Local Democracy Reporter (Permanent)

Local Democracy Reporter

Circa £25;000 - £30;000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications.
Nottingham NG1

One of our excellent Local Democracy Reporters is leaving for pastures new, so we’re looking for an established NQJ-standard journalist who enjoys making a difference by reporting on what really matters.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service is a network of 165 journalists funded by the BBC, but employed by regional news organisations. Notts TV is the supplier for Nottinghamshire, and employs an award-winning team of three LDRs.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a news reporter to work for a modern, ambitious TV channel and online publisher in a unique role which focuses on local public interest journalism. The job is also ideal for journalists looking to further their careers with experience in broadcasting.

While we are ideally looking for an NQJ-standard journalist, 'gold standard' NCTJ level 5 candidates (having achieved A-C grades in all modules taken and 100 wpm shorthand if taken) will also be considered.

Central to your work will be coverage of the business of our city, county, borough and district councils. Your stories will be written and will often involve simple video and pictures. You'll also make regular live and pre-recorded broadcast appearances to provide expert insight. On social media, you'll be a lively voice of authority and accuracy who experiments with new formats and ways of breaking news.

Reporting to both the News Editor and Channel Editor, you'll work at a fast pace to tight deadlines - but your stories won't be judged on clicks alone. We want reporters who can navigate the diverse political landscape of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and hold power to account. We're also looking for candidates who genuinely represent Nottinghamshire's diverse population.

You'll provide audiences with balanced and accurate stories to make informed decisions as part of the wider Local Democracy Reporting Service. This means your work will be published and broadcast not just by Notts TV, but by other outlets across the area, giving it a huge potential audience.

An excellent writer, you'll also have great legal knowledge and the ability to report with balance and careful impartiality on a wide range of issues. The pattern of council business means there will be some evening working.

Ideally you will be a qualified senior NQJ reporter and have a shorthand proficiency of 100wpm. Reporters in possession of a ‘gold standard’ NCTJ Diploma in Journalism qualification with a commitment to working towards the National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ) may also be considered.

Although there will be some remote working and a flexible pattern, you'll always have a permanent base in our newsroom alongside our existing team of professional broadcast and digital journalists.

Notts TV's offices are inside Antenna, a creative business hub in the heart of Nottingham city centre's Creative Quarter. Besides our large open plan newsroom and live TV studio, there are shared meeting spaces with the latest technology. Also on site is a restaurant and bar with discounts for employees.

The contract will be for an initial 9 months to July 2024 as per Notts TV's existing LDR contract, with potential to extend for a further 12 months, subject to confirmation.

You'll earn a highly competitive salary, plus company pension, and an employee benefits package. A laptop and mobile journalism kit will be provided with training. Our offices and TV studio are fully accessible.

Notts TV is seen as one of the leading members of the local TV Network, broadcast across the city and county on Freeview 7, Virgin 159 and on demand via our popular news and video website. Our 24/7 output is almost entirely Notts-made and includes a live news show every weekday, plus sport, music, heritage and arts programming. On television, we reach 200,000 viewers a month, and more than 70,000 people follow us on social.

For the right candidate, this is a unique opportunity to work in a dynamic and supportive local newsroom while playing an important role in preserving quality political journalism