Chief Reporter, Teesside

Teesside Live is a modern, trusted news website that is fiercely proud of Teesside and its passionate people and places. We exist to keep readers informed about everything happening in the wider Tees Valley area, both good and bad; what’s planned and going on in the area; and to champion and celebrate everything that makes Teesside special, covering stories from Hartlepool to Yarm, Stockton to Saltburn and everything in between. Our digital storytelling is responsive, trustworthy and authentically Teesside and proud - and we love the Boro

Now we’re looking for a chief reporter to take a leading role in our team of dedicated reporters. You’ll focus on finding and writing interesting, important and engaging stories about the area, from breaking exclusive stories to writing in-depth features about living life on Teesside. You’ll also help our editor and newsdesk to mentor our reporting team, guiding trainee journalists to help us bring more of the trusted news we are famous for to the people of the Tees Valley area.

You will work hard to understand the patch, telling the stories that matter and helping to build a social community around your content to ensure it reaches as many people as possible. You’ll need a sharp news sense and excellent social media skills, together with outstanding accuracy and attention to detail. You’ll need at least two years of news writing experience.

**So, who are we?**

Teesside Live is part of Reach plc. You might not have heard of us but we have probably met without you even realising 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 our regional titles such as the Teesside Gazette, ChronicleLive, Liverpool Echo and the Manchester Evening News (plus lots more), our brands and the stories we cover are as varied as our people. We help all kinds of people share experiences through our stories because we believe this is what makes us human. Oh, and we should probably also mention that with a monthly readership of 47 million people, Reach is the largest commercial publisher in the UK. At Reach, not only will you feel better understood, you will also feel you understand other people better too.

**Key Responsibilities**
**What will the role involve?**
- Work across our Teesside patch, where you will build up contracts, and source stories and news which is important to the readers within the local community.
- Find and tell stories about Teesside’s communities which engage as many readers as possible, and which will be of interest to local communities
- Be an elegant storyteller, able to write in a clear and accurate way to tight deadlines
- Tell stories in many different ways, including (but not limited to) real-time live blogs, article format, video, audio and pictures
Have a sophisticated understanding of how to use social media to spot stories
- Understanding the value of analytics to inform content decisions
Ensure every piece of content is thoroughly researched and balanced prior to publication, in accordance with the Editor’s Code of practice
- Act up on newsdesk or cover in other roles as and when required by the business
- Uphold Reach's policy around diversity and inclusion and work to ensure our values around non discrimination are upheld in everything we publish.
- Maintain the highest personal standards of professionalism and integrity at all times within the framework of current legislation and Reach PLC’s editorial and company policies
- Maintain a thorough, up-to-date knowledge of media law and IPSO code

**Who are we looking for?**
- You will have an NCTJ or equivalent senior journalist qualification (or relevant time-served experience) and ideally two years or more of news writing experience
- A strong storyteller with a thorough understanding of how to create engaging content
- A skilled user of social media to engage audiences, source ideas and share content
- Great communication skills and the ability to build a strong network of contacts
- Excellent writing skills
- A good understanding of SEO or willingness to learn
- Ability to work well under deadline pressure
- A team player, willing to work flexibly
- Lots of energy, enthusiasm and self-motivation
- Full driving licence.

**Package Description**
**What can we offer you?**

We are offering a competitive salary and benefits including;
- **
Help saving for your retirement** - join our pension scheme and we’ll match contributions up to 6%
- **
25 days’ holiday per year when you join**. After three, five and ten years’ service with Reach, you’ll accrue one additional day of annual leave. We also have a Holiday Purchase Scheme
- **
Giving back day** - an additional day’s leave each year to support a cause close to your heart
- **
Enhanced family leave** - including maternity, paternity and adoption - and you’ll be eligible after just six months’ employment
- **
Private Healthcare Cash Plan