Graphic Designer (Social Media) at the BBC World Service

The BBC, is the leading international broadcaster in Africa reaching a weekly audience of more than 100 million on Radio, TV, Digital (language sites and bbcafrica.com), Mobile and Social Media. We broadcast to Africa in English, Hausa, Somali, French, Kinyarwanda/Kirundi, Kiswahili & Arabic. We are committed to broadcasting to and from the continent in a style that meets the demands of our growing audience and as well as our language services, our presence in the region is also defined by our bureaux, special correspondents and bilingual reporters.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Graphic Designer for Social Media

Job Reference: BBC/TP/672269/22145
Location: Lagos
Contract Type: Permanent - Full Time
Job Category: Journalism
Department: BBC Africa
Reports To: Service Senior Broadcast Journalist Digital

Context

• The BBC World Service is embarking on an exciting journey with unprecedented investment in digital content for Africa and your role will be critical to us in meeting our ambitions.
• The BBC will be launching a new digital innovation hub in Lagos with the ambition to develop digital journalism in Africa.
• Your role as Social Media Visual Artist will play a key role in helping our content reach underserved audiences - such as younger, more female and more diverse demographics in Africa.
• We have an exciting opportunity to create new forms of digital storytelling and journalism that reaches 111 million people in Africa.
• As a Social Media Visual Artist you will join a new multidisciplinary digital team in Lagos made up of news gatherers, designers, software developers and social media specialists who will be working with journalists working across 12 language services (English, Amharic , Tigrinya, Afaan Oromo, Swahili, Somali, French, Great Lakes , Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa)
• BBC Africa aims to make explain and connect African and global stories by providing a unique insight into the main stories of the day in original formats.
• The African service digital offer consists of websites, mobile sites and social media with all services providing multimedia content in text, video, interactive and audio for radio, online, TV, mobile and social media platforms.

The Vision/Duties

• Here the vision is simple- join a new African digital innovation team of multitalented journalists and content creators with the mandate to innovate.
• To produce and develop illustrations/cartoons complementing the day’s stories in social media friendly formats
• To present visual storytelling ideas for special projects and long term series
• To apply editorial judgement when illustrating stories of a sensitive/controversial nature and seek advice where appropriate.
• To show agility reacting to breaking news stories or trending stories as and when appropriate
• To work with other visual artists and social media teams across regions - identifying themes and opportunities for collaboration
• You’ll be based in Lagos and will report to local Senior Broadcast Journalist Digital and work with a social media editor in World Service languages

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrable skill and experience in visual storytelling - illustration and or cartooning.
• The ideal candidate may also have the ability to use motion graphics software, such as Adobe After Effects, to create simple 2D animations for social media platforms
• Understanding of social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as a sense of what makes attractive visual design
• Creativity and flair
• A clear understanding of the needs and profile of the target audience and the ability to translate these into imaginative and compelling design ideas
• Interest in news and current affair
• The ability to plan and organise time and resources effectively and meet deadlines set
• The ability to work quickly, accurately and under pressure.

Competencies
The following competencies (behaviours and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in the job. Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate these competencies: