Job Description

Job Title: Local Democracy Reporter

Location: Tralee (Hybrid)

Role Purpose

We have an exciting new opportunity for a reporter in Kerry to join a winning team of journalists.

The Kerryman, Irish Independent and Mediahuis Ireland is recruiting a reporter to provide accurate and engaging coverage of Kerry County Council and the local democracy issues that matter to our fast-growing digital audience and print readers.

The new role is for a 12-month period and is funded by a journalism scheme from independent media regulator Coimisiún na Meán.

The ability of journalists to report independently remains at the core of our journalism.

The Local Democracy Reporter will cover all matters relating to local democracy in County Kerry, ranging from council meetings, area and strategic policy committees, to breaking stories of local and national importance. Building contacts within the council, as well as local communities and businesses, will be essential.

The successful candidate must have a strong news sense and be capable of working independently while taking care to ensure stories are verified, legally sound and fit for publication on Mediahuis digital platforms and national and regional print titles. Accuracy and news sense will be key skills.

It will offer a journalist the chance to join a go-ahead team of reporters and editors who deliver local news on a national scale, working closely with colleagues in the newsroom of The Kerryman, The Irish Independent, and across an expanding regional operation.

Mediahuis is Ireland's leading media publisher, reaching millions of readers every day. We believe in independent journalism that positively impacts people, society and local communities. As an open-minded organisation, we have a curious outlook on the world, always striving for better and our people are encouraged to do the same.

Our aim is to captivate, entertain, and inform local communities and a national audience with trusted journalism.

The Job in a Nutshell

Your work will focus on reporting on all matters relating to local government and democracy at work in local communities, contributing to our award-winning journalism.

This is the first time Coimisiún na Meán has directly supported public-interest journalism and Mediahuis Ireland expects the funding from the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme to contribute to our high-quality, trusted and independent news and current affairs journalism.

We know that local news is what connects us with our audience and this scheme will allow us to provide more news from journalists working on the ground in local communities.

Independence continues to remain at the heart of our journalism.

This role extends and enhances our on-going investment in local journalism through our award-winning Project Leap, the INMA Global Media Award-winning local news initiative from Mediahuis Ireland.

Role Responsibilities (Overview)

• Work to ensure comprehensive coverage of important local democracy issues in Kerry on Mediahuis Ireland’s digital platforms, in The Kerryman and in other print titles

• Write, edit and publish breaking news in a fast-paced environment

• An ability to work calmly under pressure and meet tight deadlines

• Work closely with local photographers and freelance contributors

• Liaise with the regional audience team and contribute to social media

• Edit the content to a very high standard, ensuring that all material published meets the legal and quality standards set out

• Generate and identify ideas for video/podcasts

• Understand the structures and workings of Kerry County Council

• Work closely with the editors in developing new ideas

Experience & Qualifications (Minimum Experience & Essential Knowledge)

• Excellent understanding of Local Government

• News reporting experience is essential

• A working knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act

• Based in the region

• Working experience of local journalism is an advantage

Skills (technical & non-technical)

Technical

• Demonstrate an appetite to increase market-share and support the Independent brand as the leader in news coverage

• Excellent communication skills required

• Excellent writing and editing abilities

• Ability to work on own initiative

• Working knowledge of social media

Other

• Can work under pressure in a performance driven environment

• Tenacity, with a ‘can do’ attitude

• Must exhibit learning agility and adaptability

• Detail orientated

• Ability to meet deadlines

• Ability to make decisions in line with company policy on own initiative

• Broad general knowledge and understanding of the news agenda

• News judgement

• Strong collaboration