Job Description

News Reporter - The Southern Daily Echo

Application Deadline: 30 November 2026

Department: Editorial

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Southampton

Reporting To: Benjamin Fishwick

Description

The Southern Daily Echo is seeking a tenacious reporter to join our Southampton newsroom, with a focus on original, in-depth local journalism that gets beneath the surface of life across our patch.

We want a reporter who is curious, ambitious, and at their best out in the community: meeting people, building contacts, asking difficult questions, and finding stories that would otherwise go untold.

This is a role for someone who wants to set the local news agenda rather than simply follow it.

You could be investigating an issue affecting thousands of people, door-knocking at the scene of a major story, uncovering information through Freedom of Information requests, covering an important court case or inquest, or spending time on patch developing contacts who provide your next exclusive.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce original and exclusive stories that readers cannot find elsewhere.
• Get out on patch, build trusted contacts and develop strong specialist knowledge of Southampton and the surrounding area.
• Find and develop investigations, campaigns and public interest journalism.
• Cover major incidents, courts, inquests and important local events first-hand where appropriate.
• Hold public bodies and people in positions of responsibility to account.
• Bring real people's voices into our journalism through face-to-face interviews, door-knocking and community reporting.
• Use data, Freedom of Information requests, tip-offs and contacts to uncover stories.
• Produce original photography and video alongside your written journalism.
• Engage directly with readers and build a recognisable journalistic presence in the communities we serve.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

You will have excellent news judgment and a good understanding of digital journalism, video and social media. You will also embrace AI in all the ways it can help your journalism.

Most importantly, you will have the drive to find stories yourself and the confidence to get out from behind the desk.

We welcome applications from talented reporters earlier in their careers, while the job is also open to experienced journalists looking for a role where they can make a real impact.

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
• Perks & discounts including:
• Gym membership
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care
• Retail discounts
• Team building days & annual volunteer charity day