Graduate Recruitment 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 and exciting expansion of BBC Africa, the BBC World Service is launching a new Sports weekly TV programme and innovative digital sport content alongside existing African Sport output.


We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Broadcast Journalist (Digital)
Job Reference: BBC/TP/900558/24318
Location: Lagos
Department: BBC Africa
Reports to: Sports Editor, BBC Africa
Contract: Continuing
Job Category: Journalism
Business Unit: News – W2020 


The Job

• We are looking for Digital journalist to work in a new Africa Sports Unit which aims to provide a unique insight into Sport stories 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 successful candidate will need to have excellent knowledge of sport in Africa, global sport, particularly the Premiership and Athletics, and an understanding of what audiences are looking for in digital and social media sports coverage.
• They must demonstrate strong editorial judgement and solid journalistic skills.
• The job will require ambition, imagination and a large degree of initiative with the high editorial, journalism and production values expected by the BBC.

Main Duties

• To plan, write and commission sports stories, analysis and features on Sport for Africa using text, video and audio.
• To originate, prepare and publish pages of sports content, background, analysis, features and video.
• To create digital video, write for our website and other social platforms and promote our Sports content in an engaging format with the audience.
• To think up original ways to tell stories, especially for existing and emerging digital platforms.
• To produce and commission short-form and long-form digital content.
• To gather content for digital platforms from the field.
• To contribute to the BBC News website’s Africa desk. The journalist will build on our existing African coverage, including the Africa Live page.
• To work with graphic designers to produce creative and original graphics sequences which can be shared by other BBC departments.
• To develop story ideas and creative content working both individually and with others to develop treatments of the highest quality and with journalism at the heart.
• Working closely with colleagues from BBC Africa to identify promising story ideas and content, and help adapt it for online audiences where appropriate.
• To generate ideas and material that can work across all platforms in order to maximise impact and efficiencies.
• To help increase the co-operation between teams and ensure more collaborative future planning.
• To adhere to Editorial Guidelines and BBC Industry Codes of Practice and be responsible for ensuring safe working practices and the observance of BBC’s Health and Safety Regulations.

Skills and Experience

• Good knowledge of sport, in particular sport that appeals to an African audience.
• Proven text journalism writing and editing skills.
• Good understanding of social media and user generated content, and of different digital platforms and devices.
• Excellent written and spoken English is essential. Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa is desirable.
• Creativity and ideas generation.
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Good team working skills.
• Proven editorial judgement and the ability to make decisions under tight deadlines.
• Well-developed organisational skills and the ability to maintain a high standard of performance whilst under pressure.
• An awareness of the latest broadcast technology.
• An awareness of budget issues.

Competencies
Editorial Judgement:

• Makes the right editorial and policy decisions based upon a clear understanding of the BBC’s Producer guidelines and Editorial Policy.

Subject Knowledge:

• Demonstrates a good knowledge of mainstream sport. Develops increasingly useful contacts and sources.

Decision Making:

• Is ready and able to take initiative, and make decisions to tight deadlines.

Planning and Organising:

• Is able to think ahead in order to establish an effective 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 requirements.

Analytical Thinking:

• Able to simplify complex problems, process projects into component parts, explore and evaluate them systematically.

Imagination and Creative Thinking:

• Translates sports stories and events into high quality content through a detailed understanding of the requirements of the broadcast media and possession of the necessary writing, directing and reporting skills.

Resilience:

• Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations.
• Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.

Communication:

• The ability 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.

Influencing and Persuasion:

• 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 behaviour change.

Managing Relationships and Team Working:

• Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people.
• Highly effective team player; works for the benefit of the whole team.

Understanding Diversity:

• Understands and appreciates the uniqueness of self and others.
• Demonstrates, and is committed to improving, understanding of why people react in particular ways.
• Understanding diversity in its widest sense.
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC.
• Takes a balanced approach to discussing and taking action on diversity issues.
• Articulates how individual differences can benefit the BBC.

Salary 
Local terms and conditions.






How to Apply

Click here to apply online




Click here to download Job Description (Pdf)

Job Title: Researcher – Sport


Job Reference:  BBC/TP/590124/24315 
Location: Lagos
Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time
Job Category: Journalism
Business Unit: News – W2020 
Report to: Editorial Sports Editor, Africa
Contract: Continuing

The Job

• To monitor online, TV, radio, newspapers and social media across Africa sports, and produce tip-offs, news updates, media reviews and background information.
• To maintain an up-to-date database of personalities, organisations and source information from the target area, using the best technology for gathering and organising information.
• To feed into the sports agenda for the day, identifying new ways to deliver content relevant to all Africa sport users.
• To collaborate with other sports journalists on creating engaging and innovative products.
• To come up with new and creative ways of telling stories and think of the best ways to integrate video, images, graphics and data into Africa sports products in order to have a powerful visual impact.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Produce timely tip-offs, media reviews, basic sports updates and background information based on the monitoring of vernacular sources from the target area
• Maintain a database of personalities, organisations and source information from the target area
• Undertake administrative tasks as required
• Play a role in the planning and strategic development of research as appropriate
• Contribute story ideas and new angles on emerging narratives and long-running stories, including from a data perspective
• Actively seek feedback from Africa Sport users on our research offering; work with the Senior Digital Journalist/Editorial Lead and the rest of the team to interpret this and respond in a timely manner
• Ensure all output produced adheres to the highest journalistic standards and is consistent with BBC editorial guidelines.

Knowledge, Skills, Training and Experience
Essential:

• An excellent level of spoken and written English and another African language is preferable.
• Experience of carrying out tasks where attention to detail is particularly important
• Ability to communicate effectively and to present complex information and ideas clearly and concisely
• Sports judgment and the ability to spot a story
• An interest in African sport
• Willingness and enthusiasm to embrace new ways of working and new technology to find and analyse information and produce content and an ability to share/communicate what you know, or have learnt, to others in the team.
• Ability to understand and identify the needs of sports users.

Desirable:

• Understanding sport user groups and target markets
• Expertise in the collection, processing, analysis and visualisation of data (possibly including basic programming skills)
• Experience as a journalist
• Content creation, video shooting/editing skills or broadcast experience
• A thorough knowledge of all the requirements of the BBC’s editorial policy

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 Judgment – Demonstrates balanced and objective judgment based on a thorough understanding of BBC editorial guidelines, target audience, team and department objectives. Makes the right editorial decisions under pressure, taking account of conflicting views where necessary.
• Planning and organization – 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 and team priorities. Juggles priorities under pressure.
• Collaborative working – Works in partnership and actively collaborates with colleagues in the team. Recognizes shared objectives and priorities, and works co-operatively to achieve them, putting them before personal preferences and objectives. Works co-operatively with others in physical and virtual teams, as opposed to working separately or competitively.
• Creative Thinking – Able to transform creative ideas into practical reality. Can look at existing situations and problems in novel ways and come up with creative solutions.
• 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.
• Resilience – Manages personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, set backs or when dealing with provocative situations.
• Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterized by commitment, motivation and energy. Is willing to accept and act on feedback.
• 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 organization or job requirements. Recognizes that change and uncertainty is the norm.

Job Impact

• Decision making
• A Researcher is expected to gather information and updates, as well as selecting stories and sources which provide unique insights to sport users (under the guidance of a senior Journalist / Editorial Lead); legal issues, such as libel, and other issues of balance, accuracy and tone should be referred up to the senior Journalist / Editorial Lead.
• A Researcher is expected to maintain a database of relevant personalities, organisations and events in the target area.
• To effectively carry out this role, a Researcher must engage virtually with colleagues in Africa Sport, and the wider BBC, via email, telephone or video-conference. There may be need to travel to the UK or in the region.
• A Researcher needs to be proactive and constantly coming up with creative ideas to best tell the stories from the region, particularly with a focus on data-driven journalism; ultimate decision-making about the content and format of the output sits with the Senior Journalist.
• The work of the Researcher will be reviewed by senior Journalist / Editorial Lead or as delegated.

Salary

• Local terms and conditions.

How to Apply

Click here to apply online 

Job Title: Broadcast Journalist, Multimedia 
Job Reference: BBC/TP/590124/24314 
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Department: Africa TV 
Reports to: Sports Editor, Africa   
Business Unit: News – W2020 


Job Summary

• We are looking for Multimedia Broadcast Journalists to work in a new Africa Sports Unit and launch new sports video and TV products for African audiences.
• The successful candidate will need to have excellent knowledge of sport in Africa, global sport, particularly the Premiership and Athletics, and an understanding of what audiences are looking for in digital and social media sports coverage.   

The Job 

• All BBC Africa Sport Journalists work across platforms, on a multimedia website with a focus on digital video, text, interactivity and radio and TV services.
• The Multimedia Journalists will work as part of the editorial/production team in Lagos for BBC Africa Sport and will meet the BBC’s high editorial standards.
• They will be responsible for the clear and engaging reporting or presentation of the weekly programme.
• On a daily basis they will report to a Senior Journalist.
• Shift work will be required which could include early/late shifts, weekends and public holidays. 

Responsibilities

• Our Multimedia Journalists are responsible for all aspects of sport output including the production and presentation of live and recorded content, reporting, presenting, scriptwriting, packaging, translating, and compiling TV Bulletins.  
• Multimedia Journalists produce accurate, informed and interesting news and programming. They are versatile with proven journalistic skills or equivalent experience, good on-screen presence and broadcast voice, energy, creativity, flexibility and an in-depth understanding of the news, politics, culture and social issues relevant to an African audience.
• In addition, all of our journalists are involved in creating digital video for our website and social platforms, and writing for our website.
• They work on social platforms also to promote our content and engage with our audiences. First class communication is essential.   

Main Duties 

• To report, present, research, write, translate, edit and adapt stories or programme material for BBC Africa Sport TV, radio and online audiences.  
• To offer original and creative ideas for multimedia content. To suggest new angles on existing stories and to put forward stories not yet covered.  
• To work with graphic designers to produce creative and original graphics sequences.  
• To maintain professional journalistic standards of accuracy, impartiality and fair dealing and adhering to the BBC’s Editorial guidelines.  
• To be responsible for a moving story, amending and updating material as required. To be able to freshen a story.  
• To be responsible for studio production of live and pre-recorded programmes. To respond to breaking stories whilst on air and to resolve technical difficulties. 
• To tell stories in a compelling manner and capture human endeavour and connection, which appeals to audiences who are looking for more than sports results.   
• After training, to be able to use a range of digital equipment and technology to research, write, assemble, edit and deliver programmes and content. 
• To ensure that BBC Editorial values and guidelines and all relevant legal and copyright requirements are met, asking for the support of managers in cases of difficulty or doubt. 
• To work closely with other parts of the BBC including other African language teams, BBC reporters and producers across BBC departments.  
• All journalists may be required to work with or move to other programme teams on a multi-media basis and to have the ability to work across a range of skills.

Essential Knowledge, Skills And Experience  

• Fluent in written and spoken English. Ability to communicate effectively in another African language is preferable. 
• A good knowledge of what works on TV and digital platforms within the market. 
• Proven track record of coming up with ideas and seeing them through to delivery, ideally in a creative or media environment. 
• Exceptional knowledge of sport, in particular sport that appeals to an African audience and excellent sports contacts.
• Relevant experience as a journalist, both in originating material and editing the work of others, is highly desirable. 
• Ability to write scripts and adapt with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of media.  
• An excellent broadcasting voice and strong reporting skills with the ability to perform with flair.  
• A demonstrable interest in working in a multimedia environment and in encouraging audience involvement.  
• A demonstrable interest in new media and how to exploit it for the BBC’s purposes. 
• Good keyboard/computer skills and the ability to acquire technical skills and to operate technical equipment. 
• An understanding of the BBC Africa’s distinctive news agenda and a wider interest in the strategy of the BBC as a whole. 

Desirable:

• First-hand experience of handling cameras and shooting video for professional purposes.   

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. 
• Commitment to the BBC and the BBC Africa strategy – demonstrates an interest and willingness to help the BBC achieve its objectives in the target area. 
• Creative Thinking – able to transform creative ideas into practical reality. Can look at existing situations and problems in novel ways and come up with creative solutions. 
• Planning and organisation – able to think ahead in order to establish and 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. 
• 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 others to be part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively. 
• 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.

How to Apply

Click here to apply online 

Job Title: Reporter/Presenter (Sport)


Job Reference:  BBC/TP/900558/24322
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Department: BBC Africa   
Reports to: Sports Editor, BBC Africa   
Business Unit: News – W2020 
Contract: Continuing  
Grade:  Local Terms and Conditions  


The Job

• We are looking for a reporter to work in a new Africa Sports Unit and to create and present expert, authoritative and entertaining Sports coverage in Nigeria and the surrounding regions.
• The Reporter will be required to report for multi-platform outlets, including TV, online, social media and radio.
• The successful candidate will need to have excellent knowledge of sport in Africa, global sport, particularly the Premiership and Athletics, and an understanding of what audiences are looking for in digital and social media sports coverage. 
• They will deliver content for a weekly Sports TV Show and will be expected to contribute innovative ideas, drive the creative vision and present the content.
• They must demonstrate strong editorial judgement and solid journalistic skills.
• They will be able to write creatively, accurately and succinctly, and understand how to find and generate original and engaging sports stories that can work across all platforms. 
• You will be adept at planning and producing video and TV packages, desk top editing, producing graphics, and arranging for guests to appear on our output.
• The job will require ambition, imagination and a large degree of initiative with the high editorial, journalism and production values expected by the BBC. 
• High level spoken and written English is essential, and fluency in a Nigerian language is preferable.

Main Duties

• To compile and present engaging content offering new perspectives and deeper exploration to Sports stories, interviews, profiles and digital content. 
• To plan, structure, write and produce content for use on TV, Digital and Radio and to develop treatments of the highest quality and with journalism at the heart. 
• To pitch original stories with both TV and digital treatments, making sure that they work for online, social and TV platforms.
• To work closely with the Africa Sports teams in London, Nairobi and Dakar.
• To have a good working relationship with BBC Sport, other Sports departments within the BBC, all BBC Africa Services, external Sports Organisations and independent production companies. 
• To prepare edited material either working in a self-op environment or with a craft editor to produce inserts and packages for the various outlets such as Sports TV features, News bulletins, Online or social.
• To find and brief contributors for live and edited stories and interview them for broadcast.
• A full command of written and spoken English and another African language is preferable.
• To watch provide commentary to live sporting action and identify what is important or useful, in order to tell a story through edited highlights.
• To develop original ideas for digital content and create engaging blogs and vlogs for BBC online sites.
• To adhere to Editorial Guidelines and BBC Industry Codes of Practice and be responsible for ensuring safe working practices and the observance of BBC’s Health and Safety Regulations. 

Requirements
Skills and Experience:

• Exceptional knowledge of sport, in particular sport that appeals to an African audience and excellent sports contacts.
• Experience of on air reporting and presentation particularly in video to highest standards. Authoritative microphone voice and ability to communicate effectively to listeners and viewers. 
• Strong digital understanding and awareness.
• Creativity and ideas generation with the ability to think originally and to contribute fully to the planning process.
• Excellent spoken and written English and another African language is preferable.
• Ability to remain calm while working to deadlines, apply sensible work priorities and pace throughout assignments.
• Good team working skills both as a team leader and a team player.
• Proven editorial judgement and the ability to make decisions under tight deadlines Well-developed organisational skills and the ability to maintain a high standard of performance whilst under pressure.
• To alert Editors to breaking news and be ready to file accurate, immediate on-thespot reports.
• An awareness of the latest broadcast technology and the ability to learn new skills. An awareness of budget issues and delivering value for money.
• Knowledge of the African media market and the changing needs of the audience.
•  Experience of making sound judgements on matters of editorial sensitivity. 
• Knowledge and practical experience of weekly and/or daily journalism.
• A thorough knowledge of all the requirements of the BBC Producer Guidelines and Editorial policies.
• Well-developed communication skills and the ability to work well within a team.
• Strive for diversity of contributors, in terms of gender, ethnicity, disability and age. 
• Appreciate and demonstrate the BBC Values.  Resilience, determination, ambition, energy and enthusiasm.  Experience of using a camera to film professionally would be a bonus  

Competencies:

• Editorial Judgement – Makes the right editorial and policy decisions based upon a clear understanding of the BBC’s Producer guidelines and Editorial Policy.
• Subject Knowledge – Demonstrates a good knowledge of mainstream sport. 
• Develops increasingly useful contacts and sources.
• Decision Making – Is ready and able to take initiative, and make decisions to tight deadlines.
• Planning and Organising – Is able to think ahead in order to establish an effective 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 requirements.
• Analytical Thinking – Able to simplify complex problems, process projects into component parts, explore and evaluate them systematically.
• Imagination and Creative Thinking – Translates sports stories and events into high quality content through a detailed understanding of the requirements of the broadcast media and possession of the necessary writing, directing and reporting skills.
• Resilience – Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations.
• Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.
• Communication -The ability 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.
• Influencing and Persuasion – 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 behaviour change.
• Managing Relationships and Team Working – Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people.  Highly effective team player; works for the benefit of the whole team.
• Understanding Diversity – Understands and appreciates the uniqueness of self and others. 
• Demonstrates, and is committed to improving, understanding of why people react in particular ways. 
• Understanding diversity in its widest sense. 
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC. 
• Takes a balanced approach to discussing and taking action on diversity issues. 
• Articulates how individual differences can benefit the BBC.

Deadline: 20th October, 2017. 


How to Apply

Click here to apply online

Click here for more Information (Pdf)