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
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Main Responsibilities
Based in Nairobi, the Africa Correspondent is expected to provide quality, informative news reports and programmes across the range of BBC News outlets, for UK and International audiences, via Radio, TV, online platforms and social media.
This role requires a good understanding of the politics of Kenya and the wider region plus the cultural, religious and economic factors which play a role in these societies, as well as an ability to explain complex issues in a clear and creative way. The Africa Correspondent will keep across all developments in East Africa, and be prepared to be deployed on stories across the continent and beyond.
Audiences are at the heart of what we do, and the Africa Correspondent is expected to deliver news stories in ways which are credible, engaging and accessible for our audiences, while analysing key developments, often at short notice, live on air. You will need demonstrable experience of working in hostile environments.
As the BBC evolves to meet audiences where they are, the Africa Correspondent will be expected to help lead change in our digital journalism. The successful candidate will be adept at writing, both short form and long form, including analysis. They will be expected to help craft innovative digital videos, short and long form, will know how to make news content for social platforms including TikTok and Instagram, and have the agility to find the right tone for online reporting and podcasts alongside radio and television.
Are you the right candidate?
The successful candidate will have:
- A high level of editorial awareness and judgment demonstrated by a strong journalistic record.
- Excellent news judgement, with a track record of dealing with complex editorial and legal issues.
- Proven written and broadcast skills with the ability to deliver reports with assurance from location or the newsroom/studio.
- Experience working at a senior level on major stories & breaking news.
- Demonstrable experience of working in a hostile environment.
- An excellent understanding of different programmes and services and their audiences, as well as the audiences challenges facing the BBC.
- A clear and impressive understanding of digital media, with a demonstrable track record of delivering journalism through online writing, social media and/or digital videos.
A successful candidate will be able to:
- Present and explain complex information and ideas in an accessible manner, adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information.
- Innovate with digital journalism, experimenting with ideas for compelling digital videos and social media content.
- Draw on ideas from the best of digital journalism, and have the confidence to help the BBC change the way it delivers news and analysis to new audiences.
- Develop in-depth knowledge of a particular subject and use that knowledge to offer insight and perspective.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with a range of people, working with others as part of a team and developing effective relationships outside the BBC.
- Demonstrate a commitment to improving the diversity of the BBC’s coverage, representing all audiences and all points of view.
- Prioritise and plan activities, taking into account all relevant factors such as deadlines and resource requirements.
- Provide high quality journalism, particularly under pressure to meet deadlines and changing priorities and circumstances.
- Follow BBC safety requirements and instructions, especially in relation to emergencies; report any accidents, dangerous situations or defects in safety arrangements.
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YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:
- Line manage the Focus on Africa editor, as well as the BBC Africa social media teams, and be responsible for high quality editorial content on a variety of platforms.
- Handle editorial decisions in moderate and highly complex environments, including some geopolitical sensitivity or operational risk.
- 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
- Be highly skilled at managing numerous and diverse senior and executive level stakeholders, often operating under tight timescales and managing competing priorities
- Have expert knowledge of our audience’s needs, current market trends and challenges, and deep knowledge of editorial 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
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.
go to method of application »
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