Content Editor - The Sentinel (Maternity Cover)

We are looking for a Content Editor to join our dynamic news team at The Sentinel. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced writer and editor looking for a new challenge or a senior reporter, hungry to take the next step in their journalism career. You will play a key role in our strategy to continue to grow our audience, deepen our relationship with existing readers and reach our underserved communities. This is predominantly a writing role, where you will write and edit daily news stories that keep the people of Stoke-on-Trent informed. This role is home based, so we are open to candidates based anywhere in the UK (though being close to Stoke-on-Trent is desirable). This is a maternity cover, fixed term contract role, initially for 12 months. About us Hello, we’re Reach. Every day, our trusted news, stories and content connect with millions of people where they live - whether that’s on their social feed or at their neighbourhood newsstand; through their local community or their take on the hot topic of the day. We're home to more than 120 trusted brands - from household names like The Mirror, Express, Daily Star and Daily Record, to local titles like MyLondon, BelfastLive, and the Manchester Evening News, and brands making a splash in the US like the Irish Star. It's our ability to understand people and the things that matter to them that makes us the UK and Ireland's largest commercial news publisher. We reach 70% of the UK's online population and speak to over 100 million social followers around the world. And we’re just getting started… Your story, with Reach As a modern media organisation, we're much more than just news. And it takes a wide range of people and skills to serve diverse audiences, customers and communities like we do. We know everyone has their own story to tell, so we’ve built an environment where every background is respected and every day is a day to explore. We’ll help you build a career that works with your life, while giving you the space to create and grow. What will the role involve? Utilising the research and data collected by reporters in the team, you will write and edit engaging news content, including articles, pictures and video. You will organise and manage the publishing of fresh, accurate and legally-sound news content. Live coverage is a vital part of our newsrooms, so you will use your excellent news sense to know when to launch live blogs for big stories and how to maintain momentum as readers flock to our sites. You will step up and deputise as needed, supporting and inspiring your team of reporters to pitch, research and write stories of their own. You will oversee our websites and social media channels, helping to develop our social strategy. This role will involve working shifts on a rota basis including some evenings and weekends so a flexible approach is required. Who are we looking for? You are an experienced NCTJ/NQJ qualified (or equivalent time served) journalist with extensive UK media law knowledge. You have a proven track record of writing and editing digital news content in a fast-paced newsroom environment. You are a first class writer and storyteller with a thorough understanding of our news brands and audience engagement strategies. You have a good understanding of SEO, search, social and digital audience behaviour. You are social media savvy and have experience utilising various social platforms including but not limited to Facebook, X and Instagram. Ideally you have prior people management experience, or you are keen to step up into a management role, utilising your communication, motivation and people skills to do so. You have a good working knowledge of your patch and can use this to inform your content decisions. How we'll look after you We take good care of our people - and that means more than just a pay packet. Whatever your role, you'll get a range of benefits, including: 25 days' holiday (plus bank holidays), as well as an extra day after you've been with us for three, five and 10 years. We also have a scheme to help you buy extra holiday if you want to. An extra day's paid leave each year to volunteer for a cause close to your community or your heart. Big moment day - an extra day’s paid leave for a moment that matters to you - like getting married, moving house or welcoming a new addition to the family (human or furry!) Help saving for your retirement - we'll match your company pension contributions up to 6% and you can contribute through salary sacrifice. Supportive and progressive people policies - we’re proud to have a range of policies to support people in their lives in and outside work, including enhanced family leave and policies to promote flexibility, inclusion and progression. We believe you shouldn’t have to wait to join us to know what to expect from us, which is why we share this overview of the policies we have in place to support families and carers . If there's something you want to understand more about, just ask - it won’t make a difference to your application. A healthcare cash plan - giving you money back for a range of medical expenses and fast access to doctor's appointments. Car lease scheme - you can buy a brand new electric or hybrid car through our leasing partner, and pay for it through salary sacrifice. Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family. Access to lots of discounts - including 15% off with Reach's very own online marketplace, Yimbly, where you can buy everything from homewares to beauty products. Interest-free loans - including for season tickets and technology. If you’re excited about this role but don’t tick every single box, please don’t let that stop you from applying. We know that everyone has their own story to tell, and we value potential, passion and the perspectives that different backgrounds bring to our work. Diverse perspectives strengthen our teams and help us better serve our audiences, which is why we’re dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and supported. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to a recruitment process that is fair and welcoming to all, without discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.