Senior Showbiz Reporter – Express Online – Reach (London)

We are looking for a Senior Showbiz Reporter to join us at Express Online, this is a fantastic opportunity to source and write industry-leading stories on all things celebrity, entertainment and all the big TV shows.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a trained digital journalist, with knowledge of SEO and social media, to join a fast-paced online newsroom. So if you’re obsessed with Strictly, or know what Piers Morgan’s going to say on Twitter before he says it, this could be the ideal role for you.

You will be expected to lead by example, sourcing the best stories, and exclusives by unearthing the strongest lines from the celebrity news world. As part of your development, you will also be expected to lead shifts on the Showbiz desk from time to time, editing others’ copy and setting the news agenda for the day.

We’re looking for fresh ideas and new perspectives from people from a wide range of backgrounds, and we want you to tell us the stories you believe are important from our many communities so we can continue to diversify our content.

We are happy to consider applications on a flexible working basis, and will always aim to accommodate requests where possible.

This role is home and hub based linked to our London Hub with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. We are therefore open to candidates based in and around London.

What will the role involve?

You will generate and cover day to day celebrity and entertainment news, ensuring that the focus is always on the site’s most-searchable stories. Using your bursting contacts book to pull in exclusive interviews and news stories that will deliver a richness of content to the site while delivering a mix of breaking news, exclusives and feature stories.

Optimising stories in accordance with the digital SEO/Social strategies, writing and editing in accordance with digital house style while wherever possible, identify unique headlines and angles for stories covered elsewhere to make content more searchable.

Who are we looking for?

You are an experienced journalist with your NCTJ or equivalent qualification and media law knowledge. You have a strong track record of Showbiz reporting experience in a fast paced newsroom environment. You will have a fantastic eye for detail and have a passion for all things celebrity.

You have first rate communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to create content at pace whilst meeting deadlines with ease. You enjoy the test of working to tight deadlines and experience of working in a digital newsroom and SEO would be beneficial.

You will have worked in digital at a national or regional news level and be comfortable with securing and producing content in this fast and reactive digital space.

• Help saving for your retirement – join our pension scheme and we’ll match contributions up to 6%
• 25 days’ holiday per year when you join. After three, five and ten years’ service with Reach, you’ll accrue one additional day of annual leave. We also have a Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Giving back day – an additional day’s leave each year to support a cause close to your heart
• Enhanced family leave – including maternity, paternity and adoption – and you’ll be eligible after just six months’ employment
• Private Healthcare Cash Plan – free health cash plan so you can claim back cash for a range of medical expenses
• As one of the UK’s top 50 Inclusive Employers everyone’s invited to join our events, programmes and networks to celebrate diversity and build an environment where all our people can thrive
• Wellbeing support – including a 24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP) for you and your nearest and dearest
• Awesome career opportunities – you’ll have support from your line manager and a range of learning & development programmes
• We are also a member of the 30% Club, a global campaign aimed at increasing gender diversity at board and senior management levels

Reach plc believes diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why we are committed to being an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all suitable applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.