Business: emap
Brand: Local Government Chronicle
Base Location: Fleet Street, City of London
Employment Type: Full-time, FTC – 9 months, starting January/February 2026, Hybrid (3 days in the office)
Salary: £ Competitive, DOE
Are you a reporter who is passionate about politics? Do you enjoy turning complex issues into compelling copy? Do you thrive in a fast paced environment with opportunities to produce agenda setting news and investigations? With the government committed to rolling out devolution and metro mayors across the country, this role offers a front row seat to a major change in how the country is governed as part of an ambitious and highly respected news team.
The role
LGC is seeking a senior reporter to lead our coverage of three topics that are vitally important to our readers but which also have national significance: devolution, local government finance and the local government pension scheme. The role will involve developing contacts at councils, combined authorities and pension funds across the country to deliver a mixture of diary and off diary stories, as well as interviews with senior figures and exclusive investigations.
You will contribute to our daily newsletter that is read by thousands of senior council officers and councillors as well as producing analysis and commentary for our LGC Briefing.
You should enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and have a keen interest in politics.
Our Fleet Street office in central London is open every day but the team currently works on a hybrid basis with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the office and Mondays and Fridays remotely.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a team focused on producing high-quality, exclusive and original content for an engaged audience. The role would suit a reporter with at least two years’ experience who can demonstrate an aptitude for covering complex issues. We are open to requests for flexible working.
Key accountabilities
Owning and maintaining your beats, generating original ideas for stories and investigations
Sourcing and writing high-quality news stories to strict daily deadlines for the lunchtime newsletter
Researching and producing long-form features, interviews and analysis
Representing LGC at conferences and other events relevant to local government. This includes travel around the country.
Cultivating a strong contacts book which includes senior figures in the sector
Using Excel to analyse and report on data relevant to your beats
Working as part of a team to ensure deadlines for production and distribution of newsletters are met
Skills and experience
A track record of producing high quality copy and delivering exclusive stories
Demonstrable ability to get to grips with complex and technical issues
Interest in UK politics
NCTJ journalism qualification or equivalent
Ability to multitask and work independently and as part of a team
Ability to use Excel or similar to analyse data for news stories
Desirable
Knowledge of the public sector and local government, in particular, is an asset
Proficiency in shorthand
Experience covering a patch, whether topical or geographical
Some experience of public speaking, such as radio interviews or podcasts
Experience of political reporting and interviewing politicians.
Experience of financial journalism
Experience of using Datawrapper or similar to visualise data
Core competencies
Creative and enthusiastic.
Excellent organisational skills with the ability to pursue more than one story at a time
Tenacious and committed to getting the story over the line
Able to research and write news and features to deadlines
Capable of carrying out challenging interviews with senior figures
Personal Attributes
Self-motivated and organised
Confident, effective communicator
Curious
Adaptable, with a positive approach to new challenges
Interested in current affairs and politics and motivated to produce quality journalism
Collaborative team player who can also work independently when required
Tenacious, diligent, and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment
How to Apply
Please email your CV, a covering letter setting out why you are suited to this role and three examples of your work. Please also provide salary expectations. Role is 9 months FTC