At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead our social team to create engaging content and connect with audiences across platforms.
- Company: The i Paper, a dynamic and inclusive national newspaper with a commitment to impartial news.
- Benefits: Generous holiday allowances, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a vibrant newsroom focused on creativity and innovation in storytelling.
- Why this job: Inspire a talented team and make a real impact in journalism for millions of readers.
- Qualifications: 5-6 years of newsroom experience and strong understanding of social media dynamics.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
The i Paper is the only UK national newspaper that has never supported a political party and it reaches more than 9.2 million readers a month in print and online.
It is committed to delivering accurate, impartial news and intelligent debate, trusting readers to make up their own minds.
It was the winner of 2024 UK Newspaper of the Year and was named News Website of the Year in 2025.
It is rapidly growing its digital subscriptions base, recently hitting
80k total subscriptions.
The i Paper is a dynamic and inclusive work environment that fosters creativity and innovation in journalism.
With a commitment to employee growth, our benefits package increases with tenure, providing generous holiday allowances, health support, and opportunities for professional development.
Join us in a vibrant newsroom where your leadership will inspire a talented team to deliver impactful stories that resonate with millions of readers.
About the Role
The i Paper’s looking for a Head of Social to oversee the distribution of high-quality social content and develop our off‑platform community engagement.
The successful candidate will have excellent news judgement, the ability to understand different audiences and their needs, and will lead the social team across all our channels.
You will be responsible for developing and engaging new audiences and supporting the growing impact of our paid social campaigns.
You will also lead on the launch of community engagement projects, focusing on building our audiences’ relationships with our journalists – bringing them front and centre of distribution.
Day to day, you’ll be expected to ensure the team responds swiftly and creatively to the news agenda, adapting our work based on insights from detailed data analysis.
- Key projects
- Community engagement - Launch high value community engagement projects on existing and new social platforms
- Improve our social voice - improve our tone of voice, social style guide to sell our content with more creativity and impact
- Implement new SEO/social cross‑team strategies to stay ahead of the curve on audience developments and widen the reach of our journalism.
- Main Responsibilities
- Lead our social team’s output across platforms – overseeing their work on a daily basis and ensuring our content is fully optimised.
- Inspire the team to creatively showcase the best of The i Paper, and lead on reactive approaches based on the news agenda.
- Develop paid social strategies to reach new audiences and convert high‑value subscribers via social campaigns.
- Launch community engagement projects on new and existing platforms to deepen the relationship with our audiences.
- Oversee and innovate the production of our bespoke social media graphics and visuals to showcase our best content.
- Line‑manage junior staff to develop their skills and ensure objectives are aligned with business goals.
- Lead regular in‑depth analysis of our social platforms, to constantly adapt our output and spot new opportunities to reach a wider audience.
Person Specification
- 5-6 years of newsroom experience with proven ability to deliver to pressing deadlines and ideate quickly in the face of breaking news.
- Excellent understanding of existing and emerging social media and the differing requirements for each platform.
- Experience running paid social media campaigns across a variety of platforms – with a focus on converting audiences to paid subscribers.
- Line management experience – running a team within a newsroom to deliver growth on social channels for both reach and engagement.
- Proficient in data analysis tools such as Google Analytics and ability to present insights to senior leaders.
- Proven experience of adapting to the changing social media landscape and iterating work dependent on in‑depth insights and analysis.
- Strong communication skills, including ability to pitch ideas well.
- An experimental, creative approach to problem solving.
- Strong news sense and a creative approach to storytelling.
- Our Commitment
We are committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture.
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
We are Disability Confident Committed.
Please let us know if you require any recruitment documentation in other formats or if you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process.
Please be assured that any such information will be held separately to your recruitment application and will not be considered as part of the selection process.
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Social in London
✨Get Involved in Local Journalism
Join local journalism groups or community events to meet industry folks and make connections. Try volunteering for community newspapers or online platforms – it's a great way to get your foot in the door and show your commitment to the craft.
✨Showcase Your Work Online
Create a personal website or a blog to showcase your best articles, videos, or multimedia projects. This not only highlights your skills but also demonstrates your passion for journalism and helps establish your personal brand in the media landscape.
✨Stay Updated on the Industry Trends
Follow industry leaders on social media and stay updated on the latest trends in journalism. Engage with them by sharing your thoughts or asking questions – you never know when an informative tweet might catch the eye of a recruiter or journalist at Dmgmedia!
✨Explore Internships for Full-Time Opportunities
Don’t shy away from internships, even if you’re looking for full-time roles. Many journalism companies, like Dmgmedia, often hire from their intern pool, so using these as stepping stones can really pay off. Keep an eye on their career page for any openings!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Social in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Writing Skills:In journalism and media, your ability to write well is essential, so make sure your CV and cover letter reflect that. Include diverse writing samples, whether they’re articles, blog posts, or reports, that showcase your style and versatility. We want to see your voice and ability to engage an audience from the get-go!
Highlight Relevant Experience:If you've interned at a media outlet or contributed to any publications—whether student-run or professional—don't keep it a secret! We love seeing real-world experience, so clearly detail your responsibilities and achievements. Quantify your impact where possible, like mentioning audience growth or story reach.
Tailor Your Application for Dmgmedia:When applying for the Head of Social role at Dmgmedia, really dig into what makes their content stand out. Reference their tone, style, or any recent articles that resonated with you in your cover letter. This shows we you’re not just sending out generic applications—you’re genuinely interested in what we do!
Prepare for a Portfolio Spotlight:Since you're applying for a full-time role, you're likely expected to have a portfolio ready to go. Make sure to curate a selection of your best work that aligns with what Dmgmedia produces. Provide a link to your online portfolio in your CV and be prepared to discuss your favourite pieces in interviews—this is your chance to shine!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dmgmedia
✨Show Off Your Writing Skills
Prepare a portfolio that highlights your best writing samples. This is crucial in journalism as hiring managers want to see your voice and style. Make sure to include a variety of pieces, like news articles, features, and opinion pieces, showing your versatility.
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
During the interview, be ready to discuss how you approach storytelling. You might be asked to outline a story you reported on, your process for gathering information, and how you engage your audience. Practice telling a couple of your best stories concisely and compellingly.
✨Know the Current Media Landscape
Be prepared to discuss industry trends and how they affect journalism today. Familiarise yourself with key developments in media, and have opinions ready for discussions about digital versus traditional platforms, as well as ethical considerations in reporting.
✨Convey Your Passion and Drive
As you’re applying for a full-time role, they’ll want to know about your long-term commitment to journalism. Share your aspirations for future projects, any internships or freelance work, and how you see yourself growing within Dmgmedia. Show that you’re not just looking for a job, but a career in journalism.
