Live News Reporters - Freelance

The Independent; Greater London; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is looking for enthusiastic Live News Reporters to join their UK team. This role offers a unique opportunity to report on a wide range of topics, from royal news to international events. Ideal candidates will have a strong journalism background and be adept at digital publishing. You will thrive in fast-paced environments, managing multiple priorities while delivering accurate and engaging news content. Join a forward-thinking company that values innovation and independent journalism, and help shape the future of news reporting.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role at a comparable title.
• Demonstrable experience as a journalist with strong news background.

Responsibilities

• Writing clean and legally sound news copy.
• Managing multiple priorities in a dynamic news environment.

Skills

News Writing

SEO Knowledge

Digital Analytics

Problem Solving

Team Collaboration

Content Creation

Education

NCTJ or equivalent

Job description

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The Independent is an online news publisher that was established in 1986 as a national newspaper independent of party political affiliations or proprietorial influence. In 2016, The Independent became a fully digital publisher, moving away from print in pursuit of sustainability, and to safeguard its values and journalism for the future.

The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing.

Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over.

We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York.

In 2024 The Independent’s portfolio of brands increased through a new licencing partnership with BuzzFeed Inc. to operate the BuzzFeed brands in the UK - BuzzFeed UK, Tasty, Seasoned and HuffPost UK. The additional brands echo the existing business ethos and allow for increased audiences and a further strategic diversification of revenue streams.

About the role

The Independent is seeking Live News Reporters for freelance shifts on the title’s UK team.

The successful candidates will be enthusiastic about everything from royal news and pop culture, to politics and major international news.

The right candidates will be trained journalists with strong news backgrounds, and will have a firm grasp on all aspects of digital publishing.

They will have the ability to source and verify information independently for publication, as well as understanding how best to use agency content is a must. The right journalists will be both confident reporters and live-bloggers.

You will be expected to be comfortable managing multiple priorities in a calm and methodical manner, and possess the ability to thrive in breaking and changing news situations.

Key responsibilities and skills

• Writing clean and legally sound news copy.
• Working knowledge of newsroom SEO.
• Understand digital analytics tools.
• Have a proven track record as a news journalist.
• Act swiftly and vocally when issues arise.
• Be a problem solver with the ability to deal with issues calmly and decisively.
• Be a team-player able to work well with others.

Essential skills and experience

• Experience of successfully working in a similar role at a similar title.
• Demonstrable experience as a journalist.
• Strong familiarity with the Independent and our coverage.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to multitask.
• NCTJ or equivalent.
• Skilled content creator.
• Ability to clearly communicate best practices.
• Experience of working in a dynamic fast-paced media environment.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone.

We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here.

The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.

Our values – you will deliver across all our values

Inclusive: We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. Working as a team, we put transparency and effective communication at the heart of everything we do.

Innovative: From the very beginning, The Independent has been breaking the mould. We take risks and are always looking to try new ideas in pursuit of excellence.

Independent: Nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own minds and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Temporary

Job function

• Writing/Editing
• Industries
• Online Audio and Video Media and Broadcast Media Production and Distribution