BBC World Service Recruitment for Senior Broadcast Journalist

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. Globally, the BBC reaches a weekly audience of 320 million weekly across various platforms.

Over the next four years, the BBC World Service will be expanding its multimedia operations in Africa by doubling the number of language services from 6 to 12.

Three of the new language services, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin will serve our audiences in Nigeria and West Africa. They will be based in Lagos, working alongside our operation in Abuja from where the BBC currently produces its Hausa service output. There is a strong emphasis on reaching and connecting with young audiences.

The BBC is looking for a Senior Broadcast Journalist to work across all digital platforms to ensure that the Igbo Service develops and grows a distinctiveness, character and status in its target area. On a day to day basis, you will contribute creative ideas and inspire the team to produce engaging content. Reporting to the Editor Igbo Service, you will ensure quality and consistency of timely output. You will be required to occasionally do some field reporting.

Shift work will be required which will include early mornings, late nights, weekends and public holidays.

Role Responsibilities

• The BBC World Service is recruiting for an experienced Senior Broadcast Journalist to work across the new Igbo Service digital output.
• You will take full editorial responsibility for the timely delivery of the day’s output. Reporting to the Editor, your main responsibilities will include leading on the production, creative and timely distribution of all digital content, videos, and innovative editorial projects to serve our Igbo audiences whilst adhering to the BBC's editorial guidelines and objectives.
• Working with the Igbo team, you will be responsible for coming up with creative and innovative ways in storytelling and implementing them for BBC Igbo especially for online and social media consumption.
• You must have work authorisation for Nigeria.

Main Duties

• To Work closely with the Igbo Editor and SBJ’s of BBC Pidgin and BBC Yoruba to plan output and to ensure maximum collaboration and sharing of content.
• To use editorial judgement, creativity and flair to make original and compelling digital content.
• To motivate teams to come up with original content ideas as well as creative digital treatments
• To keep abreast of evolving (news) stories and emerging trends aimed at the Nigeria audience
• To maintain and improve in the editorial output and in the working practices of BBC Igbo and the other BBC Africa Languages.
• To achieve an effective fusion of BBC Igbo and BBC Africa’s missions and of the audience’s needs.
• To ensure all content conforms to the highest standards, are in line with BBC Editorial Guidelines and are suitable for the audience.
• To encourage and inspire a team of multi-media journalists in the production of lively, interesting and imaginative content, and in maintaining a high level of linguistic and production standards. To help editors with forward planning, devising the rota and other daily staff issues as required.
• To be involved in building and leading the team. To take part in the recruitment and appraisal process, to integrate new staff, to motivate and supervise members of the team, and to contribute to their training and development
• To be across new technological developments, to ensure that BBC Igbo makes the best possible use of its opportunities.
• To be responsible for thinking through and around editorial problems, developing realistic alternative strategies and approaches.
• To maintain professional journalistic standards of accuracy, impartiality and fair dealing and adhering to the BBC’s Editorial guidelines.
• To show up to date awareness of the competition and mass media markets in which Languages operate.
• In the absence of the editor, to deputise, as required, across the range of duties.

Required Skills & Experience

• Fluency and up to date knowledge of Igbo and the ability to type quickly and accurately.
• Fluency in English, written and spoken English and the ability to communicate effectively.
• Familiarity with digital news production systems and writing with flare for pictures. An understanding of social media is essential.
• A willingness to learn to operate new technology systems and to be able to adapt to different working methods.
• A good knowledge of online journalism techniques.
• An ability to mentor, lead and inspire a team of journalists to bring out the best in them.
• A demonstrable interest in working in a multimedia environment and in encouraging audience engagement.
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of Nigerian, African and international current affairs.
• A good broadcasting voice and the ability to acquire the appropriate presentation style is desirable.
• A willingness to understand and adopt BBC Editorial Guidelines and to abide by BBC Values.
• Knowledge of the aims, objectives and standards of BBC World Service and Global News.

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:

• Editorial Judgement - demonstrates balanced and objective judgement based on a thorough understanding of BBC editorial guidelines, target audience, programme and department objectives. Makes the right editorial decisions, taking account of conflicting views where necessary. Ability to take public comments on board and to make appropriate editorial changes to content.
• Creative Thinking - able to transform creative ideas into practical reality. Evidence of innovation and the ability to devise creative solutions by developing novel ideas or adapting existing ones in new ways. Evidence of a desire to create beautiful, quality content.
• Planning and organisation - able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources.
• Communication - able to get one’s message understood clearly by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information. As well as the ability to motivate and deal sensitively with people who may be working to tight deadlines
• Influencing and persuading - able to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others. Can draw from a range of strategies to persuade people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change.
• Managing relationships and team working - able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people. Works co-operatively with the ability to work with other teams in developing tools, features and services.
• Developing Others - able to recognise potential (managerial, professional, artistic or otherwise) and is willing to foster the development of that potential. Creates a climate in which potential can be realised.
• Resilience - manages personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.
• Flexibility - adapts and works effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups. Able to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue, to adapt an approach as the requirements of a situation change, and to change or easily accept changes in one’s own organisation or job requirements.

Application Closing Date
4th July, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online