Reporter (North)

Are you passionate about storytelling, driven by curiosity, and eager to uncover the stories that matter to the people of Inverness and the Highlands? Join our team as a Reporter, where you'll play a pivotal role in bringing local stories to life.

About DC Thomson:

At DC Thomson we are a business with a purpose – to make a positive impact on the communities we serve.

We are home to some of the world’s best-loved media brands, organised around local news and radio, companionship, kids, advocacy, energy, puzzles and hobbies. The Courier, The Press and Journal, The Sunday Post, Beano, Stylist, Puzzler, The People’s Friend, My Weekly, bunkered, Energy Voice, Findmypast and Brightsolid are just some of the brands you might know us for.

About the Role at The Press and Journal:

The Press and Journal’s North Team covers the Highlands and Moray from our offices in Inverness and Elgin.

We're looking for a Reporter to be based in Inverness to focus on the city, its surrounds and the issues that matter most to locals. We cover the most important stories across the city, focussing on extraordinary tales from ordinary people.

We take a special interest in the regeneration of Inverness – from explaining the impact of council decisions for the city to highlighting the positive developments, as well as the challenges it faces.

The Press and Journal covers the most important stories happening on our patch, right across The Highlands, Islands, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen and we are led by data showing us what our audience cares most about.

Our coverage is broad and diverse, with each article tailored to our readers. This could be anything from planning applications and council reports to colourful long reads and in-depth investigations.

It's a time of immense change in Inverness, with major work at the castle taking place at the same time as tricky debates about the future of Academy Street and upgrades for Bught Park and the Northern Meeting Park.

Our reporters have also turned a forensic eye to issues like Caley Thistle entering administration.

We are now looking for a Reporter to join us to help fly the flag for Inverness and the Highlands.

The right candidate must have good knowledge of the local area and be passionate and well voiced in the issues facing the region and have good contacts willing to provide them with exclusives to deliver strong, engaging and in-depth coverage.

Key Responsibilities:
As a Reporter based in Inverness, you will:

• Cover a wide range of topics, including breaking news, community events, politics, culture, and more
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local sources and community leaders
• Create engaging, accurate, and timely content for print, digital, and social media platforms
• Pitch story ideas that resonate with our diverse audience
• Capture multimedia elements, including photography and video, to enhance storytelling

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a vibrant local community
• A supportive and collaborative newsroom environment
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities
• A competitive salary and benefits package

Requirements:

• Be a journalist with newsroom experience and able to demonstrate finding their own stories, and how to make them digitally optimised
• Has an interest and knowledge of the north of Scotland, the issues which affect it and the industries which support it
• Has a good knowledge of local politics and the workings of local authorities in Scotland
• Has the willingness to embrace new skills and tools in the digital arena such as SEO, social media, video, audio and more while maintaining a mindset of continuous learning and growth
• Has the ability to work in a team, collaborating on ideas and sharing responsibility for meeting newsroom targets
• Has detailed knowledge of the Editors' Code of Practice, GDPR and media law
• Has a full driving licence

To apply for this role, please follow our online application process and submit a CV and cover letter.

This is a full-time, permanent position, working 35 hours per week from our Inverness office and home. We offer a generous package including 34 days holiday, health cash plan, gym discount, excellent pension, a competitive salary, and many more staff discounts and benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from everyone and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or any other protected characteristics.

If you have any issues with your application, please email recruitment@dcthomson.co.uk

The closing date for internal applications is Friday, 28th March at 17:00hrs.

The closing date for all applications (internal and external) is Sunday, 13th April at 23:59hrs.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early once we have received suitable applications. Therefore, please ensure you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.