NEWSQUEST - The company that owns The Argus - has appointed a Community Manager as part of its Google funded innovation to help shape the future of journalism in the digital age — and is now looking for another to join her.

After working in communications, PR and running her own digital content business, journalist Simone O’Kane re-joined Newsquest to roll out the development of Newsquest’s Community Content Network across the North of England.

And now we need one here in Brighton.

The Community Manager role is being funded by Google’s Digital News Initiative (DNI) Fund, following Newsquest’s win of €398,000 (£345,165) in funding from the technology giant to develop a tool to help members of the public submit content ready-for-publication in its local news titles.

Simone’s role is to work with the editorial teams at Newsquest to develop their own source of community content from their own contacts and with members of communities to help local journalism thrive.

With a strong background in digital media and community journalism Simone said that the Community Content Network will help ensure success for the future of quality journalism.

She said: “This is a fantastic way for publications to be achieving more in-depth and quality news reporting from professional journalists whilst working closely with community contributors that can submit the easy to generate content. I am pleased to be helping to build relationships within the community to ensure a successful future for the industry.”

Newsquest editorial director Toby Granville said: “Simone is doing a brilliant job building relationships between the community and editorial teams to get high quality contributed content. This is key to freeing up our valuable journalists’ time to focus on the sort of high impact, in-depth reporting that remains central to the strength and trust of our brands.”

Following the success of the appointment of Simone as a Community Manager in the north, Newsquest is now seeking a Community Manager for the south. The jobn will be based at The Argus office in Manchester Street, Brighton.

If this exciting role is something you are interested in please send your application to amanda.langton@localiq.co.uk