Job Description

Job Title: Court Reporter

Location: Dundalk (Hybrid)

Role Purpose

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented and ambitious journalist in County Louth.

The Drogheda Independent and Argus (Dundalk), Irish Independent and Mediahuis Ireland is recruiting a reporter to provide accurate and engaging courts coverage in the Louth and Meath district for our fast-growing digital audience and print readers.

The new role is for a 12-month period and is funded by a journalism scheme from independent media regulator Coimisiún na Meán.

The ability of journalists to report independently remains at the core of our journalism.

The successful candidate must have a strong news sense and be capable of working independently while taking care to ensure stories are verified, legally sound and fit for publication on Mediahuis digital platforms and in national and local print titles. Accuracy and news sense will be at the heart of this job.

It will offer a journalist the chance to join a go-ahead team of journalists based all over the country who deliver local news on a national scale, working closely with colleagues in the news team behind the Drogheda Independent and Argus and in the Irish Independent.

Mediahuis is Ireland's leading media publisher, reaching millions of readers every day. We believe in independent journalism that positively impacts people, society and local communities. As an open-minded organisation, we have a curious outlook on the world, always striving for better and our people are encouraged to do the same.

Our aim is to captivate, entertain, and inform local communities and a national audience with trusted journalism.

The Job in a Nutshell

Your work will focus on reporting on court sittings in Louth for a local and national audience, as well as bringing a national perspective to local legal stories, where relevant, contributing to our award-winning journalism.

This is the first time Coimisiún na Meán has directly supported public-interest journalism and Mediahuis Ireland expects the funding from the Courts Reporting Scheme to contribute to our high-quality, trusted and independent news and current affairs.

We know that local news is what connects us with our audience and this scheme will allow us to provide more news from journalists working on the ground in local communities.

Independence continues to remain at the centre of our journalism.

This role extends and enhances our on-going investment in local journalism through our award-winning Project Leap, the INMA Global Media Award-winning local news initiative from Mediahuis Ireland.

Role Responsibilities (Overview)

• Ensure comprehensive local courts coverage on Mediahuis Ireland’s digital platforms, in the Drogheda Independent, The Argus and other print titles

• An ability to work calmly under pressure and meet tight deadlines

• Work closely with local photographers

• Understand the legal diary and identify cases and stories to cover

• Liaise with the regional audience team

• Edit the content to a very high standard ensuring that all material published meets the legal and quality standards set out

• Work closely with the local editors in developing new ideas

Experience & Qualifications (Minimum Experience & Essential Knowledge)

• Excellent understanding of Irish legal and courts system

• News reporting experience is essential

• Based in the region

• Working experience of local journalism an advantage

Skills (technical & non-technical)

Technical

• Demonstrate an appetite to increase market-share and support the Independent and the two local brands as leaders in news coverage

• Accuracy and understanding of the Irish legal system

• Short hand is an advantage

• Excellent communication skills required

• Excellent writing and editing abilities

• Ability to work on own initiative

Other

• Can work under pressure in a performance driven environment

• Tenacity with a ‘can do’ attitude

• Must exhibit learning agility and adaptability

• Detail orientated

• Ability to make decisions in line with company policy on own initiative

• Broad general knowledge and understanding of the news agenda across news, politics business, entertainment and sport

• News judgement

• Strong collaboration and cross functional working together.

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Application closing date: 30th March 2025*

*Please note that applications may close earlier than the stated closing date if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications.