Local Democracy Reporter

• Dundee
• DC Thomson

Do you have the journalistic passion, drive and skill to get under the skin of local government in Scotland?

If so, we have the perfect job for you based in Dundee, the City of Discovery and Scotland’s coolest and most vibrant small city.

As part of a partnership with the BBC, DC Thomson is looking for an outstanding journalist to join our Local Democracy Reporting team.

The successful candidate will get to the heart of council life in Angus and Dundee and seek out the stories that really matter to the communities they serve, such as the Olympia leisure centre scandal in Dundee which has left taxpayers with a multi-million pound bill and swimmers high and dry.

An important and exciting role, the Local Democracy Reporter will hold the council administrations in Forfar and Dundee to account, scrutinise the services they provide and shine a light wherever taxpayer cash is being spent.

Never has that been more important than in the current period of huge financial challenge, which is putting stress and strain on councils across Scotland and impacting directly on the lives of ordinary families.

Requirements

The successful candidate will be responsible for covering council meetings and key decisions in their area, and ensuring audiences are kept informed and engaged on local democratic issues.

They should provide reliable, fair, balanced and timely multimedia content on local democracy issues in their area.

The Local Democracy Reporter post available is to cover Angus and Dundee councils and will be based in DC Thomson Media’s impressive headquarters building in the heart of Dundee.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service, the remit of which extends to other publicly funded organisations, has been expanded and now includes more reporters and even greater coverage of what is happening in town and city halls across the country.

Content produced through the scheme will appear in DC Thomson Media’s newspapers and associated websites and is also made available to other media involved in the scheme.

If you would like to hear directly from some Local Democracy Reporters describing their work and their roles, please watch this short video: https://www.stage.bbc.co.uk/lnp/ldrs/ldr_advice

To be a serious contender you must:

• Have good writing skills, up-to-date knowledge of media law and 100 wpm shorthand
• Be a qualified journalist, hold National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ) (or similar) qualification, or have a proven track record as a reporter in a daily news environment
• Have excellent social media skills
• Be capable of working under pressure and identifying priorities
• Be familiar with digital tools and techniques across a range of devices and platforms
• Have a strong understanding of the working and processes of local government
• Have demonstrable experience of delivering great ideas for content
• A track-record in strong contact-building
• Proficiency in taking images, shooting video and gathering audio

To apply for this fixed term role, please follow our online application process and submit a CV and cover letter.

This is a full-time, fixed term position, working 35 hours per week from our Meadowside Office. We offer a generous package including 34 days holiday, Health Cash Plan, Onsite Staff Gym, excellent Pension, a competitive salary, and many more staff discounts and benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from everyone and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or any other protected characteristics.

If you have any issues with your application, please email recruitment@dcthomson.co.uk

For further information, please visit dcthomson.co.uk/vacancies

Please note that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early once we have received suitable applications. Therefore, please ensure you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.