NEWSQUEST, the UK’s leading local media group, and publisher of The Argus, has announced a major new £1.5m per annum investment in local journalism with the recruitment of 50 new digital journalist roles across the UK.

Of the 50 new roles, 32 will be local digital journalists assigned to specific brands at newsrooms including Brighton.

Three more roles will be for local Digital Sport Journalists in our sister titles in Bolton, Glasgow and Southampton.

The company is also launching a Regional SEO Content team consisting of 14 Regional SEO Content Journalists and an SEO Content Editor who will be managing the team and creating local content.

READ MORE: Newsquest to hire 50 new digital journalists in newsrooms across UK

These will be based in the company’s newsrooms around the country including here on the South Coast. The company is also increasing its investment in its digital product team with new roles available for data analysts and web developers for its local news platform.

Henry Faure Walker, CEO of Newsquest Media Group said: “The focus that we have placed on growing engaged local digital audiences over the last few years is paying off, with most of our sites now reaching almost 80 per cent of their local population. This coupled with the success we are having with digital subscriptions, gives us the confidence to launch a major expansion in local journalism. This investment underlines our commitment to those towns and cities where our local brands have been the number one news provider for decades. We look forward to welcoming new talented digital journalists to join our teams in local newsrooms embedded in communities up and down the country.”

Arron Hendy

Arron Hendy

Argus editor Arron Hendy added: "This is great news for the industry and for democracy.

"As we see all the time at The Argus, having a team of dedicated journalists is good for everyone, as we work for you, our readers, in holding people to account and keeping you up to date with all the latest news and developments.

"Adding to our team will see that coverage increased to even better levels so that we can continue to create the highest quality newspaper and website.

"These new digital journalists will have the ideas and the skills to provide varied and exciting content across our website and social media platforms."

If you are interested in applying for any of these journalist roles please go to www.newsquest.co.uk/careers.

These roles are in addition to existing roles and vacancies.

Newsquest publishes over 150 local news brands in communities throughout the UK, now reaching over 40 million visitors per month. In addition to its news publishing business, Newsquest also operates LOCALiQ, a cutting edge digital marketing platform, that helps thousands of SMEs across the UK grow their own digital presence and business.