At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to uncover breaking news and engaging features across various platforms.
- Company: Newsquest Cumbria is a leading regional media company dedicated to serving local communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model with flexible home working days and opportunities for professional training.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team that champions local stories and makes a real impact.
- Qualifications: A journalism degree is required; NCTJ qualifications are preferred but training will be provided.
- Other info: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so apply early!
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 Β£ per year.
The following information provides an overview of the skills, qualities, and qualifications needed for this role.
Application Deadline: 1 July 2025
Department: Editorial
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Carlisle
Reporting To: David Mackie
Newsquest Cumbria is looking for a talented digital reporter to join our busy team. Covering titles including The News & Star and The Cumberland News, the hybrid role is based in our office in Carlisle, with a mix of home working days. We are seeking an ambitious, digitally skilled, and versatile journalist to uncover the best-breaking news and features on lively topics.
Key Responsibilities
- The right candidate will be passionate about digital storytelling, hard-working, full of ideas and have a desire to come up with innovative ways of presenting stories across various platforms.
- A large part of the role will also be immersing yourself in social media, developing relationships and understanding what matters to the community.
- We want to tell the stories our audiences care about, championing the best of our local communities, telling powerful human-interest stories and covering everything from local politics to crime.
You will have a journalism degree, and ideally hold NCTJ qualifications with 100wpm shorthand, or you may be beginning your career in journalism or be a fully qualified senior reporter.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
- If you have a journalism degree that is not NCTJ-accredited, we will provide the relevant additional training for you to become a fully NCTJ-qualified journalist.
- A driving licence is essential, as is access to a car.
- You will be brimming with ideas on how to help drive the titles forward in print and online.
- A digital native, with digital storytelling at the forefront of all you do.
- Excellent at developing relationships with key contacts to improve coverage.
- Driven to succeed using the digital analytics tools at your disposal.
- A self-starter, brilliant with time management.
Please send your CV, along with a cover letter outlining why youβre the best person for the job. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so submit your details as soon as possible. The closing date for applications is July 1, 2025.
Digital Reporter employer: Newsquest Media Group
Contact Detail:
Newsquest Media Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land Digital Reporter
β¨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the local news landscape in Carlisle and the surrounding areas. Understanding the key issues, community interests, and current events will help you stand out as a candidate who is genuinely invested in the role.
β¨Tip Number 2
Engage actively on social media platforms relevant to your target audience. Building a presence and connecting with local influencers can demonstrate your ability to develop relationships and understand what matters to the community.
β¨Tip Number 3
Showcase your digital storytelling skills by creating a portfolio of your work. Include examples that highlight your versatility across different platforms, as this will illustrate your capability to adapt to the demands of the role.
β¨Tip Number 4
Network with professionals in the journalism field, especially those who have experience in digital reporting. Attend local journalism events or workshops to make connections that could provide valuable insights and potentially lead to recommendations.
We think you need these skills to ace Digital Reporter
Some tips for your application π«‘
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Make sure your cover letter is specifically tailored to the Digital Reporter role. Highlight your passion for digital storytelling and any relevant experience you have in journalism, especially in relation to local news.
Showcase Your Skills: In your CV, emphasise your digital skills and any experience with social media. Mention specific tools or platforms you are familiar with that can help in developing relationships and understanding community needs.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Clearly state your journalism degree and any NCTJ qualifications. If you are not NCTJ-accredited, express your willingness to undergo additional training and how it aligns with your career goals.
Demonstrate Your Ideas: Use your application to showcase your creativity. Include examples of innovative ways you've presented stories in the past or ideas you have for future coverage that could drive the titles forward.
How to prepare for a job interview at Newsquest Media Group
β¨Showcase Your Digital Storytelling Skills
As a digital reporter, your ability to tell compelling stories online is crucial. Prepare examples of your previous work that highlight your storytelling skills across various platforms, and be ready to discuss how you can innovate in this area.
β¨Demonstrate Your Community Engagement
Understanding what matters to the community is key for this role. Be prepared to discuss how you've engaged with local issues in the past and how you plan to build relationships within the community to uncover relevant stories.
β¨Familiarise Yourself with Digital Analytics Tools
Being driven to succeed using digital analytics is essential. Brush up on the tools youβve used before and be ready to explain how you would leverage data to improve coverage and audience engagement.
β¨Prepare Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street. Prepare insightful questions about the team, the companyβs vision for digital journalism, and how they measure success. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if itβs the right fit for you.