Trainee reporter (city and shire)

At DC Thomson we are a business with a purpose – to make a positive impact on the communities we serve.

We are home to some of the world’s best loved media brands, organised around local news and radio, companionship, kids, advocacy, energy, puzzles and hobbies.

The Courier, The Press & Journal, The Sunday Post, Beano, Stylist, Puzzler, The People’s Friend, My Weekly, bunkered, Energy Voice, Findmypast and Brightsolid are just some of the brands you might know us for.

Deeply rooted in our communities, we are investing in data, technology and talent to unlock a new level of understanding about what really matters to our customers.

This is how we are shaping the future of media.

We’re changing the way we work to create a flexible, collaborative, learning-led culture that draws on expertise from across the organisation to create award-winning content and cultural moments that make audiences want to be part of our communities.

Our HQ is in Dundee, and we have bases around the UK employing over 1,200 extraordinarily creative colleagues working in a mix of office/home/hybrid.

They’re passionate about being part of the story of so many well-loved brands and they’re crucial to our ambitions for the company.

We’re looking for the best people to join us at DC Thomson, to share their energy, ideas and skills and be part of our story.

Why join us now? DC Thomson is on an exciting transformation journey to growth.

Our brands matter to people and we are passionate about sustaining meaningful relationships with the communities these brands serve.

Focused on creating brilliant content and experiences that inspire our audiences and communities.

The Opportunity Press and Journal’s City and Shire team takes a special focus on the regeneration of the region which has been particularly affected over the years by the oil and gas downturn and the coronavirus pandemic – explaining the impact of council decisions and providing unbeatable coverage of developments in Aberdeen city centre.

Our team is responsible for the most in-depth council coverage, and is dedicated to keeping the people of the north-east reliably informed about the most important changes to their area.

We’re looking for a trainee reporter who would join us at a time when major regeneration projects at the beach and the city centre are taking shape.

Main areas of focus include high street recovery, planning and the built environment, milestone infrastructure projects and tourism.

We are now looking for a reporter to join us to help fly the flag for the region, covering the high-profile issues that matter the most to our readers.

Hyper-local stories that zero in on particular matters of local interest in our towns and villages are also a crucial part of our remit.

The right candidate must have good knowledge of the north-east covering all of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, including the Banff and Buchan coast and all the way to Royal Deeside.

They will be passionate and well voiced in the issues facing the region and have good contacts willing to provide them with exclusives to deliver strong, engaging and in-depth coverage.

What we are looking for: Someone who is enthusiastic and keen to learn from some of the best journalists in the region.

Someone with a nose for a story and an abundance of ideas ready to be developed for a Press and Journal audience.

Have an interest and knowledge of the north-east of Scotland, the issues which affect it and the industries which support it.

Good knowledge of local politics and the workings of local authorities in Scotland.

Have a willingness to embrace new skills and tools in the digital arena such as SEO, social media, video, audio etc.

You should always be willing to learn more.

Ability to work in a team, collaborating on ideas and sharing responsibility for meeting newsroom targets Have highly-developed communication skills.

What to expect from the recruitment experience: As we move through the recruitment process, we want to get to know you, as well as help you understand the team, where we are going and how you can play a part in our future a little better.

Following an initial screening process, if you are selected to move to interview, we will introduce you to the hiring panel over email and make sure you’re clear on the outcomes of your time with them, as well as timelines for hearing any next steps.

We will also share any helpful feedback we can with you, so whether it’s the right role or not this time around, we can help each other grow.

To make sure you are supported to be at your best through the process, please let us know if there is anything we can do to support your application or make adjustments along the way.

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

This is a full-time, permanent position, working 35 hours per week from our Aberdeen Office.

We offer a generous package including 34 days holiday, health cash plan, gym discount, 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.