News Content Editor - Manchester Evening News

Do you want to work in one of the country's most vibrant newsrooms covering our brilliant cities and towns? The Manchester Evening News is the largest regional website in the country with a huge and engaged audience. We pride ourselves on setting the agenda and making a difference.

As a content editor, you will be part of the desk that manages, edits, and publishes news and other content, including written word and video storytelling. This is a senior role on the newsdesk responsible, as part of a team, for managing reporters and photographers, and for publishing and distributing content for the Manchester Evening News website, app, and social media channels. We have recently launched a subscription business providing premium content and this is a key part of our strategy. The role is suitable for an experienced news editor or a senior journalist with newsdesk experience. This role is hybrid, linked to our hub in Oldham. We are looking for candidates based in and around Greater Manchester with a flexible approach to shifts.

Key Responsibilities

• Commission, manage, edit, produce, publish, and share the highest standard of images, video, audio, blogs, and other digital storytelling tools.
• Provide a superb news and entertainment service to the people of Greater Manchester and beyond, always putting the audience at the heart of decision‑making.
• Motivate and mentor our team of talented journalists to produce content the audience wants.
• Understand how to create, edit, headline, and publish content to appeal to our readers.
• Support the operation to grow our subscriber community and help ensure all our digital targets are reached.
• Understand the Manchester Evening News brand.
• Maintain editorial, ethical, legal, and IPSO standards across digital platforms.
• Have an understanding of the different requirements of different content referrers such as Google Organic/Discover.
• Be part of the team that manages the brand social channels, ensuring they have an engaging and consistent voice, spotting content opportunities through social media, newsletters, WhatsApp communities, and push notifications.
• Be part of the team that manages the home page and app.
• Use audience data, insights and analytics to help inform content decisions and planning.
• Take accountability for the fair and consistent application of all people policies, procedures, and processes.
• Develop a culture of trust, where people are safe to speak up, clear on their role in the team’s success and empowered to be their best at work.

Qualifications

• Strong people‑management skills, including the ability to lead, motivate, and develop content teams.
• An NCTJ, Reach plc, or equivalent senior journalist qualification (or relevant time‑served experience).
• Experience of content management and an understanding of editorial strategy and brand values.
• Strong storytelling and digital publishing skills, or a willingness to learn.
• Understanding of social media, both in terms of finding content and sharing it.
• Understanding of how to use analytics to inform content commissioning and production, or a willingness to learn.
• First‑class organisational skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written.
• Adaptable, flexible, creative and full of flair with a positive, can‑do attitude.
• Ability to work quickly and effectively as part of a team and under deadline pressure.
• Good judgement and excellent attention to detail.
• Energy, drive, determination and self‑motivation.
• Ability to take instruction as well as manage own workload efficiently.
• Up‑to‑date knowledge of media law and IPSO code.

Benefits

• 25 days' holiday (plus bank holidays), with an extra day after three, five, and ten years of service, and a scheme to buy extra holiday if desired.
• An extra day's paid leave each year to volunteer for a cause close to your community or heart.
• Big moment day – an extra day’s paid leave for a moment that matters, such as getting married, moving house, or welcoming a new addition to the family (human or furry).
• Help saving for retirement – we match company pension contributions up to 6% and allow salary sacrifice contributions.
• Supportive and progressive people policies, including enhanced family leave and policies to promote flexibility, inclusion, and progression.
• A healthcare cash plan – giving you money back for a range of medical expenses and fast access to doctor’s appointments.
• Car lease scheme – buy a brand‑new electric or hybrid car through a leasing partner and pay via salary sacrifice.
• Wellbeing support – including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family.
• Access to discounts, including 15% off with Reach’s online marketplace, Yimbly.
• Interest‑free loans, including for season tickets and technology.

If you’re excited about this role but don’t tick every single box, please don’t let that stop you from applying. 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.