Job description

Job title:  Senior Reporter

Job purpose:  This role is responsible for delivering engaging and exclusive daily content online and in print, and providing editorial, production and advertising support for the Association of Optometrist's journal, Optometry Today. 

Reports to:  Deputy Editor

Directorate:  Communications

The Communications directorate has responsibility for all external communications for the organisation, including marketing, PR, Optometry Today and digital.

1  Duties and key responsibilities

1.1  Deliver high quality editorial content across OT’s multimedia channels

• Deliver off-diary exclusive B2B news content for optometry.co.uk on a daily basis, in line with the interests of AOP members and related to the profession and industry 
• Develop and deliver exclusive feature content for online to deadline 
• Develop and maintain a broad book of industry contacts to support the delivery of exclusive news stories, with a focus on industry and key multiple businesses 
• Lead on the development, commissioning and interviewing of online multimedia video content 
• Contribute to editorial meetings, pitching original feature ideas and researching story leads for the monthly print edition 
• Produce ad hoc news analysis pieces and features, and edit sections, for the print edition 
• Support OT’s social media channels, working to grow followers and increase interaction through industry/contact engagement
• Commission editorial content from external industry experts, including from within the AOP, for us online and in print
• Contribute to the development and delivery of online and print editorial planners that align with the advertising plans of key industry clients  
• Use the AOP community forum and poll platforms to engage readers with optical news topics

1.2  Support OT's editorial production processes

• Fact-checking and copy-proofing pages produced by the editorial team, ensuring editorial values of accuracy, relevance, ease of use and respect for the law are met
• Writing headlines and ‘standfirsts’ specifically for online, to support SEO
• Support the digital team to traffic and publish content online daily, including the sharing of content across OT’s social media channels when required

1.3  Manage stakeholder relationships related to OT

• Attend key trade and clinical education events to network and build industry contacts, and oversee a strategy for delivering coverage from these events
• Regularly attend press events and launches to network and secure exclusive news for online 
• Develop strong working relationships with key clients in the industry and multiple sectors 
• Support OT’s commercial team to develop potential advertising leads and opportunities, and to devise and produce advertorial plans and content, including supplements
• Support the wider AOP communications team, including media and PR activities
• Act as a point of contact for OT across the organisation and help to promote its activities to members

 

2 General responsibilities

• Be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting your work at hand and maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development
• Operate within organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice and work collaboratively with staff across the association
• Contribute to team meetings and organisational priorities, strategic goals and performance targets
• Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as and when they may arise, develop or be assigned within the broad remit of the post

 

3 Person Specification

Experience

• At least three years’ journalism experience 
• Previous experience of working as a senior reporter producing daily off-diary content for a website and print publication in a deadline-driven environment
• Subediting/headline writing for online/print
• Uploading content using a CMS (Sitecore CMS experience desirable)
• Sharing content on a range of social channels 
• Developing contacts and networking, with the desire and confidence to represent the journal at top industry levels.

Skills and abilities

• All-round journalistic skills, including research and analytical skills, with a focus on business content
• Ability to produce accurate, well written content to daily deadlines
• News-hungry, investigative; able to spot and source, as well as deliver, exclusive news stories
• Accurate proof-reading skills, and excellent spelling and grammar
• Communication and networking skills, including the ability to create and maintain effective working relationships and represent the OT brand
• An understanding of technology for communications and its uses, including social media
• Ability to plan workload and re-organise, based on changes in news and deadlines
• Up to date IT skills, including experience of Microsoft Office, willingness to learn new packages as required. InDesign experience preferred.

Knowledge

• Media law etc
• SEO for online publishing
• Social media tools in a journalistic and business environment, and a track record of growing your audience by using them effectively
• Interest in business news

Education/training

• NCTJ or equivalent journalism qualification desirable, including shorthand.

Personal attributes and other requirements

• Flexible to working outside of office hours, including travelling as required
• Flexible and adaptable with the ability to work in a changing environment and manage multiple work activities, projects and deadlines
• Committed to achieving a high-quality service with good attention to detail
• Committed to personal development through actively developing this role 
• Confident and assertive whilst approachable and client friendly

To apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a covering letter and CV to [email protected].