Reporter (Senior Journalist) job at BBC

Job purpose
Responsible for an area of output, including editorial control, reporting, selection and compilation of material, production, leading teams and planning and implementing effective use of resources.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities
• Responsible for originating and producing stories which may include scripting, editing, outputting, filming and presenting content across a range of BBC output.
• Commission and select relevant materials ensuring they meet the expectations of our audiences and adhere to the BBC’s editorial guidelines.
• May be required to undertake on-air reporting, may be required to film and edit material for broadcast where appropriate.
• May include the production and presentation of live or recorded programmes.
• May be required to present live or recorded content on radio, TV or online.
• As required, to allocate work to a team and check progress; ensure the professional contribution of staff and the quality of output.
• Seek ways to increase diversity in our workforce and to ensure that our output reflects the audiences we serve.
• Deliver journalism of the highest standard and within the required timeframe using available resources.
• To act as a facilitator of change, clearly communicating and distributing best practices between teams.
• Delivering to tight deadlines while maintaining the highest editorial standards.
• At all times to carry out duties in accordance with the BBC health and safety policy.

Knowledge, skills, training and experience
Essential
• A high standard of editorial judgment, writing ability and production skills based on substantial broadcast journalism experience.
• Maximises opportunities offered by existing and emerging technologies to their fullest extent.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of more than one team. Resolving conflicts as necessary.
• Ability to manage resources, staff, technical facilities and budgets, in order to make challenging broadcasting in the most cost effective manner.
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC and understands how individual differences can benefit the BBC.
• Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources.
• Ability to write creatively in an engaging manner, adapt, produce and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of media suitable for multimedia output.
• The flexibility and adaptability to sustain performance, particularly under pressure to meet deadlines and changing priorities and circumstances.
• An understanding of health and safety procedures and how they apply to broadcasting.

Job impact
Decision making
Significant level of responsibility. Uses initiative but seeks guidance where necessary.
No line management responsibility but may mentor more junior staff.

APPENDIX
• The Senior Journalist (Reporter) will generate new and creative treatments for digital and linear (TV and Radio) platforms.
• Present engagingly for news and current affairs websites and social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
• Work with Video and Digital Producers as appropriate to research, storyboard, report, present, write, translate, edit and adapt stories or programme material for online audiences.
• Demonstrable experience in producing impactful content, including explainers and analysis pieces.
• To use editorial judgement, creativity and flair to make original and compelling visual content.
• Use knowledge of social trends across East, Central and the Horn of Africa to make informed decisions on upcoming stories.
• Work with graphic designers to produce creative and original graphics sequences.
• Responsible for thinking through and around editorial challenges, initiating and implementing realistic alternative strategies and approaches.
• Ensure that BBC Editorial guidelines and all relevant legal, contractual and copyright requirements are met, referring upwards in cases of difficulty or doubt.
• To have appropriate understanding of budgets and be responsible for efficient use of allocated resources.

Skills:
• Bilingual language expertise is required, with a full command and up to date written and spoken knowledge of a key regional World Service language as well as complete comprehension of written and spoken English and the ability to communicate effectively.
• Proven experience in covering breaking news stories as well as producing features, investigations and original journalism, using creative storytelling approaches.
•The ability to identify a potential story within the avalanche of daily news and find original and interesting angles and personal stories to explore, and to deliver in a timely fashion.
• To have an accomplished presentation style for digital and linear platforms, which is fluent, engages the viewer and reflects the BBC values.
• Ability to frame and tailor a story for local, regional and/or global audiences and experience of reporting on regional and international current affairs for multiple platforms.
• Proven ability to use data analytic tools across BBC digital platforms and relevant social media platforms, to take editorial decisions and understand audience behaviour in the target market.
• Ability to push BBC News content on social media and engage with audiences according to the BBC editorial guidelines.
• Demonstrable up to date knowledge of the competition and mass media markets in which BBC News operates.
• Ability to produce engaging digital content on complex political and social issues that will appeal to African and global audiences, particularly among women and young people.
• An understanding of BBC News distinctive news agenda and a wider interest in the digital strategy of the BBC as a whole.
• Ability to respond to and report on breaking news and to travel, sometimes at short notice


Senior Journalist (Video Producer – East Africa)
Job purpose
Responsible for an area of output, including editorial control, reporting, selection and compilation of material, production, leading teams and planning and implementing effective use of resources.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities
• Responsible for originating and producing stories which may include scripting, editing, outputting, filming and presenting content across a range of BBC output.
• Commission and select relevant materials ensuring they meet expectations of our audiences and adhere to the BBC’s editorial guidelines.
• May be required to undertake on-air reporting, may be required to film and edit material for broadcast where appropriate.
• May include the production and presentation of live or recorded programmes.
• May be required to present live or recorded content on radio, TV or online.
• As required, to allocate work to a team and check progress; ensure the professional contribution of staff and the quality of output.
• Seek ways to increase diversity in our workforce and to ensure that our output reflects the audiences we serve.
• Deliver journalism of the highest standard and within the required timeframe using available resources.
• To act as a facilitator of change, clearly communicating and distributing best practices between teams.
• Delivering to tight deadlines while maintaining the highest editorial standards.
• At all times to carry out duties in accordance with the BBC health and safety policy. Knowledge, skills, training and experience
Essential
• A high standard of editorial judgment, writing ability and production skills based on substantial broadcast journalism experience.
• Maximises opportunities offered by existing and emerging technologies to their fullest extent.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of more than one team. Resolving conflicts as necessary.
• Ability to manage resources, staff, technical facilities and budgets, in order to make challenging broadcasting in the most cost effective manner.
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC and understands how individual differences can benefit the BBC.
• Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources.
• Ability to write creatively in an engaging manner, adapt, produce and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of media suitable for multimedia output.
• The flexibility and adaptability to sustain performance, particularly under pressure to meet deadlines and changing priorities and circumstances.
• An understanding of health and safety procedures and how they apply to broadcasting. Job impact

Decision making
Significant level of responsibility. Uses initiative but seeks guidance where necessary.
No line management responsibility but may mentor more junior staff.

Scope
A senior journalist covering a wide range of journalism activity, with significant experience and responsibility for programme/content creation.

APPENDIX
• The purpose of the role is primarily to initiate, gather and produce material for news, current affairs and general programming for digital platforms. Routinely self-shooting and editing complete packages for use across multiple platforms.
• Will be routinely required to pitch, develop ideas, deploy and produce digital video content independently, with appropriate editorial guidance.
• Ensure content is accurate and informative whilst striving for creative and imaginative output, and adhere to the best standards of video production.
• Reversion video content produced by other World Service teams for different digital platforms.
• To record video interviews and other types of original content as required.
• Use analytics to inform video story choices and ensure the content is delivered in the right format(s).
• Take a lead within a team setting on delivering a specific piece of journalism or project as appropriate.
• To tailor different news treatments for different audiences ensuring that the output reflects the audiences we serve.
• Work with graphics and visual journalism teams to produce creative and original sequences.
• All producers may be required to travel off base on short reporting trips and assignments and to spend longer periods of time on story deployments.

Essential skills:
• Bilingual language expertise is preferred: A full command and up to date knowledge of a key World Service regional language as first (or equivalent) language as well as complete comprehension of written and spoken English and the ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to originate, plan, develop and produce engaging digital content on complex political and social issues that will appeal to African and global audiences, particularly among women and young people.
• Experience of digital newsgathering, filming and filing video from the field, and proven ability to confidently use editing and production tools as required. A knowledge of outside broadcast techniques would be an advantage.
• A good presence on camera and experience of social media lives would be an advantage.
• Good knowledge of data analytics and experience of using it to shape the content and meet the needs of different audience groups.
• Track record of encouraging, guiding and assisting colleagues who are new and unfamiliar with video and digital.
• Broad understanding of current technical issues involved in production of video content and a demonstrable interest in new media technologies.
• Thorough knowledge of news and current affairs in East, Central and the Horn of Africa, as well as around the world.
• Good understanding of impartiality and journalistic values, and the ability to produce content for diverse and underserved audiences.
• High level of interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate stories to other teams