OnScreen Journalist/Content Editor

The Role

On-Screen Journalist/Content Editor

ITV News Central

Permanent

Office: Birmingham

Hiring range: £44,221 - £56,027

The team

Our ITV News teams deliver high quality, trustworthy and impartial journalism to millions of people on television and online. It’s a fast moving environment with a huge variety of roles on offer and plenty of challenges. We operate from 11 main news production centres across England, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Channel Islands. We also have a Political Unit based in the heart of Westminster and produce a range of current affairs & factual programming at ITV Wales, UTV and ITV Border.

The role

This is a rare opportunity for an exceptional reporter to join the Management Team at the award-winning ITV News Central.

It is a high profile role, both on and off-screen, for an experienced individual with a proven track record of delivering striking, high-quality, distinctive journalism on television, on ITVX and various online platforms.

They will have a high-quality on-screen presence, with the ability to front creative live broadcasts, and create well-rounded news reports. They will also have the production skills necessary to produce our flagship 6pm programme, while being a role model helping lead the team towards achieving our digital goals.

The successful candidate will play a vital part in maintaining the newsroom’s reputation for being a supportive and encouraging place to work. They will have the skills to be an effective and approachable line manager.

The Midlands is a richly diverse part of the UK, and we're looking for a person who will help ensure our coverage is as representative of the people and backgrounds of all those who live here as possible.

We are a multi-platform operation so you will be enthusiastic about developing an online presence, ideally having proven experience of using digital media to extend the reach of your journalism.

You will immerse yourself in the community, ensure our newsgathering reflects the different communities that make up our audience and develop great contacts to deliver agenda-setting coverage across the Central region.

This is a busy news patch and you will need self discipline and an excellent work ethic to balance reporting, with newsroom production, and line management. You must be a self-starter who regularly contributes original ideas.

Alongside your first-class communication and team-working skills, experience of self-shooting, laptop editing and live reporting is important. ITV News is at the forefront of technology innovation and as part of the leadership team we expect you to help make those changes a success.

It is vital that you will be able to make informed decisions confidently and to tight deadlines, using a thorough knowledge of broadcast compliance, the Ofcom Code, privacy legislation and health and safety law and your excellent editorial judgement. For external candidates, training will be provided on our systems and ways of working.

If you’re passionate about telling strong human-interest stories and have the skills and experience to ensure our output, both on air and online, continues to offer a distinctive news service, then we’d love to hear from you.

If you are interested in applying, please include an up-to-date CV, cover letter, and a brief showreel of your latest work by Tuesday 27th January.

Interviews will be held in Birmingham on Tuesday 10th February.

Key Responsibilities:

• To be an effective line manager, harnessing the skills and experience of your direct reports in the best possible way, with the ability to spot potential.
• To promote ITV News initiatives and support the Head of News and Programme & Digital Editor in implementing such initiatives amongst the wider team.
• To act as a key leader of the team, motivating others, setting an example in terms of professionalism and high editorial standards.
• To exercise excellent editorial judgement maintaining professional journalistic standards and adhering to ITV’s Legal & Compliance, ITV Trust and OFCOM guidelines
• To research and develop story ideas thoroughly and creatively for on-air, online and streaming output
• To make, maintain and nurture a wide range of relevant contacts
• To be pro-active about diversity, equity & inclusion ensuring the output reflects news stories and issues across the audience spectrum
• To source interesting contributors, from all parts of the community, who will bring the story to life
• To tell the story through engaging and authoritative presentation either through a live broadcast, as part of a news package, or through a range of digital platforms. On screen, to use picture, natural sound and soundbites to give the story maximum impact.
• To self shoot items (where appropriate to the story and the conditions) to a high standard
• To edit packages in a confident, creative and efficient manner, making full use of all production tools to make the most interesting item possible
• To curate ITV’s digital offering on the website or ITVX as required
• To create accurate graphics for bulletins, programmes and packages which clearly illustrate stories and communicate ideas using the template based graphic system
• To write scripts that are accurate, concise and engaging
• To meet all online and on-air deadlines throughout the day, reacting quickly to breaking stories, and regularly liaising with the news desk

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

Your showreel will be assessed as part of the interview process - it should demonstrate:

• The ability to dress professionally, speak clearly and deliver the script or interview with a style and tone which is both authoritative and relaxed
• Proven technical ability (self shooting, editing, live reporting & digital) to give the story maximum impact as part of a package, live report, online article, and social media post.
• Confident and clear communication skills, with the ability to source contributors and put them at their ease to get the best story possible

In addition we are looking for:

• Fully qualified NCTJ, BJTC or equivalent experience
• Experience of successfully leading or managing others or projects.
• A strong knowledge of media law & compliance, the Ofcom Code and the ability to exercise excellent editorial judgement
• The ability to generate, research and develop original, impactful and distinctive ideas, taking a creative approach to story-telling, treatments and production to deliver high quality reports for both on-air and online
• Strong and creative writing skills (accurate spelling and grammar essential)
• A strong knowledge of the patch, its cultural heritage and an awareness of the types of stories that engage our audiences. An understanding of the importance of Diversity and Inclusion in determining output.

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• A passion for Regional News and a good knowledge of the Central region.
• Experience of working effectively as part of a team.
• The ability to work to deadlines is crucial. On-Screen Journalists will have an organised approach with effective logistical skills. The ability to plan well, work efficiently and keep calm and focussed under pressure is essential.
• Proven ability to build a strong network of contacts with the ability to think laterally about where stories are developing and identifying the contacts to deliver the stories
• The ability to use initiative, be self-motivated and quick-thinking with strong and decisive decision making skills
• Excellent news judgement in line with ITV News aspirations.
• The ability/willingness to edit and to use a camera to self shoot items or provide additional material as required. An enthusiasm and willingness to embrace further changes in technology and workflow.
• The ability to bring in stories from underrepresented people from across our region as well as underrepresented parts of the patch
• Knowledge and understanding of digital platforms and how to tap into new audiences online and experience of using social media as a promotional tool
• The ability to remain calm and resilient in what is often a busy work environment.
• Excellent attention to detail
• Clear understanding of and commitment to DE&I and Health & Safety policies

The rostered hours for this role will include some weekend and Bank Holiday working.

Because of the nature of news production, there will be occasions when you are required to work long and unsociable hours at short notice.

This can be a physically demanding role requiring individuals to transport, carry and operate a camera (and associated equipment) on a regular basis. Lighter kits and Mobile Journalism kits are available on request.

Some members of the Production Team may be required to travel to district offices or to work in other news operations as well as attending relevant forums, development sessions and meetings off site as part of their role.

ITV Central is for Everyone and we want to ensure that our team reflects our audience both on screen and in our teams. We encourage applications from Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people and People of Colour to help us achieve our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals.

Newsrooms are busy and pressurised environments, involving live news production, which often requires colleagues to make quick decisions under pressure. We also need people who are able to use their initiative and, particularly for editorial roles, know what information might be required and how to research it.

We need to test these abilities at the interview stage to understand how candidates will react when operating in a pressurised environment. This is a fundamental requirement of the role. We will always consider any request for reasonable adjustments as part of the interview process, for example sharing key themes when that is requested in connection with a neurodivergent condition, whilst still ensuring that we are able to test a candidate's ability to operate in the specific environment of a newsroom.

Closing date - Tuesday 27th January

Interview date - Tuesday 10th February

Please note the notice period for this role is 2 months (this will include any new contracts/ secondments)

Please note, this role will be subject to a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)