Real Life Writer - Manchester Evening News

Do you love telling people focused stories and want to work in one of the country's most vibrant newsrooms, in the best city in the world? The award-winning Manchester Evening News is already the largest regional website in the country with a huge audience - but we want to keep growing and reaching even more people.

We’re looking for a talented Real Life Writer to work alongside our Weekend Editor. This is a role for a tenacious self-starter who excels at finding and telling stories about the extraordinary things that happen to ordinary people.

If you have a knack for spotting the real life story behind a court case or internet post, are gifted at tracking people down, and have a knack for getting people to open up about their experiences, then this role is for you.

This role is home and hub based linked to our Manchester Hub. We are therefore open to candidates based in and around Greater Manchester.

What will the role involve?

• You will find and tell engaging stories, crafting compelling real life features that captivate our audiences.
• You will conceive and execute story ideas, building a network of contacts to enrich your narratives and conduct insightful interviews.
• Your copy will be produced to a high standard, with careful consideration of images and video.
• You will leverage social media adeptly to spot stories and approach subjects, ensuring your content reaches its intended audience.
• Post-publication, you'll engage with your content, sharing it on social platforms and interacting with readers.
• Every piece will be thoroughly researched and balanced in line with the Editor’s Code of practice.
• Flexibility is important, as you may occasionally act up or cover other roles as required by the business.
• This role will involve working shifts on a rota basis including some evenings and weekends.

Who are we looking for?

• You are an experienced NCTJ (or equivalent) qualified journalist with up to date media law and IPSO code knowledge.
• You have the empathy and versatility to write about people’s Real Life experiences of crime, trauma, relationships, health, wealth, housing, lifestyle transformations and the unusual or quirky.
• The ability to work autonomously and come up with ideas for features that work for the MEN brand is essential.
• You have an understanding of current affairs, and the ability to translate that into human interest storytelling.
• You have a proven track record of writing similar life focused content for a similar regional or national news brand.
• You are a motivated self-starter who has the judgement, contacts and fascination with people to create engaging real life content.
• You can work alone and as part of a team, utilising your digital publishing, social media and video shooting skills to capture stories that resonate with our audiences.
• You are a local expert who can ideally drive in order to get around Greater Manchester quickly.

This advert will close on 17th April, however we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested please apply early to avoid disappointment.

What can we offer you?

• We are offering a competitive salary and benefits including:
• Help saving for your retirement - join our pension scheme and well match contributions up to 6%
• 25 days holiday per year when you join. After three, five and ten years service with Reach, you'll accrue one additional day of annual leave.
• We also have a Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Giving back day - an additional days leave each year to support a cause close to your heart
• Enhanced family leave - including maternity, paternity and adoption - and you'll be eligible after just six months employment
• Private Healthcare Cash Plan - free health cash plan so you can claim back cash for a range of medical expenses
• As one of the UK’s top 50 Inclusive Employers everyone's invited to join our events, programmes and networks to celebrate diversity and build an environment where all our people can thrive
• Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP) for you and your nearest and dearest
• Awesome career opportunities - you'll have support from your line manager and a range of learning & development programmes

Reach plc believes diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why we are committed to being an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all suitable applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.