About us
The Independent is an online news publisher that was established in 1986 as a national newspaper independent of party political affiliations or proprietorial influence. In 2016, The Independent became a fully digital publisher, moving away from print in pursuit of sustainability, and to safeguard its values and journalism for the future.
The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing.
Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over.
We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York.
In 2024 The Independent’s portfolio of brands increased through a new licencing partnership with BuzzFeed Inc. to operate the BuzzFeed brands in the UK - BuzzFeed UK, Tasty, Seasoned and HuffPost UK. The additional brands echo the existing business ethos and allow for increased audiences and a further strategic diversification of revenue streams.
Independent TV
Independent TV is our destination for trusted news, insight, and investigation from around the globe, offering a blend of current affairs, lifestyle, culture, sports, and live footage—all brought to life by The Independent’s renowned editorial team. Central to The Independent’s strategy, Independent TV delivers a range of content, including documentaries, podcasts and much more.
Signature programmes include On the Ground, which brings international reporting to viewers in real-time, Decomplicated, offering smart explainers for complex topics and Music Box, which showcases up and coming artists in stripped-back, intimate sessions.
The Role:
Reporting into the Head of Social Distribution, the Social & Community Manager will oversee channel management and video publishing across The Independent’s social platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, etc.)
As part of their publishing responsibilities, the successful candidate will produce visual, industry-leading thumbnails and write compelling copy to package The Independent’s video output.
The successful candidate will also manage community engagement, developing and implementing community engagement strategies.
The role will require a passionate and creative individual with a deep understanding of social platform channel management.
Key Responsibilities:
Channel Management:
* Take ownership of the social publishing schedule and ensure we’re maintaining a consistent output across all social platforms.
* Publish and schedule videos (both from desktop and mobile) optimizing for each platform.
* Create visually engaging, industry-leading thumbnails to package our videos.
* Write engaging social copy.
* Develop creative content ideas that work for our audiences and constantly test new formats.
* Support in the launch of new social channels.
Content creation:
* Produce engaging, short-form social video.
* Up-skill the wider team on social video best practice and production.
Community Management:
* Build a relationship with The Independent’s audience across all platforms, responding to comments and posting polls, Q&As etc.
Data & Analytics:
* Monitor and analyse our social media performance, tracking key metrics including video views, engagement and revenue.
Stay Updated:
* Regularly monitor the competitive landscape and identify opportunities we can learn from.
* Stay informed about industry best practices and the evolving social media landscape.
Essential Skills & Experience:
* Experience in social media management (Brand, Publisher or Creator account)
* Experience in creating visual thumbnail images using image editing software such as Adobe or Canva.
* Excellent understanding of social media platforms and their algorithms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.).
* Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling and concise social media copy.
* Excellent time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
Desirable Skills:
* Experience in creating and editing video content (e.g., using tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Capcut).
* Passion for news, current affairs and culture.
* An eye for viral and engaging content.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone
We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here.
The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.
Our values – you will deliver across all our values
Inclusive: We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. Working as a team, we put transparency and effective communication at the heart of everything we do.
Innovative: From the very beginning, The Independent has been breaking the mould. We take risks and are always looking to try new ideas in pursuit of excellence.
Independent: Nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own minds and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.