Trainee Reporter

Newsquest; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Birthday off

Holiday buy scheme

Career progression & training

Pension plan

Employee Helpline

Perks & discounts

Gym membership

Cycle to Work

Eye care

Retail discounts

Team building days

Volunteer charity day

Job summary

Newsquest in Stevenage is seeking a trainee reporter to join our newsroom, covering busy patches in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. You will find and produce stories that matter to local communities, covering a range of subjects.

Working with an experienced editorial team across Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, you will create print and digital content, build local contacts and use multimedia storytelling including pictures and video. The role is based in our Stevenage office.

Qualifications

• NCTJ Diploma or equivalent qualification.
• Excellent writing, interviewing and news gathering skills.
• Strong news sense and ability to identify stories that matter to local audiences.
• Good understanding of media law and the Editors' Code of Conduct.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines; proactive, self-motivated approach.

Responsibilities

• Source and deliver engaging local content.
• Build and maintain a strong network of contacts.
• Create content to enrich newspapers and grow online reader engagement.
• Ensure content meets accuracy, media law and the Editors' Code of Conduct.
• Use newsroom technology and AI-assisted tools to aid efficient content creation.
• Use multimedia storytelling including photography and video.
• Monitor audience performance and use data to inform decisions.

Skills

Excellent writing

Interviewing

News gathering

Strong news sense

Under pressure

Self-motivated

Education

NCTJ Diploma or equivalent qualification

Job description

Trainee Reporter

Application Deadline: 20 October 2026

Department: Editorial

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Stevenage

Reporting To: Georgia Barrow

Description

We are looking for a talented trainee reporter to join our newsroom, covering some of the busiest and most exciting patches in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. You'll be responsible for finding and producing stories that matter to local communities, covering a range of subjects.

Working as part of an experienced editorial team spanning Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, you'll create print and digital content and build strong local contacts to help make grow our audience across multiple platforms.

You will use modern newsroom tools, including AI-assisted technology, to help research, organise and produce content more efficiently while applying your own journalistic expertise and news judgement. You will be required to use multimedia storytelling techniques, including pictures and video.

The role is based in our Stevenage office.

Key Responsibilities

• Source and deliver engaging local content
• Build and maintain a strong network of contacts
• Create engaging content to enrich our newspapers and grow audience reach and reader engagement online
• Ensure all content meets the highest standards of accuracy, media law and the Editors' Code of Conduct
• Use newsroom technology and AI-assisted tools to support efficient content creation
• Use multimedia storytelling techniques including photography and video
• Monitor audience performance and use data to help inform content decisions

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• NCTJ Diploma or equivalent qualification
• Excellent writing, interviewing and news gathering skills
• Strong news sense and an ability to identify stories that matter to local audiences
• Good understanding of media law and the Editors' Code of Conduct
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines
• A proactive and self-motivated approach to newsgathering

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