Application Deadline: 22 December 2025 Department: Editorial Location: Darlington Description Newsquest North East is seeking an AI-assisted reporter to join our team and help us expand our coverage of Sunderland, Peterlee and Hartlepool by delivering even more first-class digital news, driving audience growth. The successful candidate will be at the forefront of a new era in journalism, utilising AI technology to help create local and hyper-local content for our newspapers and websites while also applying their traditional journalism skills, news sense and working as part of the team at the Darlington office. This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about journalism and the potential for AI to contribute to the way we produce and consume news, without losing sight of the importance of quality reporting and writing. This is a proactive role that requires a keen news sense and an innate understanding of what makes a strong story and what audiences want to read across a whole range of platforms. As an AI-assisted reporter, you will have the opportunity to develop your news and technical skills, including learning how to manage and utilise AI technology effectively while employing your core journalistic skills to the sourcing, selection, angle and presentation of your digital content. A whole host of audience and content analytics will aid you in refining and perfecting your content to meet the needs of audiences and drive growth. You’ll play a key role in ensuring that our articles meet the highest standards of accuracy, information, and compliance with media law, plagiarism, and privacy, utilising your journalistic expertise alongside AI tools. Key Responsibilities Work with an AI system to help write news articles, while also utilising your journalism skills to maintain the quality and authenticity of the content Ensure that all content produced meets legal and ethical standards, including those related to media law, plagiarism, privacy, and accuracy Source stories and ideas from a range of online sources, proactively building and refining a news list of high-quality, engaging digital content Identify and deliver areas to expand our coverage into, as well as the topics and story types that will resonate Efficiently upload and manage stories, using time-saving AI tools and techniques to ensure a seamless process without compromising the quality of the content Contribute to the development of AI technology by monitoring the output of AI-generated content and identifying areas for improvement Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices related to AI and journalism Meet page view targets Skills, Knowledge and Expertise NCTJ diploma or equivalent Excellent writing and editing skills, with strong attention to detail The ability to recognise the stories that resonate with our readers is crucial to this role A strong understanding of journalistic principles and practices Excellent working knowledge of relevant media law and adherence to the Editors’ Code of Conduct are vital to fulfilling the functions of the role Creativity and innovation, with a willingness to experiment with new approaches and techniques Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously Ability to analyse data and generate insights to inform content decisions Benefits Competitive salary 25 days holiday bank holidays your birthday off Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility Structured career progression & ongoing training Pension plan & mental health support Perks & discounts including: Gym membership Cycle to Work scheme Eye care vouchers (£50 towards glasses) Retail discounts Team building days & annual volunteer charity day