Vacancies at BBC World Service

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• BBC World Service is creating a new Horn of Africa Language Services Unit in Nairobi, bringing together BBC Tigrinya, BBC Somali BBC Afaan Oromo and BBC Amharic under a single editorial leadership structure for the first time. BBC Tigrinya is a vital source of independent, impartial journalism for Tigrinya-speaking audiences in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and in Eritrea. The service carries particular weight in communities where access to reliable, independent information is constrained, and where the BBC's commitment to impartiality distinguishes it from other available news sources.
• BBC Tigrinya Service provides independent, impartial journalism, under the new structure, significant opportunity: the transformation to a digital-first, video-led operation that can reach a new generation of Tigrinya speaking audiences who consume news primarily through smartphones, YouTube and social media.
• BBC Tigrinya is now transforming into a story-led model built around two complementary editorial streams: On the Day and On Demand.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

• The Journalist is the core production resource of both On the Day and On Demand streams. Whether working a morning, afternoon or night shift within On the Day, or contributing to planned video and podcast production within On Demand, the Journalist is expected to move fluently between platforms, formats and roles (such as writing a web article, filming, editing, presenting videos and voicing a radio package and publishing a social post), often on the same story, within the same shift.
• This transformation demands journalists who are not simply willing to work across platforms, but who think across platforms instinctively. That means asking, before production begins, how a story will serve audiences on multiple platforms like, the website, on YouTube, on TikTok and on radio and making deliberate choices about format, length and angle for each content.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Write clear, accurate and engaging articles for the BBC Tigrinya website daily, producing content that is well-structured, properly sourced, SEO-aware and published to deadline.
• Produce and present short-form video contents including news moments, explainers, interviews and reaction pieces optimised for publication on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook and YouTube Shorts, as a standard part of daily output.
• Produce and present radio programmes or visualised podcast as needed.
• Self-shoot, present and edit short video contents using mobile or camera equipment, applying strong visual judgement, clear audio, appropriate framing and basic graphic or caption overlays to produce content that meets BBC Tigrinya’s production standards.
• Contribute to BBC Tigrinya’s visualised podcast and linear radio output, performing on screen as well as on air and understanding the specific demands of presenting and reporting for a simultaneous radio and YouTube streaming audience.
• Research, script, film and edit video contents independently or in collaboration with Video Journalists, ensuring content is well-sourced, clearly structured and appropriate for the target platform.
• Develop and maintain a range of contacts across Horn of Africa to support original newsgathering, tip-offs and on-the-ground reporting, and use those contacts to contribute stories and angles that go beyond wire and agency copy.
• Contribute to live coverage of breaking news events across all platforms including livestreaming, producing timely, accurate content at pace while maintaining BBC editorial standards.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Proven ability to produce content across multiple digital platforms including a news website, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram reels and Facebook and radio with an understanding of the editorial and production requirements of each.
• Strong digital writing skills, including the ability to produce clear, accurate, well-structured articles in Tigrinya that are engaging for online readers and appropriately optimised for search.
• Experience of producing and presenting short-form video content for social media platforms, including vertical formats for TikTok and Instagram reels, with a clear understanding of what makes short video content hold attention and drive shares.
• Practical experience of self-shooting video using mobile or camera equipment, with the ability to apply sound visual judgement in a range of settings including studio, location, interview and news-gathering environments.
• Confidence presenting to camera, with the ability to deliver scripts, interviews and two-ways clearly and naturally for both broadcast and streaming audiences.
• Experience of producing content for radio, including writing scripts for the ear, voicing packages and conducting interviews for broadcast.
• Solid experience of sourcing, verifying and reporting news accurately and impartially under deadline pressure, including the ability to apply verification techniques to social media content and user-generated material.
• Fluency in written and spoken Tigrinya and English with the ability to write, sub-edit and present in both languages to a high professional standard.
• Knowledge about data-driven approach to content development, with experience using audience analytics and platform insights to inform commissioning, optimise performance and grow engagement, particularly among younger and female audiences.

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PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• BBC Afaan Oromo is now transforming into a story-led model built around two complementary editorial streams: On the Day and On Demand. Therefore, the purpose of the role is primarily to initiate, gather and produce material for news, current affairs and general programming. Routinely self-shooting and editing complete packages for use across multiple platforms.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

• BBC World Service is creating a new Horn of Africa Language Services Unit in Nairobi, bringing together BBC Afaan Oromo, BBC Somali, BBC Tigrinya and BBC Amharic under a single editorial leadership structure for the first time. 
• BBC Afaan Oromo serves the Afaan Oromo speaking community across Ethiopian, Kenya and within a substantial and engaged global diaspora. BBC Afaan Oromo provides independent, impartial journalism, under the new structure, significant opportunity: the transformation to a digital-first, video-led operation that can reach a new generation of Afaan Oromo audiences who consume news primarily through smartphones, YouTube and social media.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

The main focus of the Video Journalist role is to routinely self-shoot and edit complete news packages, or equivalent. The post holder will also be expected to undertake any of the key responsibilities included below.

• Research, write, shoot, assemble and edit high-quality journalism across video, audio, radio, podcasts and digital platforms, using a range of production equipment and technology.
• Self-shoot and edit complete packages independently, carrying out pre-production, studio and post-production work for both live and pre-recorded output.
• Present and produce content for Afaan Oromo radio, visualised podcasts, online platforms and programmes, as required, in both live and recorded formats.
• Exercise strong editorial judgement, developing original story ideas and producing accurate, impartial and engaging journalism tailored to the needs of different audiences.
• Plan and prioritise effectively, managing deadlines, resources and competing requirements while consistently maintaining the highest editorial, professional and safety standards.
• Collaborate closely with the Afaan Oromo Assistant Editor, wider teams and BBC departments to share content, avoid duplication and promote best practice across output.
• Take the lead on specific journalism or projects when required, supporting team development by sharing expertise, training and mentoring colleagues, particularly in video editing.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Ability to gather and prepare audio and video material for use on any service, recognising the distinct requirements of different types of output, self-shooting and editing routinely as the main focus of the role.
• Significant recent experience as a journalist, with a good knowledge of production techniques – especially self-shooting and editing with a strong record of originating and developing stories for news programmes.
• Demonstrates sound editorial and policy decisions based upon a clear understanding of the BBC’s distinctive news agenda, the requirements of news and current affairs coverage and the audience.
• Ability to use technology as required, gathering material for broadcast.
• Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people.
• Effective planning and organising skills, ability to concentrate on several areas of work at one time, delivering consistently to deadlines and reacting positively to changes and conflicting priorities.
• 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.
• Fluency in written and spoken Afaan Oromo and English with the ability to write, sub-edit and present in both languages to a high professional standard.
• Knowledge about data-driven approach to content development, with experience using audience analytics and platform insights to inform commissioning, optimise performance and grow engagement, particularly among younger and female audiences.