Production Journalist

The Role

Production Journalist

ITV News Central

2 roles available

Workplace: Birmingham (This is an office-based role unsuitable for hybrid working).

We are looking for two experienced and multi-skilled Production Journalists to join our broadcast and digital news team at ITV News Central in permanent staff roles. As proud holders of the Midlands Royal Television Society award for Best Regional News Programme, we pride ourselves on editorial excellence. We are a multi-platform operation and we want journalists who are just as passionate about developing our online presence, through our app, social media, and the ITV Central regional rail on ITVX, as they are about traditional broadcast news.

Based in our Birmingham newsroom, you will play a crucial role in producing our dynamic daily output. This involves working unsocial hours, updating our app as people across the East and West Midlands wake to start their day, as well as crafting our late and weekend TV bulletins.

You will be a driving force for our digital platforms, curating our website, identifying appropriate stories for social media, and publishing engaging content to ITVX. You will thrive with a demanding and changing workload, acting as a calm, approachable presence while meeting tight daily deadlines.

You will already have solid experience working in television and digital news production, backed by a bulging contacts book and strong links to the diverse communities across the Midlands. We want someone who is brimming with original story ideas and knows exactly how to get those stories to air and online. Ultimately, you must be a true team player who strives for creative production and brings a positive, collaborative energy to the newsroom.

To be considered for an interview, you will need to submit a covering letter and a CV.

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• Fully qualified NCTJ, BJTC or equivalent experience
• Working knowledge of Ofcom code, media law and compliance
• A track record of the ability to generate, research and develop original ideas and taking a creative approach to storytelling, treatments and production for both on-air and online
• Knowledge and understanding of digital platforms and how to tap into new audiences online
• Excellent organisational skills and demonstrate the ability to plan multiple stories while prioritising tasks
• Strong writing skills for TV and digital (accurate spelling and grammar essential).
• Excellent news judgement
• A strong knowledge of the Midlands and an awareness of the types of stories that engage our audiences

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• Excellent communication skills
• The ability to work well in a team environment
• The ability to be self-motivated and quick-thinking, demonstrating resilience in what is often a busy newsroom environment across day, early, late and weekend working
• The willingness and aptitude to learn other skills and to be happy to share skills with others
• The ability to work to deadlines
• Able to make decisive decisions under pressure
• A positive attitude to work
• A resilience and ability to thrive working in a constantly changing news agenda
• Excellent attention to detail
• Social Media/Digital awareness
• An enthusiasm and willingness to embrace further changes in technology and workflow.
• The aptitude to use the full range of digital newsroom technology
• Clear understanding of and commitment to DE&I and Health & Safety policies
• Able to bring in stories from underrepresented people from across our region as well as underrepresented parts of the Midlands

Please note, the rostered hours for this role will include weekend working , late shifts as well as early morning shifts and Bank Holidays. The working pattern will incorporate late shifts (typically 23:00 finish) as well as early morning (typically 05:15 start). You are expected to provide your own means of transportation to and from your main workplace

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

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of what we do at ITV Central and we want to ensure we reflect our audience both on screen and in our workforce. ITV is for Everyone and we encourage applications from Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people and People of Colour to apply for this role.

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 13th October

Interviews: Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th October

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)