Reach to hire 57 people as it ramps up hyperlocal news service In Your Area
Reach plc today announced a further investment in digital journalism that will boost its hyperlocal news platform InYourArea, with 57 new jobs across the UK.
Ten new editorial roles have been created, including a Community Editor, an Online Community Editor and several Community Content Curators.
The editorial hires will work under recently appointed Editor-in-Chief Ed Walker to further accelerate InYourArea’s expansion. Launched in 2017, the platform already has 2.5 million engaged users and consistently shows double digit monthly growth.
Based on each reader’s individual postcode, InYourArea delivers a user-friendly feed of local news along with relevant local information, such as house prices, local planning applications, traffic and travel updates. News stories are curated from a range of regional publishers, as well as from the relevant Reach publications.
For example, a typical London feed might pull in links from MyLondon, Evening Standard, Time Out, Londonist and various neighbourhood publications. The format also allows national and regional advertisers to reach highly targeted areas, with a self-serve dashboard.
The renewed investment in the platform is just the latest in a series of moves by Reach to expand its digital offering, in the wake of new Chief Executive Jim Mullen joining the business in August 2019. In November, the company announced a major investment in its regional ‘Live’ news sites, with seven digital launches and 46 new editorial hires.
Ed Walker, Editor-in-Chief of InYourArea, said:
“The appetite for neighbourhood level news is strong in the UK. We see this consistently reflected in our regional audience data and by the success InYourArea has already achieved.
“Through this platform we have a way of delivering a personalised feed of the latest local news, information and more to every postcode in the UK. I look forward to working with the team to grow our user base in areas already served by our ‘Live’ network, as well as in regions new to Reach.”
Jim Mullen, Chief Executive Officer of Reach plc, commented:
“InYourArea has already shown impressive growth in a relatively short time, and this further expansion extends our leadership journey in the growing hyperlocal sector.
“Through these investments, we are continuing to bolster a highly engaged online readership in every corner of the country, while also securing the future of our trusted regional journalism.”
Many of the job descriptions for the 57 new roles are already available on the Reach plc Careers site, with the remaining roles due to be posted later this month.
Editorial roles are initially available in Bristol, Liverpool and Manchester, with further locations still to be announced. Around 43 commercial roles are based in Nottingham, with four technical and administration jobs based in London.
