About us:

Guardian News & Media (GNM) is a leading global media organisation, publisher of theguardian.com and the Guardian and the Observer newspapers, both of which have received global acclaim for investigative journalism on topics such as phone hacking among the UK press, the Paradise Papers and Panama Papers, Cambridge Analytica and the Pegasus Project. As well as being the UK’s largest quality news brand, GNM has pioneered a highly distinctive, open approach to publishing on the web and has achieved significant global audience growth over the past 20 years, with growing newsrooms and operations in the US and Australia

Job description:

Guardian News & Media operates a system of self-regulation that consists of editorial standards and behaviour governed by the GNM editorial code, an internally independent readers’ editor who receives complaints from readers who believe that journalists have breached the GNM editorial code, and an independent review panel established in 2014 by the Scott Trust.

The review panel exists to ensure that where complainants do not feel their issues have been adequately resolved through the internal complaints procedures, they have the chance to have their complaint further considered by an independent panel. The role of the review panel is to consider only those complaints that fall under one of the 16 sections of the revised GNM Editorial code of practice. Its role is not to regulate GNM or its journalists or to review complaints against wider guidance to GNM journalists.

The Scott Trust is responsible for appointing the review panel. The Trust is seeking to appoint two new members of its review panel to work alongside the existing chair and panel members to assess complaints received by the panel, in accordance with its terms of reference. At least one of these appointments will be made on the basis of the successful candidate having had legal training.

Person specification

Candidates must be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:

• The capacity to act fairly and impartially in the decision-making of the panel.

• Knowledge and experience of the process of journalism or news publishing.

• Experience of the role of self-regulation in maintaining high standards of industry practice.

• An affinity with the Scott Trust values of honesty, integrity, courage, fairness, a sense of duty to the reader and the community and public interest journalism.

• An understanding of journalistic codes of practice, processes and standards.

Responsibilities:

• To consider and scrutinise case bundles provided to the review panel with a view to playing an active role in helping the panel to make a determination.

• To work collegiately with other panel members to come to a consensus view on the outcomes of cases.

• To contribute relevant insights and experience to ensure that all relevant factors are considered by the review panel.

Appointment term

New panel members will be appointed for an initial term of four years, which may be extended once by a further period of four years.

Time commitment

The panel is expected to meet at least once a month. However, the panel may meet more frequently or less than once a month according to the demands of caseload. When and how the panel meets will ultimately be at the discretion of the panel Chair and its members.

Remuneration

Successful applicants are paid £5,000 pa.

How to apply?

Please upload your CV together with a covering letter of no more than two pages, with examples of how you meet our selection criteria.

The closing date for applications is Friday 23rd June 2023.

We value and respect all differences (seen and unseen) in all people at the Guardian. We aspire to have inclusive working experiences and an environment that reflects the audience we serve, where our people have equal access to career development opportunities, their voices are heard and can contribute to our future.