Start date – ASAP
Salary – £28,000 - £35,000 DOE
Location – Bristol or London
If you’re a journalist with a passion for travel, this role is about creating original stories and social content for global audiences.
SWNS is the UK’s biggest independent news agency. Every day, hundreds of stories, images and videos from SWNS are published and broadcast across the national and international media. Our clients are the biggest news publishers in the world – Reach, DMGT, News UK, LADbible, The Times, The Telegraph, BBC, ITN, Yahoo! and the New York Post to name a few.
We cover everything from breaking news and amazing human interest stories to consumer issues, scientific breakthroughs and breathtaking imagery and viral videos. Our proprietary news wire platform is the gold standard for popular agency journalism – original, verified and fully rights-managed. But our storytelling now extends far beyond the news wire; we supply global aggregator platforms like MSN and Yahoo, publish our own social formats, and co‑produce documentaries for global streamers.
SWNS has an unrivalled track record in producing the journalism stars of tomorrow and is very proud to count several serving editors, news editors and digital chiefs among our alumni. Our parent company, the SWNS Media Group, is embarking on a period of substantial investment that will expand our storytelling into exciting new formats and markets. The news wire will be at the forefront of this – so it’s an exciting time to get on board!
The role
We’re looking for an ambitious, creative journalist who can produce original, people‑led travel stories for the world’s biggest publishers and our own storytelling channels.
But this is not a straight reporting role – you will also be assisting our Originals team in producing travel‑related content for our growing social brands.
The two main responsibilities of the role are:
* Producing original travel‑related stories for our news wire – ready to be used by the biggest websites around the world.
* Working with our video editors to produce social content for the wire and our owned and operated publishing channels. You will act in the role of producer to co‑ordinate original shoots and bespoke content packages. The ideal candidate will also be comfortable appearing on camera if required.
We are not looking for someone to turn around press releases or re‑write stories already out there. Your brief is to source and create original stories from scratch.
You will be able to monitor trends and emerging issues and then create exclusive stories with a strong human‑interest focus – from travel hacks and airport meltdowns to global aviation disruption and sunbed wars.
SWNS brings issues to life through the experiences of real people. So the ability to source case studies globally and quickly strike up a rapport with members of the public is crucial.
The ideal candidate will also be able to turn around clean and accurate copy at speed, as well as work on longer form investigative stories.
This is a hybrid role with a minimum requirement of working three days per week from either our Bristol HQ or London office in Farringdon. You may work one Saturday or Sunday every six or seven weeks, for time off in lieu.
Requirements
* Minimum of two years’ experience writing for a mainstream national or international digital or print publication.
* Proven ability to generate original story ideas in the travel sector. Please send examples of your work with your application.
* Strong interest in travel topics, with at least one year of experience in the field.
* A willingness to explore new social media formats and to appear in front of camera.
* Experience contributing to social content in a production role is preferable.
* Excellent writing, research, and interview skills.
* Proficiency in using social media platforms to source stories.
* A collaborative mindset, with the ability to work in a team by accepting help and helping others.
* We won’t micromanage you, so you must be a self‑starter who is comfortable working independently and generating your own ideas and material.
* Flexibility – this is a role in a new team. You should be comfortable with changing requirements and responsibilities.
* Drive and pace. You should be able to produce your own high quality content, at pace, every day.
* Eligibility to work in the UK.
Desirable
* In front of camera experience
* Experience building social audiences
* NCTJ qualification or equivalent.
* Social first storytelling
Benefits and extra details
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Health and Wellbeing Support Service
* Holiday Entitlement: 25 days (+ Bank Holidays) per year
* Company Pension Scheme with Employer Contribution
* Hybrid Working
* Enhanced Maternity Pay
* Enhanced Paternity Leave
* Life Assurance
* Company-wide Summer Event and Christmas Party
* Paid Bereavement / Compassionate Leave
* Railcard reimbursement for regular travellers for work
* Sick Pay
* Your birthday off
* Subscription to Furthr
* Cycle to Work Scheme
* EV Car Scheme
* Health Cash Plan – reimbursement on an number of health services
* Gym Discounts
* GP Anytime
* Additional time off for long service
* Holiday purchase and buyback scheme
SWNS is a national living wage employer.
SWNS is an inclusive employer that values diversity in its workforce. Recent studies show most UK journalism industry professionals come from white ethnic groups (92%) and from professional or upper‑class backgrounds (80%). We want to continue to do our part to change this and welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.
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