On-Screen Journalist

On-Screen Journalist

ITV Border

Permanent | Full-time

Office location: Edinburgh

Hiring range: £29,034 - £53,872

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 across England, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Channel Islands.

The role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our highly respected current affairs programme Representing Border - the political programme for the south of Scotland.

With the Scottish Parliament election taking place in May it’s going to be a busy and demanding year.

Representing Border is a political regional programme for the south of Scotland. It usually broadcasts every night that Holyrood is in session, as well as producing special programming.

We’re looking for a senior broadcast journalist with thorough knowledge of UK and Scottish politics.

The successful candidate will have superior knowledge of Scottish and UK politics, a strong track record in broadcast journalism as well as a sound knowledge of the Ofcom Code and the law. You will use your journalistic skills to ensure your reports are informative, factually accurate, fair and balanced.

We are a multi-platform operation so you will be enthusiastic about developing an online presence, ideally having proven experience of using digital media to extend the reach of your journalism.

Alongside your first-class communication and team-working skills, experience of self-shooting, laptop editing and live reporting is desirable. We will expect you to develop your camera and editing skills to complement our newsgathering and story-telling.

Please note - On-Screen Journalists are required to provide their own means of transport to and from location. The vehicle must be appropriately insured, taxed and maintained. You may claim associated mileage expenses in line with HMRC regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

• 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 pro-active 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 tell the story through engaging and authoritative presentation either through a live broadcast, as part of a news package, or through a range of digital platforms. On screen, to use picture, natural sound and soundbites to give the story maximum impact.
• To self shoot items (where appropriate to the story and the conditions) to a high standard
• To edit packages in a confident, creative and efficient manner, making full use of all production tools to make the most interesting item possible
• To curate ITV’s digital offering on the website or ITVX as required
• To create accurate graphics for bulletins, programmes and packages which clearly illustrate stories and communicate ideas using the template based graphic system

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

Your showreel will be assessed as part of the interview process - it should demonstrate:

• The ability to dress professionally, speak clearly and deliver the script or interview with a style and tone which is both authoritative and relaxed
• Proven technical ability (self shooting, editing, live reporting & digital) to give the story maximum impact as part of a package, live report, online article, and social media post.
• Confident and clear communication skills, with the ability to source contributors and put them at their ease to get the best story possible

In addition we are looking for:

• Fully qualified NCTJ, BJTC or equivalent experience
• A strong knowledge of media law & compliance, the Ofcom Code and the ability to exercise excellent editorial judgement
• The ability to generate, research and develop original, impactful and distinctive ideas, taking a creative approach to story-telling, treatments and production to deliver high quality reports for both on-air and online
• Strong and creative writing skills (accurate spelling and grammar essential)
• A strong knowledge of the patch, its cultural heritage and an awareness of the types of stories that engage our audiences. An understanding of the importance of Diversity and Inclusion in determining output.

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• The ability to work to deadlines is crucial. On-Screen Journalists will have an organised approach with effective logistical skills. The ability to plan well, work efficiently and keep calm and focussed under pressure is essential.
• Proven ability to build a strong network of contacts with the ability to think laterally about where stories are developing and identifying the contacts to deliver the stories

The rostered hours for this role will include some weekend and Bank Holiday working.

Because of the nature of news production, there will be occasions when you are required to work long and unsociable hours at short notice.

This can be a physically demanding role requiring individuals to transport, carry and operate a camera (and associated equipment) on a regular basis. Lighter kits and Mobile Journalism kits are available on request.

Some members of the Production Team 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.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of what we do at ITV Border and we want to ensure we reflect our audience both on screen and in our workforce. ITV is for Everyone and we encourage applications from Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people and People of Colour to apply for this role.

Newsrooms are busy and pressurised environments, involving live news production, which often requires colleagues to make quick decisions under pressure. We also need people who are able to use their initiative and, particularly for editorial roles, know what information might be required and how to research it.

We need to test these abilities at the interview stage to understand how candidates will react when operating in a pressurised environment. This is a fundamental requirement of the role. We will always consider any request for reasonable adjustments as part of the interview process, for example sharing key themes when that is requested in connection with a neurodivergent condition, whilst still ensuring that we are able to test a candidate's ability to operate in the specific environment of a newsroom.

Closing date: Sunday 22nd March 2026

Interview dates: Friday 27th & Monday 30th March 2026

Please note the notice period for this role is 2 months (this will include any new contracts/ secondments)

Please note, this role will be subject to a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)