AI Assisted Reporter – Essex
We are seeking an AI-assisted reporter to join our busy newsroom covering a portfolio of local newspaper titles in north, mid and south Essex including the Colchester Gazette and Southend Echo.
The successful candidate will play a key role in developing our use of AI technology to enhance our journalism and create quality, relevant and engaging content for our loyal audiences across multiple platforms.
This is an exciting and unique opportunity for someone passionate about journalism to develop skills which are fundamentally changing the role of the journalist.
AI is changing the way we produce and consume news, without losing sight of the importance of quality reporting and writing. The successful candidate will be at the forefront of these exciting developments.
As an AI-assisted reporter, you will have the opportunity to develop your news and technical skills, including learning how to manage and utilise AI technology.
The ideal candidate will be NCTJ-qualified with some newsroom experience and with knowledge of digital publishing.
The role will be based in the Colchester newsroom with a requirement to travel to other offices from time to time.
Key Responsibilities
- Work with an AI system to help write news articles, while also utilising your journalism skills to maintain the quality and authenticity of the content
- Ensure that all content produced meets legal and ethical standards, including those related to media law, plagiarism, privacy, and accuracy
- Source stories and ideas from a range of sources, proactively building and refining a news list of high quality, engaging digital content
- Identify and deliver areas to expand our coverage into, as well as the topics and story types that will resonate
- Efficiently upload and manage stories, using time-saving AI tools and techniques to ensure a seamless process without compromising the quality of the content
- Contribute to the development of AI technology by monitoring the performance of AI-generated content and identifying areas for improvement
- Work closely with our existing editorial teams to help integrate selected AI-generated content into a variety of newsrooms
- Train other reporters in the use of AI technology
- Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices related to AI and journalism
- Crafting social media posts to sell your stories and drive engagement
- Building our digital audience and social media following to bring our content to even more people in the community
- With guidance from editors, using analytics to identify what our readers like and what they want next from our coverage
- Joining forces with your counterparts across the UK to share ideas, best practice, success stories and skills.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- NCTJ diploma or equivalent
- Excellent writing and editing skills, with exceptional attention to detail
- A strong understanding of journalistic principles and practices
- Excellent working knowledge of relevant media law and adherence to the Editors’ Code of Conduct are vital to fulfilling the functions of the role
- Creativity and innovation, with a willingness to experiment with new approaches and techniques
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
- Ability to analyse data and generate insights to inform content decisions
- A keen news sense
- An understanding of what audiences want, and when
- Knowledge of SEO and its importance to digital journalism
- A high level of organisation
- Collaborative skills to pool ideas with the wider AI-assisted reporting team and take on board suggestions
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
- Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
- Structured career progression & ongoing training
- Pension plan & mental health support
- Perks & discounts including:
- Gym membership
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Eye care vouchers (£50 towards glasses)
- Retail discounts
- Team building days & annual volunteer charity day
About Newsquest Media Group
We are a media company with a difference. We are committed to bringing a voice to your region by investing in a passionate team of journalists who proudly serve their communities by sharing authoritative news that readers trust. Our sales teams provide local businesses with highly responsive digital advertising and marketing solutions.
We are one of the largest regional news publishers in the UK and have a portfolio of more than 250+ local news brands and magazines online and in print. With an online audience of 41 million users a month and 7 million readers a week in print, our content is read by a substantial proportion of the UK population.
In addition to our local news brands, we own several digital pure play and specialist media businesses such as s1jobs and s1homes, Exchange & Mart, and Newsquest Specialist Media. We also own LOCALiQ, an award-winning digital marketing agency that specialises in driving more leads, increasing online growth and generating return on marketing investment on behalf of thousands of UK SMBs.
