Senior reporter

The Hereford Times is looking for a senior reporter to join its successful newsroom.

We are looking for a dynamic, digitally savvy journalist with a good eye for the stories that will appeal to our readers and reach the widest possible audience.

You’ll be able to enhance our existing quality online news with content that appeals to a wide audience, cover the issues that mean the most to our audiences in both the city of Hereford, surrounding towns and the more rural communities in wider Herefordshire.

You’ll be passionate about digital storytelling, with the ability to tap into trending news stories and come up with ideas for content.

We're looking for a senior reporter who is self-motivated and can work without supervision, although you will be supported in the role by an audience content editor.

You’ll be expected to use a range of digital tools and platforms to tell stories, including video, audio, infographics and maps. While your attention to detail must be second to none, with the ability to write quickly, accurately and succinctly.

Our online audience has a huge appetite, and you will be confident in offering up ideas and stories that keep our readership coming back for more.

You will do this alongside the team at our offices in Hereford.

Key Responsibilities

• Building our digital audience following to bring our content to even more people in the community
• Using search tools to research and understand the topics people are searching for
• Use your SEO skills to reach the largest possible audience
• Building contacts and communities online and in real life
• Ensuring every piece of content is thoroughly researched and balanced before publication
• With guidance from editors, using analytics to identify what our readers like and what they want next from our coverage. 

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Insight into what readers want to read, using both your keen news sense and data
• Understanding of search engine optimisation (SEO)
• A passion for telling stories
• The ability to write and think quickly and under pressure
• Exceptional attention to detail
• An understanding of social media and how it can help you
• An NCTJ qualification and some experience in a previous role
• 100wpm shorthand
• Excellent knowledge of relevant media law

A driving licence and a car are essential. To be considered, please send your CV. 

About Newsquest Media Group

We are a media company with a difference. We are committed to bringing a voice to your region by investing in a passionate team of journalists who proudly serve their communities by sharing authoritative news that readers trust. Our sales teams provide local businesses with highly responsive digital advertising and marketing solutions.

We are one of the largest regional news publishers in the UK and have a portfolio of more than 250+ local news brands and magazines online and in print. With an online audience of 41 million users a month and 7 million readers a week in print, our content is read by a substantial proportion of the UK population.

In addition to our local news brands, we own a number of digital pure play and specialist media businesses such as s1jobs and s1homes, Exchange & Mart, and Newsquest Specialist Media. We also own LOCALiQ, an award-winning digital marketing agency that specialises in driving more leads, increasing online growth and generating return on marketing investment on behalf of thousands of UK SMBs.