Salary - The salary banding for this role ranges from £24,024 (for a non-NCTJ qualified candidate), £25,662 (for an NCTJ qualified candidate), 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 you 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 Liverpool Echo, BirminghamLive, and the Manchester Evening News, our brands and stories are as varied as our people. We believe sharing experiences through our stories makes us human.
Reach is the largest commercial publisher in the UK with a monthly readership of 47 million people. At Reach, you will feel understood and also gain a better understanding of others.
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 cover key issues of Coventry council and the political and social issues affecting these communities.
* You will attend and report on council meetings and key decisions promptly.
* You will build contacts, understand and explore key issues, write features, and break exclusives, with your work potentially featured on the BBC Homepage.
Qualifications
Who are we looking for?
* You are an NCTJ (or equivalent) qualified journalist, ideally with 100wpm shorthand skills (or currently working towards this), with an understanding and interest in the issues affecting Coventry communities.
* Previous experience reporting on local government or councils is highly desirable.
* You have the ability to extract compelling 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 are 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:
* Retirement savings assistance - join our pension scheme with matched contributions up to 6%.
* 25 days holiday per year. Additional days accrue after 3, 5, and 10 years of service, plus a Holiday Purchase Scheme.
* Giving back day - an additional day off annually to support a cause close to your heart.
* Enhanced family leave - maternity, paternity, and adoption leave, eligible after six months of employment.
* Private Healthcare Cash Plan - claim back cash for medical expenses.
* Inclusive Employer - we celebrate diversity and promote an inclusive environment.
* Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP).
* Career development opportunities - supported by your line manager and various training programmes.
Reach plc is committed to diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds, circumstances, and identities.
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