Senior Reporter - What’s On Dubai

What’s On is looking for a talented Senior Reporter to join our editorial team in Dubai. This is a hands-on role for an experienced journalist who can spot a great story, write with speed and accuracy, and create engaging content across digital, social and print.

You will be responsible for generating and publishing high-quality content across news, features, guides, reviews and lifestyle stories, while contributing ideas to the daily editorial calendar. You will also help shape our digital and social presence, ensuring content is relevant, engaging and optimised for our audience.

What you will do:

• Research, write, edit and publish engaging stories for What’s On’s digital platforms.
  
• Generate original story ideas and stay on top of the latest UAE trends, news, launches and events.
  
• Write SEO-friendly content, using keywords, search trends and audience insights to improve reach and engagement.
  
• Sub-edit and fact-check content to maintain high editorial standards.
  
• Create content for Instagram, TikTok and other social platforms, including short-form videos and social posts.
  
• Contribute editorial content to What’s On magazine, including features, reviews and special reports.
  
• Attend and cover events, launches, press conferences and media briefings, turning them into strong editorial stories.
  
• Work with contributors and freelancers to manage stories and meet deadlines.
  
• Produce branded and sponsored content while maintaining the quality and tone of the What’s On brand.
  
• Use analytics and audience data to understand what performs well and shape future content.
  

Requirements

What we’re looking for:

• 5–7 years of journalism or editorial experience, ideally within lifestyle, consumer or digital media.
  
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading and storytelling skills.
  
• Excellent knowledge of the UAE media and lifestyle landscape.
  
• Strong understanding of SEO, search intent and digital content performance.
  
• Experience using a CMS such as WordPress and analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Search Console.
  
• Comfortable creating and editing short-form video for Instagram Reels and TikTok.
  
• A confident, creative journalist who can work quickly without compromising on quality or accuracy.
  
• Experience managing contributors, freelancers and multiple deadlines.
  
• A strong understanding of social media and digital audiences.
  
• A degree in Journalism, Media, Communications or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
  

Motivate Media Group is the region’s leading multi-platform content producer with a diverse portfolio of media interests comprising magazines, digital, social, video, exhibitions & events, cinema, OOH and books. Interested candidates may apply attaching a copy of their CV, sample of work and a one-page cover letter