Senior Journalist (Prospects)

Job introduction

The BBC World Service is undergoing a significant strategic review. It is becoming a digital first operation and in WS Languages is being managed by two News Controllers – Output and Content. This new structure seeks to refine the editorial purpose and USP of each of the 42 Language service in target markets, ensure that the BBC is known for distinctive and original content and that well-produced stories from all over the world are shared as widely as possible across the BBC.

As a mission critical team of World Service Languages, the World Service Digital Content production hubs sit at the heart of content working to provide fresh, innovative and engaging stories that can be reversioned across 42 languages and multiple platforms. The planning team is a key team that helps to coordinate and ease workflow. We are in charge of communicating plans and promoting content to our language services colleagues and English output.

Main responsibilities

The role will require occasionally standing in for the Assistant Editor of Planning, as well as include, but not limited to, the following:

• Working on key documents that will be shared amongst BBC staff communicating content and news agenda
• Responsible for originating and producing stories which may include scripting and editing content across a range of BBC output
• Allocate work to a team and check progress; ensure the professional contribution of the team and quality of output
• Working on digital content
• Seek ways to increase diversity in our workforce and ensure that our output reflects the audiences we serve
• Delivering to tight deadlines
• Commission and select relevant materials ensuring they meet expectations of our audiences and adhere to the BBC’s editorial standard

Are you the right candidate?

The successful candidate will have an ability to manage resources, staff, technical facilities and budgets, in order to make challenging broadcasting in the most cost effective manner.  You will need to have:

• Good knowledge of African current affairs and audience needs
• An 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
• Extensive experience in producing and creating digital content
• Experience of working in planning or having worked on big projects and delivering to deadlines
• An ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with teams in African countries
• Experienced in producing content for underserved and younger audiences
• Experienced in the use of digital analytics to maximise the impact of our videos and drive change when needed
• Demonstrable knowledge of digital platforms and the different ways audiences are consuming news
• Sound understanding of the BBC’s editorial guidelines, along with a commitment to the editorial aims of BBC News.