HAVE you ever wanted to become a reporter?

Do you care about what goes on around you, do you wish your community had a louder voice, and want to make a difference?

Then the Community News Project, a partnership between Meta (formally Facebook), local news publishers and the National Council for the Training of Journalists, may have the answer.

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It has created 82 new community reporter opportunities around the UK, including vacancies at the Hampshire Chronicle and the Basingstoke Gazette.

Hampshire Chronicle: Reporter Harvey Lindsay at the Hampshire Chronicle

A spokesman from Newsquest said: "We want people who care about their communities and want to make a difference in their local communities.

"We’re especially keen to hear from people from diverse backgrounds who believe they can help make our newsrooms more representative of the communities they serve."

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The reporter's main role will be to engage with people in specific communities to curate, collate and create content relevant to them.

They will build and act as the point of contact for online communities by engaging with and seeking out content.

They will also receive industry-leading digital journalism training, as well as the gold-standard NCTJ journalism training to become a fully trained journalist.

Hampshire Chronicle: Reporter Harvey Lindsay at the Hampshire Chronicle

Previous journalism experience or education is not essential. Flexible arrangements will be considered for the right candidates and successful applicants in their final year of journalism study will be able to start at the end of the academic course.

Regional editor for Hampshire Kimberley Barber said: "We are so excited to welcome two new reporters into our team.

"Becoming a community reporter is a great step into journalism and a wonderful way to represent your community.

"I would love to hear from anyone - regardless of their background, current career, training or experience, who may be interested."

Candidates need to have at least five GCSEs with Maths and English at a C or above (or equivalent).

There are two routes into journalism through the scheme.

For applicants with no previous journalism experience or education, Newsquest is offering journalism apprenticeships, which combine intensive training with on-the-job experience in local communities.

For applicants with previous journalism experience or education, there are trainee community reporter roles, where support will be provided to gain the necessary NCTJ qualifications to become a senior reporter.

To be considered, please send a CV and covering letter to kimberley.barber@newsquest.co.uk by January 31.

Full list of locations available:

Oldham (Oldham Times)

Bury (Bury Times)

Powys (County Times)

Warrington (Warrington Guardian)

St Helens (St Helens Star)

Wirral (Wirral Globe)

Falmouth (The Packet)

Bournemouth (Bournemouth Echo)

Salisbury (Salisbury Journal)

South/West Dorset (As required)

Basingstoke (Basingstoke Gazette)

Greenock (Greenock Tel)

Colchester (Daily Gazette)

Watford (Watford Observer)

Winchester (Hampshire Chronicle)

Basildon (Essex Echo)

Blackburn (Lancashire Telegraph)

Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

Mold (The Leader)

Message from the editor

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Kimberley Barber

Editor