Salary - The salary banding for this role ranges from £24,024 (for a non-NCTJ qualified candidate) to £25,662 (for an NCTJ qualified candidate) and up to £32,760 (for an NQJ/Level 6 senior or equivalent qualified candidate).
Do you want to shine a light on the daily decisions of councils, to ensure politicians keep their promises, and to break essential stories about public interest issues?
We are looking for someone to join us as a Local Democracy Reporter to live and breathe the decisions being made by Coventry Council.
From the state of roads to local schools to new recycling services, every one of us is affected by the decisions that councils make.
You will be part of a team of 165 reporters working throughout the UK to hold local authorities to account through a BBC-supported service. Your work will mean that everyone in Coventry will get to hear about what their councils are doing in their name.
If you’re a politically-minded reporter, ready to stalk the corridors of power in Coventry searching for brilliant and engaging stories for our audience, then this is the position for you!
We’re looking for fresh ideas and new perspectives from people from a wide range of backgrounds, and we want you to tell us the stories you believe are important from our many communities so we can continue to diversify our content.
So, who are we?
We are Reach Plc. You might not have heard of us, but we have probably met without even realizing 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 regional titles like the Liverpool Echo, BirminghamLive, and the Manchester Evening News, our brands and the stories we cover are as varied as our people. We help all kinds of people share experiences because we believe this is what makes us human.
With a monthly readership of 47 million people, Reach is the largest commercial publisher in the UK. At Reach, you will feel better understood and also understand others better.
This role is home-based; however, due to the on-patch nature of the role, it is essential to be based in or around Coventry.
* You’ll be covering the key activities of Coventry Council as well as the political and social issues affecting these communities.
* Making sure you cover council meetings and key decisions in a timely manner.
* You will build contacts, understand and explore key issues, write features, and break exclusives, with your work potentially also being shown on the BBC Homepage.
Qualifications
Who are we looking for?
* You are an NCTJ (or equivalent) qualified journalist, ideally with 100wpm shorthand skills (or be currently working towards this), with an understanding and interest in the issues of Coventry communities.
* Previous experience reporting on local government or councils is highly desirable.
* You have the ability to extract stories from local council meetings that our readers want to know about.
* A good knowledge of social media and how to use it to drive audience engagement is an advantage.
* You’re interested in and have a good working knowledge of how local councils and government operate.
* You want to hold politicians to account and ensure the local community is heard.
Additional Information
What can we offer you?
We offer a competitive salary and benefits including:
* Help saving for your retirement - join our pension scheme; we will match contributions up to 6%.
* 25 days holiday per year. Additional days accrue after three, five, and ten years of service, plus a Holiday Purchase Scheme.
* Giving back day - an additional day off each year to support a cause close to your heart.
* Enhanced family leave - including maternity, paternity, and adoption leave, eligible after six months of employment.
* Private Healthcare Cash Plan - claim back cash for a range of medical expenses.
* As one of the UK’s top 50 Inclusive Employers - participate in events, programs, and networks that celebrate diversity and foster an inclusive environment.
* Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP) for you and your loved ones.
* Career opportunities - support from your line manager and various learning & development programmes.
Reach plc believes diversity benefits our customers, business, and employees. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all suitable candidates regardless of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.
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