Weekend Writer - Manchester Evening News
- Recruiter
- Reach plc
- Location
- Manchester, Greater Manchester, England
- Salary
- Negotiable
- Posted
- 28 Jun 2022
- Closes
- 12 Jul 2022
- Ref
- 012679
- Contact
- Reach plc
- Sectors
- Media & Digital Media
- Contract Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Flexible Hours
Do you want to work in one of the country's most vibrant newsrooms covering the best city in the world? The Manchester Evening News is already the largest regional website in the country with a huge audience - but we want to get even bigger and reach even more people.
We are looking for a writer to create content for weekends, working alongside our Manchester Life (Features) Editor.
It's a role for someone who excels in coming up with ideas for features and demonstrating versatility in their writing.
We want someone who is just as capable of writing agenda-setting long reads as they are producing quick turnaround news and news features, real life, interviews, lifestyle and nostalgia writing for our weekend pre-planned content operation.
The successful candidate will have a sharp eye for a story, a passion for storytelling, and a knack for identifying new audience trends and opportunities.
So, who are we?
We are 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 Liverpool Echo, BirminghamLive 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.
This role has the ability to be flexible, this could look like full time, part time, condensed or reduced hours. If you're looking for a flexible role please advise what you're looking for in the application form.
This role is home and hub based linked to our Manchester Hub. We are therefore open to candidates based in and around Greater Manchester.
What will the role involve?
- Find and tell engaging stories
- Conceive and execute ideas for features and special projects across a range of different subjects
- Make and nurture contacts
- Produce copy to a high standard, considering images and video
- Have a sophisticated understanding of how to use social media to spot stories
- Understand the need to build an audience around your content to help it reach the people it is created for
- Engage with your content after publication helping it reach its audience by sharing on social and engaging with the readers
- Ensure every piece of content is thoroughly researched and balanced prior to publication, in accordance with the Editor's Code of practice
- This position will have some weekend working so a flexible approach is required
Who are we looking for?
- NCTJ or equivalent journalism degree and knowledge of media law
- Creative - be able to come up with great ideas for stories that people want to read
- A strong storyteller with a thorough understanding of how to create engaging content
- An inquiring mind and a fascination with people
- Excellent writing skills
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- The ability to build a strong and trusted network of contacts
- Good judgement
- Ability to take instruction as well as manage own workload efficiently
- Energy, drive, determination and self-motivation
- Willingness to innovate
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Good digital publishing skills including shooting and handling of video
- Social media skills - an understanding of the value of social media to source, gather and disseminate stories
- A valid UK driving licence
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 - free health cash plan so you can claim back cash for a range of medical expenses
- As one of the UK's top 50 Inclusive Employers everyone's invited to join our events, programmes and networks to celebrate diversity and build an environment where all our people can thrive
- Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your nearest and dearest, a free subscription to mindfulness app Headspace and access to free mental health coaching through Sanctus
- Awesome career opportunities - you'll have support from your line manager and a range of learning & development programmes
- We are also a member of the 30% Club, a global campaign aimed at increasing gender diversity at board and senior management levels