We’re looking for a Trainee Affiliates Writer to create well‑focused shopping stories for WalesOnline. If you’re in the early stages of your journalism career or looking for your start and you’re passionate about shopping, fashion and retail, this is a brilliant way to learn fast, publish widely and help our readers make smarter buying decisions.

You’ll write reviews, comparisons, gift guides, deal round‑ups and live blogs around major moments like Black Friday and Prime Day. We’ll teach you how to optimise for SEO, use affiliate platforms, interpret performance data and package stories for social and short‑form video.

This role is a Home & Hub position linked to the Cardiff Hub, you will therefore need to be based in and around the Cardiff area. 

Please Note: This advert will close at midnight on Tuesday 28th October. Please be sure to submit your application before the closing date/time in order to be considered.

About us

Hello, we’re Reach. Every day, our trusted news, stories and content connect with millions of people where they live - whether that’s on their social feed or at their neighbourhood newsstand; through their local community or their take on the hot topic of the day.

We're home to more than 120 trusted brands - from household names like the Mirror, Express, Daily Star and Daily Record, to local titles like MyLondon, BelfastLive, and the Manchester Evening News, and brands making a splash in the US like the Irish Star.

It's our ability to understand people and the things that matter to them that makes us the UK and Ireland's largest commercial news publisher. We reach 70% of the UK's online population and speak to over 100 million social followers around the world. And we’re just getting started…

Your story, with Reach

As a modern media organisation, we're much more than just news. And it takes a wide range of people and skills to serve diverse audiences, customers and communities like we do.

We know everyone has their own story to tell, so we’ve built an environment where every background is respected and every day is a day to explore.

We’ll help you build a career that works with your life, while giving you the space to create and grow.

About this role

What will the role involve?

• Pitch, research and produce accurate affiliate content: reviews, comparisons, gift guides, evergreen explainers, deal breakouts and live blogs for key retail events (e.g. Black Friday, Prime Day, seasonal moments).
• Write commercially sound, reader‑first articles with clear calls to action and the correct affiliate disclosures.
• Script and support short‑form video (TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts) and social posts that turn product proof into watch‑to‑cart moments.Learn and use affiliate platforms (e.g. Amazon Associates, Awin, CJ, Impact, Partnerize, Skimlinks/Affilizz) and monitor performance.
• Optimise content for SEO: sharp headlines, structured articles, internal links and regular updates to keep posts current.
• Track performance in Analytics, report insights and suggest data‑led content experiments.
• Ensure content meets IPSO standards and is legally and ethically sound.
• Consider audio and video elements for every story; capture or curate basic footage where appropriate.
• Use AI tools, in line with company policies, to support research and improve content quality

Who are we looking for?

• An early‑career journalist with a passion for shopping, fashion and retail.
• NCTJ or equivalent journalism qualification (or working towards).
• Experience of accurate digital storytelling using video, words and pictures (student media, personal projects or freelance welcome).
• Strong news sense, accuracy and attention to detail with excellent written and verbal communication.
• Social‑media savvy with an understanding of SEO, search and digital audience behaviour.
• A collaborative team player with good time‑management, professionalism and adaptability.

How we'll look after you

We take good care of our people - and that means more than just a pay packet. Whatever your role, you'll get a range of benefits. Here are our standard UK & ROI benefits - please check the specifics out for your role when you apply.

• 25 days' holiday (not including bank holidays), plus an extra day after you've been with us for three, five and ten years. We also have a scheme to help you buy extra holiday if you want to.
• An extra day's leave each year to volunteer for a cause that matters to you.
• Help saving for your retirement - we'll match your company pension contributions up to 6% and you can contribute through salary sacrifice.
• Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family.
• A healthcare cash plan - giving you money back for a range of medical expenses and fast access to doctor's appointments.
• Bonus scheme - you'll get a stake in our success and a chance to add to your annual earnings.
• Access to lots of discounts - including with Reach's very own online marketplace, Yimbly, where you can buy everything from homewares to beauty products.
• Supportive and progressive people policies - we’re proud to have a range of policies to support people in their lives in and outside work, including enhanced family leave and policies to promote flexibility, inclusion and progression. We believe you shouldn’t have to wait to join us to know what to expect from us, which is why we share this overview of the policies we have in place to support families and carers. If there's something you want to understand more about, just ask.

Reach plc believes diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why we are committed to being an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all suitable applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.