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The job will primarily be based at our friendly regional newsroom in Bolton, but you will be required to get out on patch, and we are flexible about home working.
Ideally, you will be a fully qualified reporter with gold-standard NCTJ with 100wpm.
Job Description
Trainee Reporter
Application Deadline: 12 June 2026
Department: Editorial
Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time
Location: Bolton
Reporting To: Saiqa Chaudhari
Description
The Bolton News is looking for a top-class reporter who is passionate about digital storytelling, hard-working, full of ideas and innovative when it comes to presenting stories across various platforms.
We seek an ambitious, digitally skilled, versatile journalist to cover breaking news and write stories from this incredibly lively patch.
This role will suit someone looking for their first job in the newsroom or a reporter with some experience looking to move onto a busy daily title.
The right candidates will also be able to report for other titles in the region, including the Lancashire Telegraph and the Bury Times.
Key Responsibilities
A major part of the job will be immersing yourself in social media, developing relationships and understanding what matters to the local community.
You'll also be open-minded and willing to utilise AI in the role. We want to tell the stories our audiences care about - from covering crime and local politics to sharing powerful human interest pieces and championing the causes our readers are passionate about.
The job will primarily be based at our friendly regional newsroom in Bolton, but you will be required to get out on patch, and we are flexible about home working.
Ideally, you will be a fully qualified reporter with gold-standard NCTJ with 100wpm.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Brimming with ideas on how to tackle the remit and get the most out of it digitally
- Fully across what digital readers want from local news coverage
- Excellent at developing relationships with key contacts to improve coverage
- Driven to succeed using the digital analytics tools at your disposal
- A self-starter, brilliant with time management
- Passionate about social media
- Have an excellent knowledge of relevant media law
- Have a versatile, fresh, and energetic writing style with exceptional attention to detail
- The ability to write – and think – quickly under pressure
- An adaptable style to produce everything from live blogs and listicles to long reads
- and features
- Knowledge of SEO and its importance to digital journalism
- Have collaborative skills to pool ideas with the wider digital reporting team and take on board suggestions
A driving licence is preferred, as is access to a car. We work on a rota basis with some early and late shifts as well as some weekend work.
If this sounds like the role for you, email your CV and a brief cover letter by 12th June.
We will be interviewing candidates as and when applications come in, so don’t delay in applying.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
- Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
- Structured career progression & ongoing training
- Pension plan
- Employee Helpline counselling and advice
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Perks & discounts including:
- Gym membership
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Eye care
- Retail discounts
- Team building days & annual volunteer charity day