Senior Media Lawyer (Maternity Cover)

Description

We are looking for a lawyer for maternity cover for one year who has significant media law experience to join our friendly and supportive, multidisciplinary Legal and Compliance team at ITN.

ITN is a global production powerhouse that produces the news programmes for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and Good Morning Britain as well as factual and live content for major UK and international broadcasters and streaming platforms via ITN Productions the content production arm of ITN.

You will have strong experience in giving advice pre- and post-publication on defamation, privacy, contempt, Ofcom regulation, investigative journalism, social media risks, data protection, digital content regulation and editorial best practices. You’ll be part of a supportive and collaborative team, with the opportunity to engage in groundbreaking journalism and emerging media challenges across digital, broadcast, and long-form content. Experience in news organisations – broadcast , newspaper, online - would be particularly relevant.

This role requires collaboration across multiple teams, working closely with journalists, editors, lawyers, and senior leadership to navigate complex legal and ethical challenges in a fast-paced news environment. You will have a proactive and hands-on approach, helping to shape ITN’s legal and compliance strategy while ensuring its journalism remains legally robust and editorially bold.

We are looking for a highly motivated, solutions-focused team player willing to share knowledge, support colleagues, and contribute to the Legal and Compliance team. Key Responsibilities

• Provide clear and pragmatic legal and compliance guidance to ITN’s editorial teams, ensuring adherence to media law, Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, and ITN’s own editorial guidelines/ compliance manual as well as on areas such as data protection, social media regulation, public policy, and commercial contracts
• Work primarily with ITV News, offering real-time advice on pre- and post-broadcast/publication content, ensuring legal robustness and ethical integrity
• Support Channel 4 News, Channel 5 News, and ITN Productions
• Proactively assess legal risks associated with investigative journalism, undercover reporting, and sensitive editorial decisions, balancing legal compliance with journalistic integrity
• Deliver teaching / training and workshops to editorial staff on media law, defamation, privacy, contempt of court, and regulatory obligations
• Manage legal complaints, regulatory challenges, and Ofcom investigations
• Provide guidance on evolving challenges in digital media, including cybersecurity risks, artificial intelligence in content creation, social media safety, online harms and data protection compliance
• Provide specialist advice on contractual matters, including licensing agreements, and intellectual property considerations for digital and broadcast content
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including compliance, editorial leadership, and external and internal legal teams, to navigate complex legal landscapes in a fast-paced media environment
• Monitor and advise on public policy developments and regulatory changes affecting news media, ensuring ITN remains at the forefront of industry change and best practices

Key Requirements

• Proven legal and compliance expertise within the media sector (TV, print, digital, or private practice with a strong media focus)
• Extensive experience in pre-publication and pre-broadcast legal review, ideally with at least 5 years PQE in media law
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to provide clear, concise, and commercially aware legal advice under tight deadlines
• The stature and credibility to influence and support senior journalists, editors, and producers on complex editorial decisions
• Deep understanding of newsroom and content production workflows, with the ability to work at pace in high-pressure environments
• A proactive, problem-solving mindset with a collaborative and team-oriented approach—able to partner effectively with editorial, compliance, and corporate teams
• Interest and awareness of emerging media trends, digital regulations, and evolving challenges in journalism
• Passion for news and current affairs, with a commitment to upholding ITN’s reputation for journalistic excellence and integrity

This role is ideal for a dynamic, adaptable, and solutions-focused legal professional who thrives in a fast-moving, high-stakes media environment. If you are committed to supporting impactful journalism while ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks, we encourage you to apply.