Senior Broadcast Journalist (Planning) at BBC

Department: BBC Africa
Reports to: West Africa Planning Senior Broadcast Journalist
Package:  Local terms and Conditions 
Contract:  Continuing   

Job Introduction
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 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, Pidgin, Yoruba and Igbo, 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. 

We are now looking for an excellent Planning Broadcast Journalist with strong digital journalism, language and organisational skills to join our planning team. 

Overall Purpose of the Job 

• Planning BJ will help and support the West Africa Planning Senior Broadcast Journalist in the coverage of Nigeria and West Africa stories in the most innovative, cost-effective and relevant manner primarily for Pidgin, Yoruba and Igbo.  
• You will support West Africa Planning SBJ by taking responsibility for breaking news coverage and in particular liaising with Service Editors to ensure deployments and sharing of material across the wider BBC. You will also work with West Africa Planning SBJ to plan the production of longer term digital content across the region.  
• You will work with Services Editors to research and plan big interview bids which are relevant to the target area.  
• Planning BJ will support reporters in delivering timely and standout coverage for BBC platforms in Pidgin, Igbo and Yoruba, as well as other languages in West Africa.
• You will be responsible for setting and managing realistic deadlines. 
• You will have experience within a digital media environment.
• Fluent in English and at least one of Yoruba, Igbo or Pidgin, you will have experience of delivering creative output. Field reporting experience is an advantage. 
• An excellent knowledge of local, regional and international news and current affairs is essential; so also a good understanding of a broad editorial agenda.
• You will have knowledge of and recent experience of living in the target area, and a good understanding of the complexities of Nigeria.
• Ability to work under pressure and react to breaking news is essential.
• Organisational skills are required.  
• You must have work authorization for Nigeria. 

Main Duties

• To ensure reporters provide daily news coverage and generate strong exclusive, exciting stories that work on digital platforms. 
• To ensure reporters provide longer term coverage of stories in an exciting creative way.   
• Must have an awareness of and a keen interest in the needs of young audiences.  
• To attend editorial meetings and contribute to the commissioning process, looking beyond the daily news agenda to ensure a rich, varied and original coverage across all platforms.  
• To contribute to the daily/weekly/monthly diary of important news and other non-news events in the target area and working with the West Africa Planning SBJ to plan ahead for proper deployment and coverage.  
• To keep abreast of evolving news stories and emerging trends. 
• To ensure material from Nigeria and the region is made available for wider use within BBC Africa and elsewhere. 
• To coordinate coverage of breaking news across BBC outlets. 
• To occasionally do some field reporting as required by the West Africa Planning SBJ. 
• Working with West Africa Planning SBJ, to ensure the safety of reporters and all deployed teams. 
• To have a keen interest in new technologies and the fast-changing media market. 
• To plan and ensure availability and the most efficient use of resources.  
• To develop contacts lists for reporters, contributors and regional experts and to ensure they are up to date. 

Knowledge & Experience Required

• First rate editorial judgement; excellent knowledge/understanding of Nigerian and African news, as well as global stories. A strong interest in social/trending stories is essential 
• Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of Nigeria and West Africa, and an in-depth understanding of Nigeria’s history, politics, social issues and culture.  
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of international and British news and current affairs, particularly in relation to Africa. 
• Recent experience as a senior journalist, preferably in a digital media and environment and including time spent in a planning function. 
• A full command and up to date knowledge of English and at least one or more other language from among Pidgin, Yoruba and Igbo.  
• Familiarity with digital news and social media (including the market, technologies and content) and how to exploit it to maximum effect. 
• Ability to write, adapt and translate with accuracy, clarity and style, appropriate to different audiences and platforms. 
• Ability to anticipate changes in the market and to plan and guide the BBC’s Nigeria output accordingly. 
• Experience of managing a team. 
• Experience of managing resources. 
• PC literacy, keyboard skills and sufficient technical ability to operate appropriate equipment and software.

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. 

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. 

Strategic Thinking:

• Can identify a vision along with the plans which need to be implemented to meet the end goal. 
• Evaluates situations, decisions, issues etc. in the short, medium and longer-term 

Planning and organisation:

• Able to think ahead in order to establish and efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. 
• 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.