Digital audience and content editor/sports reporter

We are looking for the next bright talent to lead our newsroom and carry on the great work being undertaken by providing news to our Somerset and North Somerset titles.

We are looking for an exceptional digital journalist to help our team move forward and make our websites as impactful as they can be.

We are looking for someone who is brimming with ideas to lead and inspire our team of reporters. This is a hybrid role with some work based at our Taunton office.

You will be playing a key part in developing the editorial direction and content, across our four titles of the Somerset County Gazette, Weston Mercury, Chard & Ilminster News and North Somerset Times.

The right person will be an excellent leader, a great organiser and passionate about storytelling. You will have a keen eye for what makes a good story, and how to present them. You will be delivering the sort of fast, agile, dynamic coverage that our readers expect in 2024.

The successful candidate will be joining one of the most successful news brands in the company, enjoying huge growth in audience engagement, but we are looking for that person that can push us to the next level.

Alongside the digital responsibilities, the successful candidate will coordinate and write the sports coverage across Somerset, including our fantastic County Cricket Club and Taunton Town FC. With this in mind, the ideal working week for the role would be full-time, from Saturday to Wednesday.

Key responsibilities:

• Setting the news agenda for our team of reporters.
• Working alongside our other Digital ACE to produce a daily output of high-quality accurate news stories on multiple websites
• Being the first to report accurate breaking news.
• Thinking creatively to come up with new story ideas and ways to deliver them to our audience.
• Spotting national/regional content that could resonate in your patch and making it relevant and interesting to our readers.
• Keeping on top of what’s happening at court and reporting the best stories, as well as weekly listings/results.
• Taking charge of our expanding sports content.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Experience working in a newsroom
• Attention to detail
• The ability to lead, write and think quickly under pressure.
• A brilliant news sense
• Great people skills and the ability to get on with a wide range of people in the community
• A high level of organisation and the ability to manage your diary and the team’s
• Ideally, NCTJ qualified
• Excellent knowledge of relevant media law.

Newsquest Media Group is one of the UK's largest newspaper and website publishers. As well as a competitive salary, we also offer generous benefits including: 

• Contributory Pension  
• Perks and discounts at various retail outlets  
• Opportunities for team building and training days  
• 25 days' paid holiday + statutory bank holidays + your birthday day off. 
• Structured career progression, ongoing training, and personal performance reviews  
• Discount vouchers  
• Discounted gym membership  
• Cycle to Work scheme  
• Mental health support via Lifeworks  
• Eye test vouchers plus £50 towards new glasses.  
• Annual Volunteer Charity Day. 

Newsquest Media Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all community sections regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Our recruitment process will consist of various stages and activities, as part of our commitment to fairness to all applicants, we will consider any adjustments that could help you.