Head of Visual Journalism

Reach plc; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days' holiday (plus bank holidays)

Extra day after 3, 5 and 10 years

Volunteer day opportunity

Big moment day – extra paid leave

Pension contributions match up to 6%

Salary sacrifice options

Healthcare cash plan

Car lease scheme

Wellbeing support

Discounts with Reach's Yimbly

Interest-free loans

Job summary

Reach plc in Glasgow is seeking a Head of Visual Journalism to direct a combined photography and video team, delivering engaging visual content across our Reach network. You will lead day-to-day operations with desk staff, photographers and video producers, working under the Editor-in-chief, Scotland and the national video hub.

This hybrid role requires regular travel into the Glasgow office and a five-day workweek across a seven-day rota, including weekends and bank holidays.

Qualifications

• Proven video production experience in a fast-paced news environment.
• Strong ability to train, coach and develop staff skills.
• Knowledge of visual storytelling techniques and formats.
• Experience using CMS platforms, SEO and data-driven analytics.

Responsibilities

• Lead photographers and video producers to create visual journalism across Reach.
• Incorporate video into daily editorial planning and determine formats.
• Develop a balanced video slate with reactive and original programming across Scotland and Reach network.
• Tailor visual journalism for off-platform channels with social teams while maintaining standards.
• Establish processes for piloting and evaluating new formats based on audience and commercial data.
• Ensure compliance with Reach standards, IPSO regulations, media law and AI policies.

Skills

Video production

Team leadership

Editorial planning

Storytelling

CMS platforms

SEO

Analytics

Job description

We are looking for a Head of Visual Journalism to direct and mentor a combined photography and video team, providing A/V content that is relevant across Reach to drive audiences and ensure timely, quality and efficient coverage of events.

Part of the Scottish editorial leadership team, the role has a joint reporting line into the Editor-in-chief, Scotland, and Reach’s national video hub, managing the day-to-day operation of a team of desk staff, photographers and video producers.

This is a hybrid role working from our Glasgow hub, we are therefore open to candidates based in around Glasgow who are able to travel into the office regularly. You will be working 5 days over a 7-day rota (including earlies, lates, weekends and Bank Holidays).

About us

Hello, we’re Reach. Every day, our trusted news, stories and content connect with millions of people where they live - whether that’s on their social feed or at their neighbourhood newsstand; through their local community or their take on the hot topic of the day.

We're home to more than 120 trusted brands - from household names like the Mirror, Express, Daily Star and Daily Record, to local titles like MyLondon, BelfastLive, and the Manchester Evening News, and brands making a splash in the US like the Irish Star.

It's our ability to understand people and the things that matter to them that makes us the UK and Ireland's largest commercial news publisher. We reach 70% of the UK's online population and speak to over 100 million social followers around the world. And we’re just getting started…

Your story, with Reach

As a modern media organisation, we're much more than just news. And it takes a wide range of people and skills to serve diverse audiences, customers and communities like we do.

We know everyone has their own story to tell, so we’ve built an environment where every background is respected and every day is a day to explore.

We’ll help you build a career that works with your life, while giving you the space to create and grow.

What will the role involve?

• Making practical, hands‑on contributions to content creation and leading photographers and video producers to create engaging visual journalism (video, photos, and graphics) that reaches mass audiences across the Reach network.
• Making video a central part of daily and forward editorial planning at the commissioning stage, working with editors and newsroom leaders to determine when a story is best told primarily through video, photography, audio, or a combination of formats.
• Developing a balanced video slate combining reactive news, planned coverage, repeatable formats, and distinctive original programming, while collaborating with editorial and specialist teams across Scotland and the wider Reach network to build recognisable intellectual property.
• Tailoring visual journalism for off‑platform channels alongside social teams to enhance reach while maintaining editorial standards.
• Establishing a clear process for developing, piloting, and evaluating new formats, using audience and commercial evidence to decide whether they should be expanded, adapted, or stopped.
• Ensuring strict adherence to Reach digital publishing standards, IPSO regulations, media law, and company AI usage policies.

Who are we looking for?

• A strong team player capable of leading, supporting, and motivating teams through periods of high pressure while delivering high-quality content at pace.
• Skilled journalist with proven video production experience in a fast‑paced news environment, supported by a basic understanding of news photography.
• Detailed knowledge of visual storytelling techniques, with a strong ability to train, coach, and support the ongoing development of staff skills.
• Ideas and experience in building, piloting, and refining video formats to drive user relevance and business success.
• Strong background in digital content production, utilizing CMS platforms, SEO, and data‑driven audience analytics to guide performance.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with a demonstrable aptitude for cross‑functional collaboration and cascading consistent messages.
• Skilled at delegating tasks effectively to maximize productivity, build team capabilities, and maintain focus on strategic priorities.
• Ability to set objectives, prioritise tasks, allocate resources efficiently, and manage time across daily responsibilities and projects.
• Methodical approach to decision‑making and problem‑solving, maintaining composure and clear thinking under pressure.

How we’ll look after you

We take good care of our people - and that means more than just a pay packet. Whatever your role, you'll get a range of benefits, including:

• 25 days' holiday (plus bank holidays),as well as an extra day after you've been with us for three, five and 10 years. We also have a scheme to help you buy extra holiday if you want to.
• An extra day's paid leave each yearto volunteer for a cause close to your community or your heart.
• Big moment day -an extra day’s paid leave for a moment that matters to you - like getting married, moving house or welcoming a new addition to the family (human or furry!)
• Help saving for your retirement -we'll match your company pension contributions up to 6% and you can contribute through salary sacrifice.
• Supportive and progressive people policies -we’re proud to have a range of policies to support people in their lives in and outside work, including enhanced family leave and policies to promote flexibility, inclusion and progression. We believe you shouldn’t have to wait to join us to know what to expect from us, which is why we share this overview of the policies we have in place to support families and carers. If there's something you want to understand more about, just ask - it won’t make a difference to your application.
• A healthcare cash plan -giving you money back for a range of medical expenses and fast access to doctor's appointments.
• Car lease scheme -you can buy a brand new electric or hybrid car through our leasing partner, and pay for it through salary sacrifice.
• Wellbeing support -including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family.
• Access to lots of discounts -including 15% off with Reach's very own online marketplace, Yimbly, where you can buy everything from homewares to beauty products.
• Interest‑free loans -including for season tickets and technology.

If you’re excited about this role but don’t tick every single box, please don’t let that stop you from applying.

We know that everyone has their own story to tell, and we value potential, passion and the perspectives that different backgrounds bring to our work.

Diverse perspectives strengthen our teams and help us better serve our audiences, which is why we’re dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and supported. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

We are committed to a recruitment process that is fair and welcoming to all, without discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.