Investigative website The Ferret is looking for an experienced reporter working across news and fact checking to join its award-winning team. This is a full-time position for someone working from home.

We are a not-for-profit media producing news, investigations, fact checks and more in the public interest. As a co-operative we are trying to do things differently and create a media that is fit for the 21st century. For example, our readers can join as members and become part owners of the project and we work collectively as an editorial team with a non-hierarchical structure. We also have a fair and equitable rate of pay.

So working for The Ferret is not just another news job – it’s also the opportunity to be part of an exciting and entrepreneurial media project.

About You

Our ideal candidate will have a strong track record in producing exclusives for major media and the ability to write in-depth reports to meet tight deadlines.

You must be a team player with a keen news sense who has multi-media and production skills, along with innovative storytelling ideas to help us stand out from other media.

You’ll need to be flexible with the ability to cover both exclusive public interest stories and produce fact checks. You will be expected to contribute to major investigations as part of our team.

The candidate will be responsible for ensuring high-quality reporting that is accurate, fair, and conforms to The Ferret’s high standard of journalism which is regulated by Impress. Knowledge of media law is essential and ideally you’ll have some experience of editing.

You’ll also have an interest in developing new strands of work and advancing these along with our business manager as we seek to become a self-sustainable organisation within the next two years. You’ll be interested in how the public interest journalist can affect change and how we can think bigger and better.

While this role is offered on a freelance basis for a 12-month period, we anticipate that the appointed candidate’s successful involvement with our business development will lead to an extension of the contract.

The package offered is worth £31,200 and includes 30 days of holiday.

The successful candidate must:

• Be an experienced reporter who can deliver exclusives
• Capable of working to tight deadlines
• Be able to work flexible hours occasionally, including at weekends
• Have a willingness to embrace new skills and tools in the digital arena such as SEO, social media, video, audio etc as well as online production skills
• Have the ability to work in a team, collaborating on ideas and sharing responsibility for meeting targets
• Know how to use Freedom of Information law to find stories
• Have the ability to turn raw data into human interest stories
• Have an entrepreneurial approach and a willingness to contribute to the business development of The Ferret

Key responsibilities include:

• Forward planning for future investigations and events
• Building contacts and relationships with communities to build The Ferret’s membership
• Checking facts and sources to ensure content is of the highest possible standard
• Producing ideas to attract funding and new grants

Desirable:

• Working knowledge of Slack, Trello, WordPress

Expressions of interest are invited through CVs and cover letter to be sent to the editorial team: support@theferret.scot by 15 October. We particularly welcome applications for all candidates with any protected characteristics as defined by the Equalities Act 2010 and for those whose background and experience is under-represented in the media. Please mention Journo Resources when you apply, it really helps us out.

For an informal chat about the role contact our co-editors billy@theferret.scot or karin@theferret.scot.