Watford FC Sports Reporter - Watford Observer

Watford FC Sports Reporter – Watford Observer

Application Deadline: 5 June 2025

Department: Editorial

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Watford – London

Reporting To: Simon Murfitt

Description
The Watford Observer has an exciting and rare opportunity for a sports reporter to join the team covering Watford Football Club.

We have a long and proud tradition of being essential reading for fans of Watford FC for all the latest news from Vicarage Road on and off the pitch.

Key Responsibilities
Covering the Championship club is never dull and will require a journalist who is digitally savvy and capable of running live match day blogs, pulling in exclusive interviews and holding the club to account by asking the questions the fans want answered.

The successful candidate will not only be passionate about reporting what is happening at Vicarage Road, but they will also embrace and relish the challenge of working in a highly competitive environment and have the dedication and drive to break news.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• An NQJ qualification with a proven track record in sports journalism.
• Digital experience is a must, and video/photo skills are beneficial.
• A demonstrable passion for sport at all levels – and for producing accurate, engaging and original content.
• A proven consistent ability to write sports reports and features through research, interviews, experience, or attendance at matches, competitions or associated events.
• A demonstrable ability to not only make contacts, but maintain and build them in an environment where who you know can be as important as what you know.
• A strong knowledge of Watford FC, its players, staff and the way it operates is beneficial
• Experience of covering a professional football club and the challenges this can bring would also be beneficial.
• Have a strong knowledge of social media with the ability to recognise and act accordingly, but appropriately, when story opportunities arise via this medium.
• The ability to be an individual player, a team member and a leader when necessary, who is flexible and can respond quickly when events dictate.
• A full, clean UK driving licence.

About Newsquest Media Group

We are a media company with a difference. We are committed to bringing a voice to your region by investing in a passionate team of journalists who proudly serve their communities by sharing authoritative news that readers trust. Our sales teams provide local businesses with highly responsive digital advertising and marketing solutions.

We are one of the largest regional news publishers in the UK and have a portfolio of more than 250+ local news brands and magazines online and in print. With an online audience of 41 million users a month and 7 million readers a week in print, our content is read by a substantial proportion of the UK population.

In addition to our local news brands, we own a number of digital pure play and specialist media businesses such as s1jobs and s1homes, Exchange & Mart, and Newsquest Specialist Media. We also own LOCALiQ, an award-winning digital marketing agency that specialises in driving more leads, increasing online growth and generating return on marketing investment on behalf of thousands of UK SMBs.