Company Description
Do you know the Liverpool City Region like the back of your hand? Are you a strong storyteller who is just as comfortable writing about new trends as you are delving into the history of our remarkable city region or exploring the issues everyone’s talking about? We’re looking for a talented Features Writer to join us at the Liverpool Echo. This is a role for a tenacious journalist who excels at finding and telling stories that matter to our readers.
If you are ready to hit the streets of Liverpool and uncover stories about what excites and exasperates our readers, then this role is for you.
So, who are we?
We are Reach Plc, you might not have heard of us but we have probably met without you even realising it. We are home to the UK and Ireland’s most iconic digital platforms, magazines and newspapers. From the Mirror, Daily Express and OK!, to our regional titles such as the Liverpool Echo, BirminghamLive and the Manchester Evening News (plus lots more), our brands and the stories we cover are as varied as our people. We help all kinds of people share experiences through our stories because we believe this is what makes us human.
Oh, and we should probably also mention that with a monthly readership of 47 million people, Reach is the largest commercial publisher in the UK. At Reach, not only will you feel better understood, you will also feel you understand other people better too.
This role is based in our Liverpool Hub, we are therefore open to candidates based in and around Liverpool.
Job Description
What will the role involve?
You will source and tell compelling stories about life in the Liverpool City Region - everything ranging from how Merseyside embraced Anthony Gormley’s Iron Men to the future of the city’s once iconic Cavern Walks. You will form and build communities to find an audience for your content by starting and leading conversations and sharing thoughts and opinions. You will use data to inform - but not dictate - your content decision-making process and to better understand audience behaviour.
You will be audience-focused in terms of the stories you choose to tell and the way you tell them using the most appropriate form of storytelling on the best available platforms. You will ensure your content choices properly reflect and represent the city region’s very many diverse communities and are always thoroughly researched, balanced, legally sound and written in accordance with the IPSO code. This role will involve working shifts on a rota basis including some evenings and weekends, so a flexible approach is required.
Qualifications
Who are we looking for?
You are an experienced NCTJ (or equivalent) qualified journalist with up to date UK media law knowledge. You are creative, innovative and passionate about telling local stories through a variety of platforms. You know how important visual storytelling is and can spot the potential for video packages to run across our portfolio of social media accounts. You have a proven track record writing similar features stories in a busy regional or national newsroom environment.
You are not afraid to share your forthright opinions and to challenge those in power when necessary. You have the confidence to lead conversations inspired by the content you produce and engage with our readers directly. You have an in-depth understanding of the Liverpool city region and ideally have access to a car to allow you chase stories across the regions with ease.
Additional Information
What can we offer you?
We are offering a competitive salary and benefits including;
1. Help saving for your retirement - join our pension scheme and well match contributions up to 6%
2. 25 days holiday per year when you join. After three, five and ten years service with Reach, youll accrue one additional day of annual leave. We also have a Holiday Purchase Scheme
3. Giving back day - an additional days leave each year to support a cause close to your heart
4. Enhanced family leave - including maternity, paternity and adoption - and youll be eligible after just six months employment
5. Private Healthcare Cash Plan - free health cash plan so you can claim back cash for a range of medical expenses
6. As one of the UKs top 50 Inclusive Employers everyones invited to join our events, programmes and networks to celebrate diversity and build an environment where all our people can thrive
7. Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP) for you and your nearest and dearest
8. Awesome career opportunities - youll have support from your line manager and a range of learning & development programmes
9. We are also a member of the 30% Club, a global campaign aimed at increasing gender diversity at board and senior management levels
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.