Senior Journalist, Social Media – BBC Yoruba at BBC World Service

The BBC is an international multimedia broadcaster on radio, TV, online and social networks with a weekly global audience of 320 million. As part of an historic multi-million pound expansion of BBC Africa, the BBC World Service is introducing a wide range of new and exciting language and regional content to serve African and global audiences.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Journalist, Social Media – BBC Yoruba

Job Reference: BBC/TP/623869/51293
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Contract Type: Permanent
Job Category: Journalism
Business Unit: News – WSG World Service

Job Purpose

• Responsible for originating and producing stories which may include scripting, editing, outputting, filming and presenting content across a range of BBC output or generating exciting ideas and original newsgathering.

Job Descriptions

• You must have demonstrable experience of working on social media platforms, along with excellent editorial experience and strong writing skills.
• You will lead the day-to-day running of the BBC Yoruba social media platforms.
• You will be helping to grow our audience reach and engagement, as well as referrals to our content across all platforms.
• You will report line to the BBC Yoruba Editor.
• You will provide best practice guidance for the team’s social media activity, using feedback from performance data to drive success.
• The Senior Social Media Journalist’s task is to use social media effectively to spot the news as it breaks, curate and cultivate user generated content, identify viral content, develop and manage onsite communities and offsite social presences, with the aim of maximising reach and awareness.
• Decision Making: Is ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and take responsibility for the outcomes of the decisions made.
• Imagination / Creative Thinking: Translates news and current affairs into high quality programming through a detailed understanding of the requirements of the broadcast media and possession of the necessary writing, directing and reporting skills.
• Planning and organizing: Is able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritizes and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources requirements.
• You will ensure that the social offer is engaging, coherent, upholds BBC News’s editorial values and further establish BBC Yoruba as a ground breaking interactive site especially amongst young audiences.
• Editorial Judgment: Makes the right editorial and policy decisions based upon a clear understanding of the BBC’s distinctive news agenda, the requirements of news and current affairs coverage as well as those of the programme departments.
• Resilience: Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterised by professionalism, commitment, motivation and energy. Influencing and persuading
• Ability 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 behavior change.
• Managing relationships and team working: Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Propose; research; write; report and edit interesting and well-explained reports and more thoughtful, analytical pieces for publication – meeting high journalistic standards and fully observing the BBC editorial guidelines.
• Alert editors to breaking news and be ready to file accurate, on-the-spot reports and present, as soon as possible. Check and advise against coverage when necessary.
• Develop and use all formats and platforms available to tell the story in the most appropriate way, with a particular focus on social media to deliver our journalism to audiences.
• Supply items for the news diary, coming up with a stream of realistic coverage ideas and working jointly with other BBC reporters and producers in the field / region.
• Provide regular advice on news developments, guidance on agency or newspaper stories and briefings on government policies.
• To gather material for broadcast on news topics and events which is reflective of the audiences we serve.
• To provide timely, specialist and self-assured news coverage and analysis of news and events of interest to the audiences of the BBC.
• Maintain regular and clear communication with the Editors ensuring everyone is briefed on own movements and contact numbers at all times throughout the assignment.
• Delivering to tight deadlines while maintaining the highest editorial standards.
• At all times to carry out duties in accordance with the BBC health and safety policy.

Additional Job-specific Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• To lead and develop a fresh and innovative creative approach to curating, publishing and editing stories for BBC Yoruba social media platforms.
• To create content for social- videos, online, gifs, pictures, Facebook lives , Instagram Stories
• Ensure all content published and commissioned adheres to BBC’s Editorial Guidelines
• To manage the interactive offer across all social media platforms.
• To be up to date with the new trends on social media and react accordingly.
• Test and provide feedback on new social tools. Provide training where necessary.

Knowledge, Skills, Training and Experience
Essential:

• Experience of live broadcasting including live breaking news with a good on-screen presence, self-assured microphone voice and ability to communicate effectively to target audience. Knowledge of and aptitude for using multimedia technology.
• Demonstrates a balanced and impartial judgement. Makes appropriate editorial decisions, taking account of conflicting views where necessary.
• A demonstrable interest in new media which will include knowledge of how to maximise a story for digital, reporting experience and proven skills in generating original newsgathering.
• Work in partnership with other reporters and producers.
• Ability to convey story and programme ideas and to contribute fully to the planning process.
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC and understands how individual differences can benefit the BBC.
• Ability to convey story and programme ideas and to contribute fully to the planning process.
• 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 information.
• The flexibility and adaptability to sustain performance, particularly under pressure to meet deadlines and changing priorities and circumstances.
• An understanding of health and safety procedures and how they apply to broadcast.

Deadline: 9th December, 2020.

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

Click here for more information (PDF)