Senior News Editor (Regional Journalism) at BBC Media Action

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Regional Journalism team is one of the most strategic teams of the new regional operating model of World Service. It drives both reach and impact by pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation in our journalism and storytelling. It is a talented, risk-averse content production hub of world class content for various platforms and audiences. The Senior News Editor will be an experienced and courageous editorial leader who protects and enhances the BBC’s reputation as the world’s most trusted news organisation and pushes the boundaries of bold and impactful storytelling in a digital and social first era.  

WHY JOIN THE TEAM 

Sitting at the heart of our editorial operations, the Senior News Editor will be responsible for multi-platform newsgathering, reporting and production staff in more than 10 locations across the Africa region. Your teams will support digital-first gathering, production and distribution of news for World Service Languages teams and when required into BBC News. You will support the gathering of responsive and planned journalism including from remote, often dangerous, corners of the world. 

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT: 

• Have a solid track record in managing deployments in hostile environments, quick clear decision making in breaking news scenarios 
• Be highly skilled at managing numerous and diverse issues under tight timescales, managing competing priorities and leading on our digital-first strategy  
• With other senior staff managing editorial operations across Africa – you will set and deliver a clear editorial strategy for commissioning, gathering and reporting the news and current affairs 
• Have expert knowledge of our audience’s needs, current market trends and challenges, and deep knowledge of newsgathering digital and output processes across the whole of the BBC, as well as that of competitors. 
• Experience of solving complex editorial and legal challenges, managing significant budgets and understanding key financial drivers.  
• Have experience of managing staff across locations, having nurtured talent and be internally and/or externally recognized as a promoter of diversity and inclusion 
• Set and deliver a clear editorial strategy for content production and rollout to maximize reach and impact 

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA: 

• Substantial experience of journalism and production, as well as proven editorial judgement and substantial experience of managing editorial and operational staff and facilities in a daily news environment. 
• Demonstrates balanced and impartial judgement. Makes the right editorial decisions with guidance. 
• Demonstrates proficiency in the use of broadcast and digital technology and stays current with developments in this field. 
• Ability to foster creativity and experimentation, shows openness to new ways of doing things and demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC 
• Ability to think strategically and describe the concept in a way which motivates others towards that goal – able to convert long term aims into short and medium term goals. 

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED: 

• In addition to full proficiency in English, have a working knowledge of one or more of the relevant languages that the BBC operates in across Africa. 
• Ability to edit high quality audio and video content