Award-winning video production company Deadline Digital is looking for a Video Journalist to join its team.
This would be an ideal role for a recent broadcast journalist graduate or an existing journalist looking to take the next step in their career. The role is based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and involves filming interviews, mainly across the North of England but occasionally travelling further afield.
We’re looking for a passionate, committed storyteller who is as comfortable interviewing a cancer patient talking about their experience of the disease as they are questioning a chief executive about complex policies. You will mainly work as part of a two person crew consisting of a Video Journalist and dedicated Videographer, but you will also handle edits. Being able to tell our client’s stories in the most impactful and concise way is essential.
Deadline Digital specialises in video journalism, corporate films, video news releases, live-streaming and podcasts. We also offer animation, aerial video and photography. We work with a range of organisations including government departments, large NHS trusts, local authorities, and the education sector across the UK to produce online content. Based in Barnsley’s prestigious Digital Media Centre, we also work with select private and third sector clients.
We are comfortable with our video journalists working flexibly, but the location of the majority of our shoots means it is essential candidates live within an hour’s commute of our office. Similarly, you will also have a full driving licence and access to your own vehicle. Unfortunately, we cannot process applicants who are still learning to drive or have passed their test but do not have access to their own vehicle.
You will be kitted out with a MacBook Pro, iPad and other items to ensure you are able to work remotely several days a week (if you wish). But we also feel it is important to provide in-person support, particularly to new starters, so we aim to have staff in the office on non-filming days, 1-2 days a week where possible. The nature of our clients’ work means there is only minimal weekend and evening working. The vast majority of our shoots are through normal Mon-Fri office hours.
We are looking for a highly motivated, creative and personable individual who knows how to handle interviews, edit video and is willing to be involved in pre and post-production.
Ideally you will be educated to degree level with the ability to handle a professional video camera and edit within professional video editing software. Training in the use of the specific cameras and other kit we use will be provided.
In return for your enthusiasm and willingness to go the extra mile, we can offer you a competitive salary and a fantastic training and development opportunity.
If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, we would love to hear from you. Even better, send us an example of your work.
The Role
The primary aspects of the role involves conducting video interviews and editing short videos which tell our clients’ stories.
The breakdown of duties includes the following elements:
- Conducting interviews – putting interviewees at their ease, adapting your style of questioning to obtain the best version of their story. You will be involved in the preparation of these interviews from the pre-production stage and will be expected to write interview questions and use journalistic skills to bring out the best possible story.
- Helping our videographers in the filming of cutaway footage using cameras such as the Canon C-200, BlackMagic Pocket Cinema 4k and DJI Osmo Pro, as well as gimbals and drones such as the DJI Mavic Mini.
- Editing video footage using Final Cut Pro X (if you have learned how to edit on Premiere Pro, don’t worry – we still want to hear from you).
- Social media engagement, producing content for our digital channels and ensuring that regular posts are made via twitter, facebook etc.
- Office support including answering the phone, dealing with mail and greeting guests, as well as any other administrative tasks required.
The Candidate / Required Skills
Our ‘wish list’ for the ideal candidate is as follows – however please note that we are not necessarily looking for candidates who are strong in every one of these areas. Full training and ongoing support will be provided to help you build upon and develop these skills where necessary:
- Ability to conduct an interview
- Good interpersonal and communication skills – we want you to make interviewees feel comfortable.
- Ability to use a video camera
- Familiarity with video editing software such as Final Cut Pro X, Premiere Pro etc.
- Customer relations experience – both written and verbal
- Experience with all major social media platforms.
Above all, we are looking for candidates who are keen to learn new skills and develop existing ones. Stand-out candidates will be proactive, confident and able to work independently.
Required Skills: Essential / Desirable
Interviewing:
Essential: Personable; ability to put interviewees at ease; good people and inter-personal skills; good emotional intelligence and non-verbal behaviour awareness skills; confidence to ask appropriate and pertinent questions.
Desirable: understand a news environment and a public sector operating environment
Filming:
Essential: Use a video camera; capture basic news-style ‘talking head’ footage and associated b-roll or cutaway footage.
Desirable: Use a professional, broadcast quality video camera
Editing:
Essential: Edit video using Adobe, Final Cut or Avid; Work to a brief ie grasp the key messages and concisely and impactfully convey them.
Desirable: Work in FCP X; Work with motion graphics.
Production:
Essential: Effective communication skills across all mediums including face to face, telephone, email, social media, video etc willingness to take the initiative and seek proactive and flexible solutions; willingness to ‘get out there’, attend networking events, meet with clients and generate new business leads.
Customer relations:
Essential: Keep our existing clients informed and being responsive to their needs and enquiries; maintain customer details and records e.g. via the CRM.
Administration:
Essential: Create content in a web environment, populating a content managed website and maximising our profile across established channels of social media communication
Experience
Essential: Worked while at University or after school.
Desirable: Work experience or placement/internship in a video production or related organisation.
Qualifications
Essential: Educated to ‘A’ level standard.
Desirable: Degree in Broadcast Journalism, Journalism or Arts-related eg History.
Resides
Essential: Within commutable distance of Barnsley/willing to re-locate immediately to somewhere within commutable distance of Barnsley.
Driving licence
Essential: Full UK driving licence; road worthy, insured and MOT’d car owner.
How to Apply
To apply for the role, please send a copy of your CV, as well as a cover email explaining your suitability for the role, together with links to any showreel or examples of video that you have produced, to our MD, Geoff Fox, at geoff.fox@deadlinedigital.co.uk.
Closing date: Mon 20th May 2024. (The employer reserves the right to extend the deadline depending on the number of applicants).
Job Title: Video Journalist
Reporting to: Head of Content
Location: Barnsley Digital Media Centre/Home
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday including a half hour unpaid lunch break
Remuneration: DoE
Holiday: 22 plus 8 public holidays
Purpose of the role: Provide journalistic assistance to a profitable and growing video content creation Company
The Company: Deadline Digital is a fast growing video production company based at the prestigious Barnsley Digital Media Centre. Our video news releases have been used on a raft of news sites including the BBC, Guardian and Yorkshire Post.