Northern Echo Live Reporter

LocaliQ; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Birthday off

Holiday buy scheme

Pension plan

Employee helpline

Perks & discounts

Team building days

Volunteer charity day

Job summary

The Northern Echo in Darlington is seeking a live reporter to cover local and hyper-local news across Sunderland, Hartlepool and East Durham. You will write quickly, verify facts and publish engaging stories for online audiences, with a strong emphasis on digital storytelling.

Join a proactive newsroom, develop your journalism skills, and contribute to fast-sourced coverage while upholding accuracy and high standards of reporting.

Qualifications

• Strong news sense and ability to spot local stories.
• Excellent writing and reporting skills.
• Proactive approach to finding and developing stories.
• Good understanding of digital journalism and online audiences.
• Ability to work quickly and accurately in a fast-paced newsroom.

Responsibilities

• Source, write and deliver engaging local and hyper-local news stories.
• Cover Sunderland, Hartlepool and East Durham communities.
• Identify breaking news and topics that matter to locals.
• Create digital content across platforms.
• Use analytics to understand performance and drive readership.

Skills

Local news sense

Excellent writing

News reporting

Digital journalism

Fast-paced work

Audience engagement

Media law knowledge

Education

NCTJ qualification or prelims

Tools

Digital publishing tools

Analytics tools

Job description

Northern Echo Live Reporter

Application Deadline: 30 November 2026

Department: Editorial

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Darlington

Reporting To: Gavin Foster

Description

Are you an ambitious reporter with a keen eye for a great local story and the drive to make your mark in digital journalism?

We have a rare opportunity to join The Northern Echo’s team of live news journalists, covering communities across Sunderland, Hartlepool and East Durham.

You’ll be at the forefront of modern local journalism, combining strong traditional reporting skills and news sense with digital tools and technology to create engaging local and hyper-local content for our growing online audiences.

This is a proactive role where you’ll need to understand what audiences want to read, respond quickly to breaking stories and find the angles that matter most to local communities.

Outstanding trainees who have completed their NCTJ prelims will also be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Source, write and deliver engaging local and hyper-local news stories
• Cover communities across Sunderland, Hartlepool and East Durham
• Identify breaking news, emerging stories and topics that matter to local audiences
• Create first-class digital content across a range of platforms
• Use digital tools and technology to enhance storytelling and audience engagement
• Apply strong news judgement to the sourcing, selection, angle and presentation of stories
• Use audience and content analytics to understand performance and help drive readership growth
• Ensure all content meets high standards of accuracy and quality
• Work within media law, privacy, copyright and plagiarism guidelines
• Continually develop your journalistic, digital and technical skills

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Strong news sense and the ability to spot an engaging local story
• Excellent writing, reporting and communication skills
• A proactive approach to finding and developing stories
• Good understanding of digital journalism and online audiences
• Confidence using technology and digital publishing tools
• Ability to work quickly and accurately in a fast-paced newsroom
• Good understanding of media law, accuracy, privacy and journalistic standards
• NCTJ qualification or NCTJ prelims for trainee applicants
• Knowledge of Sunderland, Hartlepool, East Durham and the wider local patch would be advantageous
• Enthusiasm for local journalism and a genuine interest in the communities you’ll be covering

Benefits

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
• Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
• Structured career progression & ongoing training
• Pension plan
• Employee Helpline counselling and advice
• Perks & discounts including:
  • Gym membership
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • Eye care
  • Retail discounts
• Team building days & annual volunteer charity day