- 1x 4-month FTC
- Office location: Belfast This is an office based role unsuitable for hybrid working.
- Hiring range: £41,284 - £56,028.
The team
Our ITV News teams deliver high quality, trustworthy and impartial journalism to millions of people on television and online. It’s a fast moving environment with a huge variety of roles on offer and plenty of challenges. We operate from 11 main news production centres. We also have a political unit based in Stormont and the heart of Westminster and we produce a range of current affairs & factual programming at UTV, ITV Wales and ITV Border.
The role
Content Editors support the Programme & Digital Editor in ensuring all broadcasting and online content is excellent, relevant and up-to-date. They work as part of a team of Content Editors and may form part of the News Management Team, working alongside key production colleagues to assist the Head of News and Programmes in agreeing and communicating strategy, as well as leading projects. On occasion Content Editors may be required to deputise for the Programme & Digital Editor or Head of News and Programmes.
You will either be a qualified journalist, to NCTJ level or equivalent, with a minimum three years experience working in a broadcast newsroom or equivalent, or have a real depth of experience gained by working within a multi-media news operation. You will be able to demonstrate your skills in creative journalism, editorially and visually, to make our news content engaging and relevant to our audience with a multi-platform approach to our storytelling.
With your thorough knowledge of journalism compliance, the Ofcom Code, privacy legislation and health and safety law and your excellent editorial judgement, you will be able to make informed decisions confidently and to tight deadlines.
We are also looking for someone who will help ensure our coverage is as representative of the people and backgrounds of all those who live here as possible.
Operational skills
Content Editors make key editorial judgements and will have a core skill in one or more of the following areas on appointment. They will develop new skills from the list below in order to work effectively and flexibly as part of the newsroom’s senior team.
- PROGRAMME PRODUCING - Working closely with the Programme & Digital Editor to oversee high quality Programme, Bulletins, or Opt production ensuring that editorial, technical, legal/compliance and timing requirements are consistently met
- NEWS EDITING - Efficiently and effectively leading day to day newsgathering and other projects by co-ordinating the coverage of breaking stories and planned events, reacting swiftly, effectively and accurately to news stories
- ONLINE EDITING - Taking a lead in curating and maintaining ITV’s online news service ITVX and our news website, generating ideas and driving digital media coverage through a collaborative effort across the team locally and nationally
- PLANNING - Leading the advance planning of content for all news output, on all of our platforms, online and on screen. Preparing comprehensive long term and weekly prospect lists, as well as working closely with colleagues on short-term and next day coverage. Generating a constant flow of original news and feature ideas
- FEATURES & PROJECTS - Overseeing the planning and production of all news features and current affairs, programme strands and ITV projects.
Management skills
- To provide excellent line management to a group of colleagues
- To promote ITV News initiatives and support the Head of News and Programmes & Digital Editor in implementing such initiatives amongst the wider team
- To act as a key leader of the team, motivating others, setting an example in terms of professionalism and high editorial standards.
General
- To consistently generate original and creative ideas, contributing to the news agenda of the day, on-screen and online
- To research and develop story ideas thoroughly and creatively for on-air and online output
- To make, maintain and nurture a wide range of relevant contacts
- To be proactive about diversity, equity & inclusion ensuring the output reflects news stories and issues across the audience spectrum
- To source interesting contributors, from all parts of the community, who will bring the story to life
- To make optimal use of the full suite of newsroom technology, adhering to workflow as required, including editing, graphics and digital curation
- To write scripts that are accurate, concise and engaging
- To provide copyright clearance details and basic media management (sourcing, booking and returning tapes to the library)
- To undertake project work and contribute to network news output as required
- To exercise excellent editorial judgement and provide editorial guidance to colleagues with less experience, maintaining professional journalistic standards and adhering to ITV’s Legal & Compliance, ITV Trust and OFCOM guidelines.
This role will include some weekend duty editor responsibility. Some individuals may be required to travel to district offices or to work in other news operations as well as attending relevant forums, development sessions and meetings off site as part of their role
Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)
- Fully qualified NCTJ, BJTC or equivalent experience
- A strong knowledge of media law & compliance and the ability to exercise excellent editorial judgement
- A proven track record of producing, sourcing or planning excellent content to deadline and under pressure
- Experience of successfully coaching, managing and motivating others
- Experience of delivering innovation across all media platforms
- A reputation for using a creative approach whilst displaying sound journalistic ability
- Commitment to D,E & I
- Excellent Communication skills
- Self motivated and quick thinking with strong decision making skills.