Senior Local Democracy Reporter
Newsquest Media Group
Salary undisclosed
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Description
We're looking for a Local Democracy Reporter to deliver impartial, authoritative coverage of local government and public bodies, helping communities understand the decisions that shape their everyday lives.
Key Responsibilities
- Report on the decisions, policies and activities of local councils and other public authorities.
- Attend and cover council meetings, committees and other public forums, producing accurate and timely reports.
- Scrutinise agendas, reports and public documents to identify important stories and issues affecting local communities.
- Create compelling multimedia content, including written articles, photography, video and audio.
- Deliver live coverage of significant meetings and events where required.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with councillors, officials, community groups and key stakeholders.
- Produce content that is engaging, audience-focused and optimised for digital platforms and search.
- Uphold the highest standards of impartiality, accuracy and legal compliance across all content.
- Use social media professionally to engage audiences, promote stories and develop community contacts.
- Contribute ideas that increase understanding of local democracy and encourage civic engagement.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- NCTJ-qualified journalist with 100wpm shorthand, or working towards completion of the NCTJ Gold Standard Diploma.
- Strong news writing skills with the ability to explain complex issues clearly and accurately.
- Experience working to daily deadlines in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
- Excellent understanding of media law, journalism ethics and editorial standards.
- Knowledge of local government structures, democratic processes and public affairs, or a strong willingness to develop this expertise.
- Strong interviewing, research and contact-building skills.
- Experience producing digital and multimedia content, including photography, video or audio.
- Confident using social media to source stories, engage audiences and promote journalism responsibly.
- Highly organised with the ability to manage competing priorities and work independently.
- Shorthand proficiency is desirable.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
- Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
- Structured career progression & ongoing training
- Pension plan
- Employee Helpline counselling and advice
- Perks & discounts including:
- Gym membership
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Eye care
- Retail discounts
- Team building days & annual volunteer charity day
Benefits
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility Structured career progression & ongoing training Pension plan Employee Helpline counselling and advice Perks & discounts including: Gym membership Cycle to Work scheme Eye care Retail discounts Team building days & annual volunteer charity day
About this role
Newsquest Media Group is seeking a Senior Local Democracy Reporter to cover local government and public bodies across York as part of the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service. You'll attend council meetings and scrutinise public documents to uncover stories that affect your community, then translate complex policy into clear, engaging content for digital, print, and social platforms. The role demands strong accountability journalism skills and the ability to work to daily deadlines while maintaining rigorous standards of accuracy and impartiality.
This position suits an NCTJ-qualified journalist (or someone nearing qualification) with solid news writing ability, experience in fast-paced newsrooms, and genuine interest in how local democracy works. You'll need shorthand proficiency, multimedia production skills, and the initiative to build relationships with councillors, officials, and community contacts. The work is independent but collaborative—you'll pitch ideas to editors, source stories via social media, and contribute to civic engagement across the region.
The role comes with 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and your birthday off, a pension plan, structured training, and various perks including gym membership and a cycle-to-work scheme. This is in-office work based in York.
How this employer is doing
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In the news
Newsquest appoints Richard Porritt as Editorial Transformation director, Newsquest Media Group
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Pay for this role
The employer didn't post a pay range for this role. That usually means pay is set in negotiation, which favors whoever arrives with numbers. Check ranges on comparable Senior Local Democracy Reporter postings in York, and analyze any offer before you accept it.
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