Boxing Writer - 12-month FTC

About us

The Independent is an online news publisher that was established in 1986 as a national newspaper independent of party political affiliations or proprietorial influence. In 2016, The Independent became a fully digital publisher, moving away from print in pursuit of sustainability, and to safeguard its values and journalism for the future.

The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing.

Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over.

We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York.

The role

The Independent is seeking a writer with a deep knowledge of boxing. This is a desk-first role covering the biggest talking points and fights in the sport. The successful candidate will be genuinely enthusiastic about boxing, both in and out of the ring. They will be a trained journalist with a strong news background, capable of identifying the best stories and familiar with all aspects of digital publishing.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a busy newsroom, comfortable liveblogging, and available on certain weekends to cover DAZN boxing events. The ability to independently source and verify information for publication is essential. Wider knowledge about fitness and wellbeing journalism is also preferable.

The role requires strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a calm manner while thriving in fast-moving, breaking news situations. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

The position is hybrid and based at our London headquarters.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone
• We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here.
• The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.

About you

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

• Writing clean and legally sound news copy on all aspects of boxing
• Working knowledge of newsroom SEO and trends in boxing
• Have a proven track record as a news or sports journalist
• Set up and run live blogs across the boxing events calendar
• Spot and break major developing boxing news stories
• Pitch creative and compelling fitness across the boxing, fitness, and wellness sphere
• Act swiftly and vocally when issues arise
• Be a problem solver with the ability to deal with issues calmly and decisively
• Be a team player able to work well with others

Essential skills and experience

• Experience of successfully working in a similar role at a similar title
• Demonstrable experience as a journalist
• Strong familiarity with the Independent and our coverage
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to multitask
• NCTJ or equivalent
• Ability to clearly communicate best practices
• Experience of working in a dynamic fast-paced media environment

Our values – you will deliver across all our values

Inclusive: We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. Working as a team, we put transparency and effective communication at the heart of everything we do.

Innovative: From the very beginning, The Independent has been breaking the mould. We take risks and are always looking to try new ideas in pursuit of excellence.

Independent: Nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own minds and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.