.
This is one of the UK’s biggest, busiest, and most competitive news patches. You’ll be someone with pace, authority, and a bulging contacts book, deeply familiar with Birmingham’s stories and hotspots.
The role blends hard-hitting reporting with the smart use of AI tools. You’ll leverage artificial intelligence to move faster, identify trends, refine angles, and scaling output—but your instinct, expertise, and ideas will always remain the core of decision-making.
Your goal is to shape the narrative for West Midlands communities with accurate, cutting-edge journalism that reflects the region’s complexity in real time.
Responsibilities
- Break breaking news across Birmingham using strong contacts, initiative, and relentless newsgathering
- React to live incidents and evolving stories, delivering updating coverage as situaciones develop
- Generate a steady stream of news ideas, exclusives, and forward-looking content plans
- Use AI tools to streamline reporting, drafting, and workflows without diminishing editorial control
- Source stories from social media, emergency updates, ground-level contacts, and verified tip-off
- Produce clear, compelling copy under pressure, ensuring great verbal flow and scannability
- Maintain strict adherence to accuracy, media law, privacy, and editorial ethics at all times
- Participate in rotational coverage of early starts, late shifts, and weekends
- Shoot and present video to camera, including live Facebook broadcasts
- Analyze audience data and editorial performance to inform storytelling choices
- Continuously explore new story formats and growth opportunities that align with reader interests
- Collaborate closely with digital ACE to ensure high-quality, engaging content
- Consistently exceed page-view and audience growth targets
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Requirements
- Qualification: NCTJ diploma or equivalent
- Experience: Significant role as a digital reporter, preferably on a regional or city desk
- Track record: Proven success in breaking stories and developing exclusives
- Skills: Strong, active network with the ability to quickly expand upon it
- Journalism acumen: Exceptional news sense with a knack for spotting untapped stories
- Experience: Masterful digital writing and editing skills, including punchy headline development
- Legal knowledge: Proficiency in UK media law and adherence to the Editors’ Code of Conduct
- Energy & adaptability: Thrives under high-pressure, competitive environments with demands for speed and accuracy
- Analytics: Confidence using data and analytics to inform editorial strategy
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Benefits
- 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays + your birthday off)
- Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
- Career progression framework with ongoing training opportunities
- Company pension plan
- Employee Helpline providing counselling and advice
- Exclusive perks and discounts:
- Gym membership scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Eye care support
- Retail discounts
- Regular team-building days and an annual charity volunteer day
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