Northern Echo Live Reporter

Newsquest Media Group; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Holiday buy scheme

Career progression

Pension plan

Employee helpline

Gym membership

Cycle to Work

Eye care

Retail discounts

Team building days

Volunteer day

Job summary

The Northern Echo in Darlington, part of Newsquest, is seeking an ambitious Live Reporter to join our editorial team. You’ll cover communities across Sunderland, Hartlepool and East Durham, delivering engaging local and hyper-local stories for our growing online audience.

This role blends traditional reporting with digital storytelling, using analytics to guide coverage and emerge with breaking news quickly.

Qualifications

• Ambitious reporter with local story focus.
• Excellent writing and reporting skills.
• NCTJ qualification or prelims for trainees.
• Good understanding of digital journalism and online audiences.
• Ability to work quickly in a fast-paced newsroom.

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

News sense

Writing skills

Proactive storytelling

Digital journalism

Publishing tools

Fast-paced

Media law basics

Education

NCTJ qualification

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