Senior Journalist – The Future Laboratory – London, England

Department:

LS:N Global is the trends network of The Future Laboratory. We help clients to understand and follow trends that matter and consumers that count, keeping up to date with the new and next. LS:N Global covers emerging trends in 14 lifestyle sectors, from beauty to fashion to luxury in all countries, with news, insight, trend features and market reports. Members and clients include several of the top 50 Fortune 500 companies who come to us for intelligent data, expert analysis and creative inspiration.

Reporting structure:

Role reports to: Insight Editor

Team members: Journalists and Visual Editorial team

Key responsibilities:

Day to day:

Find, research and write stories — news, seeds, trends, features, and profiles — for LS:N Global, considering the wider social, cultural, technological, consumer context of each piece.
Work with Insight editor to ensure a smooth production schedule for longer trends, features and video interviews for LS:N Global
Edit stories on occasion when the Insight Editor is not available.
Deputise for Insight Editor on occasions when Insight Editor not available.
File all copy for stories in a timely fashion to deadline.
Be client facing, meeting with clients when required to unpack trends, discuss projects and explain LS:N Global’s work and methods.
Be a client liaison when required, providing assistance to research stories and provide brief analysis/context if necessary.
Establish a network of relevant contacts and relationships — experts and brand representatives you can interview, ask to speak at forums, and collaborate with.
Speak to journalists about trends and insights on behalf of LS:N Global and the Future Laboratory when required.
Present, when required, at LS:N Global and Future Laboratory events.
Play host on occasion, and speak at LS:N Global network evenings.
Mentor junior members of the writing team.
Write, structure and research macrotrends for LS:N Global’s annual Trend Briefing, ensuring they are fact checked, succinct, and compelling.
Be instrumental in identifying key trends — both micro and macro — and forecasting intelligently where they might lead.
Work on bespoke presentations to brief, coordinating with the visual team to ensure inspiring, clear, and well researched, as well as on deadline.
Represent the company at relevant events, launches and meanings ensuring LS:N Global and Future Laboratory’s reputation for excellence continues.
Manage your own time, in close liaison with Editor and Insight Editor about priorities if in doubt.
Know, understand and refer to the four key questions of LS:N Global:

What’s new?

What’s next?

Who’s doing this?

How is this affecting what consumers are thinking and doing now and in future, especially in relation to how they engage with brands?
Know, understand and implement the four questions through the EPIC checklist for all LS:N Global stories:

Is this well (E)xecuted?

Will this help our members be more (P)rofitable?

Will this help our members be more (I)nnovative?

Will this help our members be more attuned to (C)onsumers (& what does it tell us about them)?

Essential skills and experience:

Experience in the Luxury industry would be advantageous
An intuitive ability to identify and monitor global trends in the lifestyle industries, from retail to branding, marketing and communications to innovation and design
Confident, intelligent presenting — and an enthusiasm to develop this.
Excellent client-facing social skills, upholding the company’s reputation.
Intuitive understanding of service, and analysis that clients look for.
Excellent communication skills
Natural ability to build and develop relationships
Full of ideas and information
Ability to communicate ideas and information within the LS:N Global team and to clients and contacts
Journalistic sensibility – always on the pulse and interested in what’s new and next
Excellent desk and field research skills
Ability to work at pace – daily deadlines
Ability to manage both daily deadlines and other ongoing commitments

How to apply

Interested? Send a CV and cover letter to Deb Grant – deb@thefuturelaboratory.com

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