Journalist, Afaan Oromo Service at BBC World Service

Job Introduction

Africa’s media landscape is changing.  It is one of the fastest developing news markets in the world with mobile technology transforming lives, internet connectivity increasing, the radio market remaining relatively strong and Television migrating from analogue to digital.

The BBC World Service remains the leading international broadcaster in Africa, reaching a weekly audience of more than 100 million across all platforms and Social Media.  The Afaan Oromo Service works closely with other new language services in Amharic and Tigrinya as part of the Horn of Africa team, to serve our audiences in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Role Responsibility

• As a journalist you will be covering a wide range of journalism activity and provide thorough, timely and professional reporting on events in a range of formats. You will create content to maximise the BBC World Service’s impact and potential in Africa.  
• This will involve researching, interviewing original sources and writing reports for radio and digital platforms, meeting high journalistic standards and fully observing the BBC editorial guidelines.
• You will also be required to, write stories from audios interview produced by other team members, host Facebook live and present radio programmes whenever needed. 

The Ideal Candidate

• The successful candidate will be fluent to mother tongue standard in Afaan Oromo & English with significant experience as a journalist and a good knowledge of production techniques.  Experience in producing creative radio contents of different format -from idea generation to final stage will also be required. Demonstrable experience in pitching stories, interviewing, producing and curating engaging radio, social and digital content and an understanding of news and trends that appeal to the Afaan Oromo speaking audience in the East and Horn of Africa is also essential.
• The ability to distil complex topics into sharable content is highly desired.

Additional Requirement

• Experience in planning, pitching, writing and editing contents to a high technical and editorial standard, for multiple digital platforms.
• Experience in producing creative radio contents of different format -from idea generation to final stage.
• You’ll need to adept at producing content for underserved and younger audiences.
• To show visual creativity in the use of pictures and graphics to illustrate and explain data stories.
• Understand video requirements of different social platforms.
• Experienced in the use of digital analytics to maximise the impact of our contents and drive change when needed.
• Demonstrable knowledge of digital platforms - the BBC’s and others - and the different ways audiences are consuming news.
• Awareness of the current political and media landscape of East Africa and the globe- and that Ethiopia in particular. 
• Use a range of video, audio and digital equipment and information technology to research, write, assemble, edit and deliver outputs in the appropriate medium in Afaan Oromoo, to the highest professional standards.
• May be required to present the content on radio or online. This might be live or recorded.
• May include the production and presentation of programmes. This might be live or recorded
• Exercise editorial judgment in developing story ideas and producing accurate and impartial journalism.
• To undertake pre and post production and studio work, live and pre-recorded. Use a range of video, audio & digital equipment and information technology to research, write, assemble, edit and deliver programmes in appropriate medium, to the highest professional standards.
• To liaise closely with other team members and with other departments in the BBC, to ensure that output material is shared, duplication is avoided, and best practice is upheld.
• Take a lead within a team setting or 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.
• To prioritise and plan activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines staffing and resources available.
• To produce engaging packages through a range of production skills
• Delivering to tight deadlines while maintaining the highest editorial standards.

Closing date 8 April 2022