Apprentice Entertainment Reporter

The Sun; Greater London; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded NCTJ Diploma in Journalim

Mentorship from industry professionals

Tailored support

Job summary

The Sun is seeking an Entertainment Apprentice to dive into the world of entertainment journalism, delivering exclusive stories about TV shows and celebrity moments. You will write for our print and digital platforms under the mentorship of top industry professionals.

You will spend four days with The Sun and one day studying toward a fully funded NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, gaining hands-on experience while earning above the national living wage.

Qualifications

• Strong writing skills and the ability to craft engaging content.
• A genuine love for entertainment, TV shows, films and celebrity news.
• Willingness to work in a fast-paced showbiz environment, including evenings/weekends.

Responsibilities

• Research and report on big TV shows, dramas, soaps and reality shows, plus entertainment news and premieres.
• Identify fresh angles and trends to pitch to the desk.
• Assist in interviews with prominent figures in entertainment.
• Experience live event coverage and attending high-profile events.

Skills

Entertainment journalism

News writing

Interviewing

Social media engagement

Team collaboration

Education

NCTJ Diploma in Journalism

Job description

Hours: Standard working week with occasional weekend and evening hours

The Sun is the biggest news brand in the UK, publishing hundreds of stories a day and reaching over 170m unique users digitally every month. Its exclusives set the news agenda and its campaigns have changed the lives of many. Delivering news, entertainment, and sports coverage to millions of readers every day. With a rich history spanning decades, we are dedicated to providing accurate, insightful, and engaging content across print and digital platforms.

Your team: We're a friendly, close-knit team who work together to produce the greatest TV and showbiz stories across print and online. We split our working time between the London Bridge newsroom, home - watching all of the TV shows the nation is obsessed with - and attending the hottest red-carpet events.

Your role: As an Entertainment Apprentice at The Sun, you will immerse yourself in the exciting world of entertainment journalism, gaining valuable experience alongside our seasoned TV and Showbiz teams. You will have the opportunity to deliver exclusive entertainment news to our loyal audience who rely on us for daily news and gossip. You will be working in a fast-paced and exciting environment at The Sun writing about the biggest TV shows and the world's most famous faces.

Being an apprentice at The Sun: During your time with us, you will earn above the national living wage while receiving comprehensive, hands-on training. You’ll work four days a week with The Sun and spend one day studying toward a fully funded NCTJ Diploma in Journalism. Along with mentorship from top industry professionals, we will provide any tailored support you need to reach your full potential.

Day to day you will:

• Research and report on big TV shows, including dramas, soaps, and reality shows, as well as writing about the latest entertainment news, alongside covering film premieres, parties and junkets.
• Stay up-to-date with TV and showbiz trends and developments to identify and suggest fresh and exciting story angles to the desk.
• Assist in conducting interviews with prominent figures in the entertainment industry.
• Have the opportunity to experience the thrill of live event coverage and attending high-profile events.

What we are looking for from you:

• A genuine love for all things entertainment - including TV shows, films, celebrity news and podcasts.
• Strong writing skills and an ability to craft engaging content.
• A flexible attitude to work in a fast-paced, ever-changing showbiz landscape.
• Comfortable with various social media platforms and an understanding of how to engage an audience online.
• A collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively within a dynamic team.
• A thirst for entertainment knowledge and a willingness to dig deep for exclusive stories.

News UK is one of the leading media businesses in the UK and Ireland. Our newsbrands include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, The Sun on Sunday and The TLS. Our national broadcast brands include talkSPORT, Times Radio and Virgin Radio UK, and we have market-leading local stations across Ireland. Our world-famous brands provide news, analysis, opinion and entertainment to almost 40 million people each month. Spanning print and pixel, audio and video, events and experiences, our multi-format brands are home to a plurality of opinion, representing the diverse communities we serve. Driven by passion, guided by principles and acting with purpose, we exist to promote a fair society, freedom of speech and a little bit of fun. Rethinking continually the business of storytelling, we represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter.

Life at News

Driven by passion, guided by principles and acting with purpose. We represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter. We inform our audiences so that they can make decisions based on trusted information.

We represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter most. To ensure these stories resonate with as broad an audience as possible, it is essential that our organisation reflects the diversity of the people we reach. Whether through age, gender, ethnicity, disability, social class or sexuality, we are committed to representing the rich variety of voices that make up our society. And we champion a culture where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive as we continue to innovate and drive long term sustainable growth. This is done through our Diversity Strategy.

At News UK, we take pride in our exceptional employee-led networks that bring together individuals with shared interests and create a vibrant sense of community. We believe our networks play a vital role in fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture at News UK. Groups that we support include the African & Caribbean Network, Parents and Carers, and LGBTQ+ group News Is Out, and the Apprentice Society.

Some of our benefits include:

• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks
• Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access
• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre-existing conditions
• Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at Home, weekly virtual yoga classes
• ‘Bikes for Work’ and ‘Electric Car’ scheme
• Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books
• Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK & The Times. Weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities
• Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling
• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%
• 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, as well as an extra anniversary day off
• Up to 3 paid volunteering days per year to support causes you care about

We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process. If you require reasonable adjustments due to a disability or health condition at any stage of your application or interview, please let us know. You can contact us at [e-mail] to discuss how we can support you to perform at your best.