Manchester Evening News Audience Writer - TV & Celebrity

Salary: Trainees start at £24,024 and Seniors start at £32,760

Are you obsessed with soaps? Do you love the latest reality shows? And do you binge-watch the latest must-see shows on Netflix? We already have a huge TV and Celeb audience - but we want to grow it further so we are looking for two new writers to join the team.

Please Note: We have two roles, one evening and weekends, and one on a rota across the week

About Reach

We’re Reach plc, the UK’s and Ireland’s largest commercial news publisher. We’re home to over 120 trusted brands, from national titles like the Mirror, Express, Daily Record and Daily Star, to local brands like MyLondon, BelfastLive and the Manchester Evening News, as well as our US brands. Every month, 47 million people come to us, via print and online, for trusted news, entertainment and sport.

What will the roles involve?

As an Audience Writer, you will get to work alongside our talented TV and Celebrity editor. You will have a good understanding of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and in particular, Google Discover - understanding the best ways to help amplify your content using the platform. You will also help create content to ensure we are prepared for significant organic search opportunities and be agile in producing reactive content and being able to predict and react to audience mood.

Who are we looking for?

To be an Audience Writer, you will be expected to manage and deliver a consistent schedule of high-quality articles about specific topics, backed up by data. You will be creative and have a constant stream of ideas. You will have excellent written and communication skills. Part of the role will be to conduct research using data to understand the demographics, interests and behaviours of our target audiences.

It’s important to note that to succeed in this role, you must be comfortable working to targets and deadlines and be flexible in your approach. These roles will involve shifts over seven days. You will have recognised industry qualifications such as NCTJ or equivalent and a strong understanding of media law. You may also be required to work across other Reach publications.

We are offering a competitive salary and benefits including;

• 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

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested please apply early to avoid disappointment.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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.