Online News Reporter – Bucks Free Press & Reading Chronicle

Newsquest is recruiting a web‑savvy online news reporter to work across the Bucks Free Press and Reading Chronicle, driving digital growth and audience engagement on two of the region’s key news brands.

This is a role for a journalist who lives and breathes online news, understands social media and knows how to find and tell stories that get people talking.

Key Responsibilities

Reacting to breaking stories and updates across Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, getting them online quickly and accurately.
Using live blogs, push alerts, newsletters and social media to build engagement.
Tracking performance via analytics and shaping content plans around what readers respond to.
Working with editors and fellow reporters to experiment with new formats and digital storytelling techniques.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

We’re looking for someone who:

Has experience producing fast, accurate digital news content.
Understands SEO, analytics and the type of stories that perform strongly online.
Uses social media instinctively – from Facebook and X to TikTok and Instagram – to source stories and reach audiences.
Is comfortable working across multiple titles and tailoring content to different audiences.

Previous newsroom experience and NCTJ or equivalent training are preferred, but we’re also interested in candidates with strong digital content or social media backgrounds who can show they know how to grow a news audience.

This is an ideal opportunity for a journalist who wants to be at the heart of a regional digital news operation, with clear targets around audience growth and a chance to help shape how our brands develop online.

To apply, send your CV, a cover letter outlining your digital experience and ideas for growing our online audience, plus three examples of your best online work.

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

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.