Apprentice News Reporter - The Sun

The Sun; Greater London; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentoring

NCTJ Diploma funded

Paid training

Above living wage

Job summary

The Sun is offering an apprenticeship as a News Reporter, a unique chance to break into journalism with one of the country’s most read brands. You’ll build audience by producing engaging stories for print and online, chase exclusives, and develop breaking stories.

During the apprenticeship you will earn above living wage, receive full training, 4 workdays per week and 1 study day, including an NCTJ Diploma in journalism with course fees paid, plus mentoring to reach your full potential.

Qualifications

• Excellent writing skills with the ability to deliver vibrant, clean copy to very tight deadlines.
• Passion for all things news.
• Flexible attitude to working hours across seven days.
• Understanding of The Sun brand, both print and digital.

Responsibilities

• Cover breaking news stories and generate exclusives for print and online.
• Identify stories that work online and in print and develop them.
• Pitch and produce exclusive stories and develop original ideas and features.
• Live reporting and ability to work under pressure covering breaking news.

Skills

Excellent writing

News sense

Team player

Flexibility

Education

NCTJ Diploma in journalism

Job description

Hours: Weekend & Night Shifts will be required

The Sun is the most popular newsbrand in the UK, reaching 38.2 million people a month across digital and print. The Sun is at the heart of the nation’s conversation, blending serious investigations, agenda-setting campaigns, political scoops and celebrity gossip. More than a newspaper. The Sun is an instigator, an entertainer, a cultural reference point, a finger on the pulse, a daily relationship. We have a talented, diverse team who publish the best coverage of news, sport, lifestyle and showbiz in print and digital.

Your role:

The Sun is looking to offer an apprenticeship as a News Reporter. This is an amazing opportunity for you to break into the journalism industry with one of the most read newspapers in the country. Your role would be to build the audience of The Sun by producing outstanding, engaging stories for both print and online. To bring in exclusives and original story ideas, as well as developing breaking stories.

Being an apprentice at The Sun:

During your time with us you will earn above living wage, get full training, 4 days a week with The Sun and 1 day a week studying – including an NCTJ Diploma in journalism – with all your course fees paid. You will also receive mentoring from the industry’s best, as well as any other equity you might need to fulfil your full potential.

Day to day you will:

• Cover breaking news stories and generate agenda-leading exclusives
• Identify news stories which will work online and in print and develop them well
• Work as part of a team and be able to contribute across a range of subjects
• Pitch and produce exclusive stories and work up original ideas and features
• Have an instinct for how to 'sell' a digital story to get maximum impact on The Sun's platforms and also on social media
• Live reporting and ability to work under pressure covering breaking news

What we are looking for from you:

• Excellent writing skills with the ability to deliver vibrant, clean copy to very tight deadlines
• Passion for all things news
• Flexible attitude to working hours across seven days
• An understanding of The Sun brand, both print and digital
• Positive can-do attitude and good team player

A valid driver's license and access to a vehicle are preferred for this role.

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 car