Production Journalist

ITV Channel

Permanent

Office location: Jersey (This is an office based role unsuitable for hybrid working).

Hiring range: £29,034 - £39,697

For more information please email TalkingCareers@itv.com

Your work matters to millions.

Shaping culture is in the DNA of ITV. So, it’s not surprising that you’ll find us in every home in the UK, our productions are famous all over the world and we’re at the forefront of the digital streaming revolution. 

When you join us, you enter a fun working environment. With opportunities to learn, to grow and make a real difference. Small enough that your impact’s felt in the business, but big enough that your impact reaches millions of people. 

Come develop your skills, change TV and the course of your career. Don’t just watch it. Be part of it. Join ITV.

Your impact sends ripples.

The team

Our News team delivers high quality and trustworthy television and online coverage that regularly attracts audiences in excess of 3 million viewers. It’s a fast moving environment with a huge variety of roles on offer and plenty of challenges.  We operate in 11 main news production centres across England, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Channel Islands. We also have a Political Unit based in the heart of Westminster. And finally, we produce a range of current affairs & factual programming out of ITV Wales, UTV and ITV Border.

The role

We are looking for an experienced and multi-skilled Production Journalist to join our broadcast and digital news team at ITV Channel.

The successful candidate will be a self-motivated journalist, who loves the production and teamworking involved in news.  You’ll have a current contacts list, bulging with links to different communities, the ability to bring in ideas and a clear understanding of how to get them to air.

As a Production Journalist you will have superb organisation skills with the ability to set up all the key elements of a story for television news. You will be able to cope well under pressure and be able to meet frequent tight deadlines. 

The role is based in our Jersey newsroom, and the successful candidate will work on television and digital news production, from producing early, late and weekend bulletins and planning stories, to creating online content that enhances our reputation and engages our digital audience.

You will have outstanding written and verbal communications skills, and the ability to demonstrate good working relationships with colleagues and external contacts. You will have excellent editorial judgement and social media skills. You will be qualified in Media Law and have a thorough understanding of the Ofcom Code.

So, if you thrive in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same and you have the journalistic skills that will help us achieve our goals, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities: 

·       To produce high quality and compliant bulletins across all of our output (breakfast, lunch, late and weekends), operating effectively in a live gallery, making decisions under pressure where necessary and giving clear instructions to the presenter over timings and scripting amendments during broadcast

·       To write stories and scripts that are accurate, compliant, and engaging

·       To be proficient at editing pictures using the editing software provided 

·       To create accurate graphics for bulletins, programmes and packages which clearly illustrate stories and communicate ideas using the template based graphic system

·       To curate ITV’s Digital offering on the website or ITVX as required

·       To assist the news desk or planning team with research, planning and newsgathering

·       To generate original and creative ideas, contributing to the news agenda of the day, on-screen and online

·       To research story ideas thoroughly and creatively for on-air and online output

·       To make, maintain and nurture a wide range of relevant contacts

·       To meet all online and on-air deadlines throughout the day, reacting quickly to breaking stories, and regularly liaising with the news desk

·       To exercise excellent editorial judgement, maintaining professional journalistic standards and adhering to ITV’s Legal & Compliance, ITV Trust and OFCOM guidelines

·       To be proactive about diversity, equity and inclusion ensuring the output reflects new stories and issues across the audience spectrum

·       To be able to perform all the roles consistently regardless of weekend, early or late working

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• Fully qualified NCTJ, BJTC or equivalent experience
• Working knowledge of Ofcom code, media law and compliance
• Evidence of researching and developing original ideas
• Evidence of taking a creative approach to storytelling, treatments and production for both on-air and online
• Knowledge and understanding of digital platforms and how to tap into new audiences online 
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to plan multiple stories while prioritising tasks
• Strong writing skills for TV and digital (accurate spelling and grammar essential)
• Excellent news judgement with a comprehensive knowledge of and interest in national and regional news 
• A strong knowledge of the patch, its cultural heritage and an awareness of the types of stories that engage our audiences
• A proven track record of producing excellent content to deadline and under pressure

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• Confident and clear communication skills, with the ability to source contributors and put them at their ease to get the best story possible
• The ability to work well in a team environment
• The ability to use initiative, be self-motivated and quick-thinking
• The ability to remain calm and resilient in what is often a busy work environment
• The willingness and aptitude to learn other skills and to be happy to share skills with others for the benefit of the whole team
• The ability to work to deadlines
• The ability to make strong and decisive decisions under pressure
• The ability to bring in stories from underrepresented people from across our region as well as underrepresented parts of the patch
• A positive attitude to work
• A resilience and ability to thrive working in a constantly changing news agenda
• Excellent attention to detail
• Social Media/Digital awareness
• An enthusiasm and willingness to embrace further changes in technology and workflow.
• The aptitude to use the full range of digital newsroom technology
• Clear understanding of and commitment to DE&I and Health & Safety policies

Please note, the rostered hours for this role will include weekend working , late shifts (23:00 finish) and Bank Holidays. You are expected to provide your own means of transportation to and from your main workplace.

Because of the nature of news production, there will be occasions when you are required to work long and unsociable hours at short notice. Some members of the Production Team 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

ITV is for everyone.

ITV is for Everyone and we want to ensure that ITV Channel reflects our audience both on screen and in our teams. We encourage applications from Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people and People of Colour to help us achieve our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals.  

As a Disability Confident Leader, if you meet the minimum criteria for a role and you have declared that you are disabled, we’ll guarantee to take you to the next stage* (minimum criteria above).

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 and, particularly for editorial roles, know what information might be required and how to research it. 

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.

We're happy to discuss any support/personalisation you may need during our application and selection process as part of our reasonable adjustments. Drop us a line if you require anything at talkingcareers@itv.com. 

Find out more about applying with a disability.

*There may be a few exceptions where we are not able to take all eligible candidates to the next stage due to the volume of applications.

Because those who make an impact deserve to be rewarded for it.

ITV offers some great rewards and benefits including:

• Flexible working options available
• Generous holiday allowance, plus you can buy more
• Annual bonus opportunity
• Competitive pension contribution
• Save as you earn - with an opportunity to buy ITV shares
• Wellbeing and volunteering days plus a wide range of opportunities to help you live a balanced and healthy life

More about our benefits 

Closing date: Monday 27th January 2025

Please note the notice period for this role is 2 months (this will include any new contracts/ secondments)

Please note, this role will be subject to a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)