At a Glance
- Tasks: Cover breaking news and create engaging stories for digital audiences.
- Company: Join The Dorset Echo, a vibrant newsroom in Weymouth.
- Benefits: 25 days holiday, structured career progression, and employee perks.
- Other info: Flexible working hours with opportunities for training and team building.
- Why this job: Develop your journalism skills while making a real impact in the community.
- Qualifications: Strong writing skills, social media savvy, and a willingness to learn.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 32000 £ per year.
The Dorset Echo is looking for a digitally savvy, community-focused reporter to join our busy newsroom. This is a great opportunity for a trainee or an early-career journalist to develop their skills across a lively patch, covering breaking news and producing engaging content for multiple platforms. Our reporters work on a rota which includes some evenings and weekend shifts, with the expectation that major breaking news is covered, whatever the time of day.
Key Responsibilities
- Cover breaking news and produce engaging stories for digital audiences
- Build strong relationships on patch to source stories and reflect community interests
- Use social media to identify trends, engage audiences and promote content
- Produce a wide range of content, including live blogs, features and human-interest stories
- Cover key topics such as crime, local politics and community issues
- Work collaboratively with the wider digital reporting team
- Be open to using AI tools to support your work
- Attend events and report from across the patch where required
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Excellent writing skills with attention to detail
- Ability to work quickly and accurately
- Skilled at building relationships with key contacts
- Highly organised with strong time management
- Knowledge of SEO and media law
- Confident using social media and AI Tools (additional training will be provided)
- Adaptable writing style across different formats and platforms
- Ideally, NCTJ qualified or equivalent (including 100wpm shorthand). If you do not yet have shorthand, you must be willing to train towards it
- A full driving licence and access to a car are essential
Benefits
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
- Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
- Structured career progression & ongoing training
- Pension plan
- Employee Helpline counselling and advice
- Perks & discounts including: Gym membership, Cycle to Work scheme, Eye care, Retail discounts
- Team building days & annual volunteer charity day
News Reporter - The Dorset Echo in Weymouth employer: Newsquest
Newsquest is an excellent employer for aspiring journalists, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and community engagement. With a commitment to employee development, you will have access to numerous growth opportunities within one of the UK's largest local news publishers, alongside attractive benefits such as 25 days of holiday and various employee discounts.
