Reach plc
Political Correspondent - South West
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Do you want to tell the story of our national politics through the experiences of the people impacted by decisions taken in the corridors of power? Can you take a complex policy passed in Westminster and immediately show what it means for those in your community? We are looking for a skilled Political Correspondent to join our dynamic South West team, producing content for a number of our brands including but not limited to BristolLive, SomersetLive, GloucestershireLive, DevonLive, PlymouthLive and CornwallLive.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced journalist to find and report on the political stories and issues which matter to our readers, producing both engaging content for our South West brands as well as serving as a contributor to political content at a network level for other brands.
This role can be either hybrid (depending on candidate location) or home based, covering the South West, we are therefore looking for candidates based in and around the South West.
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 trusted brands - from household names like the Mirror, Express, Daily Star 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 the UK and Ireland's largest commercial news publisher. We reach 70% of the UK's online population and speak to over 100 million social followers around the world. And we’re just getting started…
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.
Job Description
What Will the Role Involve?
- Finding and telling compelling local stories that engage readers, turning dry public affairs into shareable content using investigative techniques, data, and first-hand testimony.
- Acting as an authority on public bodies, scrutinising local government performance, and exposing critical community issues like child poverty and hospital wait times.
- Mentoring fellow reporters, leading local democracy reporters by example, covering for other roles when needed, and working with senior editors to shape our South West brand’s editorial stances on key issues.
- Packaging stories across diverse formats including live blogs, text, video, audio, and photos, while contributing to network-wide politics output.
- Partnering with political colleagues across the wider editorial network, and being willing to coordinate content plans with colleagues on other brands and the data unit, as appropriate.
- Building and nurturing active online and offline communities to distribute stories, gather feedback, and engage directly with readers.
- Ensuring all content is thoroughly researched, balanced, and fully compliant with the Editor’s Code of Practice.
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This role will involve working various shifts on a rota basis, including some evenings and weekends, so a flexible approach is required.
Qualifications
Who are we looking for?
- You are an NCTJ/NQJ qualified, experienced senior journalist with proven experience reporting on political stories in a regional or national newsroom environment.
- You have a strong track record of sourcing, pitching and telling important local stories accurately and to large digital audiences.
- You have demonstrable experience working a CMS as well as shooting video on patch.
- You are keen and ready to contribute to podcasts, video recordings and short form social content and reels to boost engagement.
- You have excellent public affairs knowledge as well as an expert understanding of how national political systems and policy translate into local realities.
- You are an expert on all things South West and can traverse your patch with ease.
Additional Information
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.
- Financial Wellbeing – Access Stream, our app for managing your finances, pay, rewards and benefits all in one place.
- 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.
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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.
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