WE’RE HIRING: IN-HOUSE JOURNALIST
Are you a journalist who's ever wondered about moving into PR, or a PR who loves writing and pitching more than anything else?
We're looking for an In-house Journalist to join Story Shop. Someone with the instinct to find a story, the curiosity to ask the right questions and the confidence to get it into the media.
You might already work in PR. Or you might be a reporter who's curious about agency life and wondering whether your skills could translate.
Either works for us, provided you have strong editorial instincts, can write extremely well and love turning good ideas into meaningful media coverage.
You'll work across Story Shop's clients alongside our project managers, PR team, creatives and strategists.
On any given week, you might be:
Interviewing a founder, employee, customer or expert and uncovering the story others might miss.
Spotting trends, conversations and opportunities in the media that our clients can be part of.
Turning interviews, ideas and information into press releases, features, case studies, commentary and other compelling content.
Pitching journalists directly and securing coverage.
Building genuine relationships with journalists across national, regional, trade and lifestyle media.
Watching the news agenda and identifying opportunities for our clients.
Finding a stronger angle when a story isn't landing.
Constantly generating new story ideas for clients.
Contributing ideas to PR campaigns and wider communications strategies.
Turning strong stories into content for LinkedIn and other social channels.
Owning a small number of predominantly media-relations and press-office accounts.
Working alongside project managers on larger and more complex campaigns
Storytelling and earned media are at the heart of this role. We want someone who gets a genuine buzz from finding an angle, landing a story and seeing their work make an impact.
What we're looking for
You'll need at least two years' professional experience in either journalism or a PR agency.
If you're coming from journalism, you don't need previous PR experience.
You'll need to demonstrate that you:
Know what makes something a story.
Are an excellent writer.
Can interview people properly rather than simply work through a list of questions.
Are relentlessly curious.
Understand how newsrooms and journalists work.
Have existing journalist contacts
Are confident pitching stories and building media relationships.
Can turn complicated subjects into clear, interesting stories.
Generate ideas rather than waiting for somebody else to hand you one.
Can work at pace across different subjects and clients.
Care about accuracy, detail and the quality of everything that leaves the building.
You'll also need to be comfortable writing beyond traditional PR, particularly for LinkedIn and social media.
Alongside great editorial judgement, writing and media relations, we'd particularly like to hear from people who understand how an idea can travel across different platforms.
How the role works
You'll work alongside Story Shop's project managers, who provide structure and keep larger accounts moving.
That allows you to spend much of your time doing what you're there to do: finding stories, developing ideas, creating brilliant content and securing media coverage.
As you develop, you'll also have the opportunity to take greater ownership of predominantly media-relations and press-office accounts.
You'll help implement PR strategies and contribute to developing them for our bigger accounts too. We want someone who gets to know our clients well enough that they're constantly telling us: “There's a story here.”
You'll report to Story Shop co-founder Gregor Hollerin, himself a former journalist, and work closely with guidance from our PR Director.
About Story Shop
Story Shop is an independent, journalist-founded communications agency built to help good people and good businesses get the credit they deserve.
We're a small, ambitious and award-winning team, working across major events, consumer brands, hospitality, charities, businesses and organisations doing genuinely interesting things.
We've been named PRCA Medium Agency of the Year and one of The Drum's Top 100 Independent Agencies, alongside winning national awards for our media relations and campaign work. Journalism has been part of Story Shop's DNA since day one.
We believe great PR starts in much the same place as great journalism: curiosity, good questions, editorial judgement and the ability to recognise a story other people haven't spotted.
We're also deliberately a small team . You'll work directly with senior people, have genuine responsibility and be encouraged to contribute ideas regardless of your job title.
Where you'll work
Our preference is for someone based with the team at The Social Hub in Glasgow.
We think there's real value in being around each other, particularly in a role built around conversation, ideas and collaboration.
However, we're also open to exceptional candidates based in London or Manchester who can work remotely while spending appropriate time with the wider Story Shop team.
What you'll get
£30,000–£35,000 salary, depending on experience, with flexibility for an exceptional candidate.
Private healthcare.
Pension.
Holiday allowance.
Flexibility around working hours where required.
Training and professional development budget.
Regular team socials, trips and experiences.
Huge variety in the people, businesses and stories you'll work with.
Direct access to senior people.
Genuine responsibility from day one.
The opportunity to learn more about PR strategy, creative campaigns and wider communications.
A key role within a small, ambitious and award-winning agency.
Plenty of stories to tell.
How to apply
Send us:
Your CV.
Links to three pieces of work you're proud of. These could be published journalism, PR stories you've developed, features, campaigns or other relevant content.
A short note telling us why you're interested in joining Story Shop.
If you've created video, social or other multimedia work you're proud of, we'd love to see that too.