Naval reporter- Janes Defence News - Croydon, England, United Kingdom

Janes equips defence, government, and industry leaders with objective, accurate, and shareable data and analysis. Our experts combine advanced technology with proven tradecraft to deliver validated and contextual intelligence to assess threats, accelerate decisions, and anticipate change with confidence. We deliver our intelligence with the flexibility to fuse it with multiple sources in any system, enrich AI solutions, or access it through our portal.

Job purpose

The EMEA News team requires a dedicated Naval reporter to deliver comprehensive, timely, and original coverage of this dynamic area of defence. The successful candidate will cover developments across the naval sector, from shipbuilding contracts and vessel deliveries to autonomous underwater vehicle testing and wider naval business developments. The reporter will persistently and confidently pursue leads from senior naval and government officials, industry representatives, and other contacts to generate original stories. This is an opportunity to build a career at Janes, leveraging the organisation’s global reputation and unparalleled depth of knowledge to become a recognised naval subject matter expert with a strong instinct for compelling stories. Strong organisational skills and enthusiasm for travelling across the region, often at short notice, is essential. Confidence when engaging with sources at exhibitions, demonstrations, military exercises, and similar events are also required.

How you will contribute at Janes

• Produce a high volume of high-quality news and analysis, ensuring our readers are comprehensively informed about developments in the EMEA naval sector and other defence areas.
• Take ownership of your news beat, working independently to cover developments while regularly discussing story merits and reporting approaches with your Head of News.
• Maintain and develop extensive relationships with sources and press offices through regular telephone, face‑to‑face, and other forms of contact, building trusted channels for information and enquiries.
• Rapidly expand your technical knowledge to authoritatively question and report on developments in naval platforms, systems, and equipment.
• Collaborate with Janes colleagues to incorporate insights from reference analysts, defence budgets, market forecasts, and other resources, adding original value to your reporting.
• Enhance stories through the effective use of visual content, including annotated photographs, charts, conceptual graphics, satellite imagery, and open‑source media analysis.
• Attend defence exhibitions, conferences, technology demonstrations, and military exercises as both a reporter and ambassador for Janes.
• Develop, pitch, and deliver strong analytical and feature content.
• Commission and edit news stories from across the EMEA region, serving as Janes’ point of contact for topical freelance content.

The ideal skills and experience for this role are

• A proven ability to produce a high volume of well‑written news stories to tight deadlines.
• Demonstrable track record in news reporting.
• Experience of, and an interest in, defence or military reporting is not essential but would be advantageous.
• Consistent motivation to pursue primary and multiple source reporting.
• A confident and professional telephone manner, with the ability to conduct detailed interviews and revisit sources to verify and cross‑check information.
• Excellent written and spoken English, together with strong editing and peer‑review skills, including reviewing copy from freelancers for whom English is a second language.
• Strong news judgement and the ability to generate story ideas independently and deliver them with minimal supervision.
• The ability to write accurate, informative, and impartial copy concisely and quickly, while responding positively to feedback and adapting to Janes' editorial standards.
• A sound understanding of libel law, transparent sourcing, right of reply, and responsible defence reporting.
• Strong work ethic, organisational skills, and a collaborative approach to teamwork.

Note: The selection process will include a writing test. Candidates should apply only if they can meet the mandatory requirement to work from our East Croydon office in south London for at least 40% of their working time (equivalent to two days per week).

UK Benefits

• 27 days of annual leave
• Healthy half (0.5 day leave every 6 months for wellbeing)
• Private medical insurance – BUPA
• Maternity (100% of basic salary for the first 26 weeks followed by Statutory Maternity Pay)
• Paternity (100% of basic salary for 6 weeks)
• Life cover
• Access to LinkedIn Learning
• Access to an on‑site gym

Janes is an inclusive and equal opportunities employer and encourages applications regardless of age, race, disability, religion / belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or gender.