Sports Reporter

About us

The Independent is an online news publisher that was established in 1986 as a national newspaper independent of party political affiliations or proprietorial influence. In 2016, The Independent became a fully digital publisher, moving away from print in pursuit of sustainability, and to safeguard its values and journalism for the future.

The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing.

Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over.

We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York.

The role

The Independent is seeking a sports reporter with a deep knowledge across a wide range of sports.

This is a desk-first role with some scope to cover live sporting events.

Typically reporting on the biggest talking points in sport, the successful candidate will be genuinely enthusiastic about the happenings in sport on and off the pitch. The right candidate will be a trained journalist with a strong news background and the ability to identify the best stories alongside a familiarity with all aspects of digital publishing.

The right candidate will be comfortable both in the news room and at matches and events on occasions depending on the sport calendar and schedule. The ability to source and verify information independently for publication is a must.

You will be expected to be comfortable managing multiple priorities in a calm manner, while being able to thrive during breaking and changing news situations. Expertise in a particular sport is encouraged, although a good understanding of many sports is essential.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. The position is hybrid and based at our London headquarters.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone
• We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here.

The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.

About you

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

• Writing clean and legally sound news copy on a variety of sports
• Working knowledge of newsroom SEO and trends in sport
• Have a proven track record as a news journalist
• Set up and run live blogs across a variety of sports
• Upload writers’ copy and come up with engaging headlines
• Spot and break major developing news stories
• Act swiftly and vocally when issues arise
• Be a problem solver with the ability to deal with issues calmly and decisively
• Be a team player able to work well with others

Essential skills and experience

• Experience of successfully working in a similar role at a similar title
• Demonstrable experience as a journalist
• Strong familiarity with the Independent and our coverage
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to multitask
• NCTJ or equivalent
• Ability to clearly communicate best practices
• Experience of working in a dynamic fast-paced media environment

Our values – you will deliver across all our values

Inclusive: We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. Working as a team, we put transparency and effective communication at the heart of everything we do.

Innovative: From the very beginning, The Independent has been breaking the mould. We take risks and are always looking to try new ideas in pursuit of excellence.

Independent: Nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own minds and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.