Open Justice Reporter

1 week ago

Dunedin Central, New Zealand NZME Full time NZ$80,000 - NZ$120,000 per year

THE OPPORTUNITY:

We are looking for a talented and passionate Multimedia Journalist to join NZME's successful Open Justice - Te Pātiti team in January 2026.

An open and transparent legal system is one of the hallmarks of a well-functioning democracy. As a court reporter, you become the public's eyes and ears, playing a vital role in shining a light on the judicial process.

We have a specialised team of ringfenced Open Justice reporters based throughout the country. An opportunity has now come up to add another member to our team in the South Island. You'll ideally be based in Dunedin, Queenstown or Invercargill.

HOW YOU'LL DO IT:

As part of the Open Justice team, you'll produce impactful multimedia content for NZME's extensive digital and print platforms, including the New Zealand Herald, Newstalk ZB, and regional mastheads. Your work will also feature on Radio New Zealand, Top South Media, Whakaata Māori, and Allied Media through our content partnerships.

You'll cover a mix of stories for multiple news cycles - shorter daily stories (including breaking news and coverage of hearings), features and long-term investigations. The key responsibilities include:

  • Covering a full range of courts and tribunals: Civil and criminal; employment and environment; human rights and immigration, and many more.
  • Producing agenda-setting journalism that explains the "why" as much as the "what".
  • Holding lawmakers to account.
  • Championing the rights of everyone involved in the system.

ABOUT YOU:

  • You'll have a Journalism or relevant qualification.
  • At least 2+ years of newsroom experience, ideally with a background in Court reporting.
  • You'll hold a track record in identifying stories of significant public interest and telling them in an engaging and innovative way.
  • You'll have a good working knowledge of ever-evolving legal issues and the ability to converse with experts in a complex field. Training will also be provided in this area, but a knowledge of media law and the rules around court reporting is preferred.
  • You'll be able to develop contacts, navigate the complexities of gathering information from the judicial system and be confident arguing for reporting rights in a courtroom environment.
  • While basic knowledge of audio and video editing techniques would be an advantage, training is available.

WHAT'S ON OFFER:

NZME keeps Kiwis in the know about what matters most to them. We dig into what's going on in the world and why, along with the latest and greatest in entertainment. We do it across over 50 of New Zealand's leading media brands – each with its own voice, and each powered by the country's top media personalities, journalists, broadcasters, designers, writers, and commercial thinkers. Combining radio, digital and print we reach over 3.5 million kiwis every week.

NZME is committed to the ongoing development of Journalists working in this specialised area. We're particularly passionate about devolving knowledge and skills to regional hubs. Members of the Open Justice - Te Pātiti team will join our ongoing legal training sessions led by in-house counsel and newsroom leaders. Further sessions on more specialist matters will be arranged as required.

NZME provides a safe, inclusive, and diverse working environment. We are committed to developing our understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and embedding them in all aspects of our work.

Sound good? Is it, apply now

All applicants will be asked about their working rights in New Zealand. E.g., Citizen, resident, visa, no visa etc.

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