Content Editor

Workplace: Birmingham

ITV News Central has a rare opportunity for an outstanding journalist to join its management team as a Content Editor. We’re looking for someone who can bring fresh ideas and energy to a newsroom which prides itself on editorial excellence.

As well as having exceptional TV and Digital skills, the successful candidate will play a vital part in maintaining the newsroom’s reputation for being a supportive and encouraging place to work. They will have the skills to be an effective and approachable line manager.

They will make strong editorial decisions to drive the news agenda across the East and West Midlands, and will have a passion to tell the stories that matter the most in this exciting and richly diverse news patch. The role involves programme producing, digital curation, news editing, and/or planning. Knowledge and enthusiasm for producing news presented differently across a wide range of online platforms, including our news app, and streaming service, ITVX, is essential.

You will either be a qualified journalist, to NCTJ level or equivalent with a minimum three years experience working in a broadcast newsroom or equivalent, or have a real depth of experience gained by working within a multi-media news operation. You will be able to demonstrate your skills in creative journalism, editorially and visually, to make our news content engaging and relevant to our audience online and on air.

It is vital that you will be able to make informed decisions confidently and to tight deadlines, using a thorough knowledge of broadcast compliance, the Ofcom Code, privacy legislation and health and safety law and your excellent editorial judgement. For external candidates, training will be provided on our systems and ways of working.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and you possess the journalistic and people management skills that will help us achieve our goals, then we’d love to hear from you.

To apply, please upload your CV together with a concise letter of application. Please outline why you want this role and what you would bring to the team as a Content Editor.

Operational skills

Content Editors make key editorial judgements and will have a core skill in one or more of the following areas on appointment. They will develop new skills from the list below in order to work effectively and flexibly as part of the newsroom’s senior team.

• PROGRAMME PRODUCING - Working closely with the Senior Content Editor to oversee high quality Programme, Bulletins, or Opt production ensuring that editorial, technical, legal/compliance and timing requirements are consistently met.
• NEWS EDITING - Efficiently and effectively leading day to day newsgathering and other projects by co-ordinating the coverage of breaking stories and planned events, reacting swiftly, effectively and accurately to news stories.
• ONLINE EDITING - Taking a lead in curating and maintaining ITV’s online news service, ITVX, our news app, and our news website, generating ideas and driving digital media coverage through a collaborative effort across the team locally and nationally.
• PLANNING - Leading the advance planning of content for all news output, on all of our platforms, online and on screen. Preparing comprehensive long term and weekly prospect lists, as well as working closely with colleagues on short-term and next day coverage. Generating a constant flow of original news and feature ideas.

Management skills

• To provide excellent line management to a group of colleagues
• To promote ITV News initiatives and support the Head of News and Senior Content Editor in implementing such initiatives amongst the wider team.
• To act as a key leader of the team, motivating others, setting an example in terms of professionalism and high editorial standards.

General

• To consistently generate original and creative ideas, contributing to the news agenda of the day, on-screen and online
• To research and develop story ideas thoroughly and creatively for on-air and online output
• To make, maintain and nurture a wide range of relevant contacts
• To be pro-active about diversity, equity & inclusion ensuring the output reflects news stories and issues across the audience spectrum
• To source interesting contributors, from all parts of the community, who will bring the story to life
• To make optimal use of the full suite of newsroom technology, adhering to workflow as required, including editing, graphics and digital curation
• To write scripts that are accurate, concise and engaging
• To provide copyright clearance details and basic media management (sourcing, booking and returning tapes to the library)
• To undertake project work and contribute to network news output as required
• To exercise excellent editorial judgement and provide editorial guidance to colleagues with less experience, maintaining professional journalistic standards and adhering to ITV’s Legal & Compliance, ITV Trust and OFCOM guidelines

This role will include some weekend duty editor responsibility. Some individuals may be required to travel to district offices or to work in other news operations as well as attending relevant forums, development sessions and meetings off site as part of their role

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• Fully qualified NCTJ, BJTC or equivalent experience
• A strong knowledge of media law & compliance and the ability to exercise excellent editorial judgement
• A proven track record of producing, sourcing or planning excellent content to deadline and under pressure
• Experience of successfully coaching, managing and motivating others
• Experience of delivering innovation across all media platforms
• A reputation for using a creative approach whilst displaying sound journalistic ability
• Commitment to DE&I
• Excellent Communication skills
• Self-motivated and quick-thinking with strong and decisive decision-making skills

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• The ability to generate, research and develop original, impactful and distinctive ideas, taking a creative approach to story-telling, treatments and production to deliver high quality reports for both on-air and online
• Strong and creative writing skills (accurate spelling and grammar essential)
• Excellent news judgement in line with ITV News aspirations
• The ability to remain calm, focused and resilient in what is often a busy work environment.
• An organised approach with effective logistical skills
• A clear and demonstrable understanding of the qualities of ITV News as compared with other news organisations
• The ability to provide regular, honest and consistent feedback to others
• Comprehensive knowledge of and interest in national and regional news - both newspapers, online and other broadcast media
• Proven ability to build a strong network of contacts with the ability to think laterally about where stories are developing and identifying the contacts to deliver the stories
• Ability to work well in a team environment, ensuring that the whole team (editorial and production) feel included and valued in newsgathering and the output production process
• The willingness and aptitude to learn other Content Editor specialisms and to be happy to share skills with others for the benefit of the whole team. This role should be able to use the full range of digital newsroom technology
• The ability to work to deadlines is crucial. The ability to plan well, work efficiently and keep calm and focused under pressure is essential.
• A strong knowledge of the patch, its cultural heritage and an awareness of the types of stories that engage our audiences. An understanding of the importance of Diversity and Inclusion in determining output.
• The ability to bring in stories from underrepresented people from across our region as well as underrepresented parts of the patch
• Knowledge and understanding of digital platforms and how to tap into new audiences online and experience of using social media as a promotional tool
• Clear understanding of and commitment to DE&I and Health & Safety policies

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of what we do at ITV News Central, and we want to ensure we reflect our audience both on screen and in our workforce. ITV is for Everyone, and we encourage applications from Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people and People of Colour to apply for this role.

Newsrooms are busy and pressurised environments, involving live news production, which often requires colleagues to make quick decisions under pressure. We also need people who are able to use their initiative.

We need to test these abilities at the interview stage to understand how candidates will react when operating in a pressurised environment. This is a fundamental requirement of the role. We will always consider any request for reasonable adjustments as part of the interview process, for example, sharing key themes when that is requested in connection with a neurodivergent condition, whilst still ensuring that we are able to test a candidate's ability to operate in the specific environment of a newsroom.

Interview date: Thursday 8th October (In person - Birmingham)