Broadcast Journalist, BBC Hausa at BBC

Job Reference: BBC/TP/788768/29768
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time
Job Category: Journalism

Job Description

• As part of the world’s largest broadcaster, the BBC’s Hausa Service broadcasts a daily mix of news and current affairs programmes through radio, TV and digital (online and mobile) platforms to very large and audiences in West Africa and beyond.
• Working as part of our editorial team based in Abuja and adhering to tight deadlines, you’ll write original material and translate and adapt material swiftly and accurately into Hausa in a style suited to a variety of platforms. You’ll also conduct interviews and reports in both Hausa and English.
• You’ll need proven recent and relevant journalistic experience with Hausa as your first (or equivalent) language and very good written and spoken English. An excellent microphone voice and strong radio presentation skills in Hausa are also essential together with an in-depth current understanding of African and international current affairs. Strong technology skills and extensive knowledge of online journalism are also required.

Job Specification
Organisation:

• Working as part of a team of multi-lingual journalists and reporting to the Abuja Bureau Editor, BBC Hausa Service. On a daily basis, reporting to Senior Broadcast Journalists as appropriate. Shift work shall be required which will include nights, weekends and public holidays.

Job Purpose

• To originate, research, prepare, produce and present compelling and engaging dispatches, packages, interviews, discussions, complete programmes, background, analysis and features for TV, radio, online, mobile and other media platforms.
• To ensure that any programme material for which you are responsible meets the standards required by the BBC. To work as duty editor for specific broadcasts or periods of time, as required.
  

Duties

• To research, report, write, translate, edit or adapt stories or programme material; to find interesting contributors and interviewees as well as other sources of material and/or actuality, as appropriate and to the required specification whilst maintaining professional journalistic standards of accuracy, impartiality and fair dealing and adhering to the BBC Editorial Guidelines.
• To perform at the microphone with or without a script, conduct interviews, chair discussions and act as a participant in other productions, whether live, pre-recorded or on location.
• To be responsible for a moving story, amending and updating material as required. To be able to freshen a story. To be responsible for thinking through and around editorial problems, developing realistic alternative strategies and approaches.
• To offer original ideas for items, programmes/series and to actively contribute to the editorial planning process. To suggest new angles on existing stories, means of moving the story on, and to put forward stories not yet covered.
• To understand the Service’s strategy and to suggest ideas appropriate to its distinctive style and content.
• To liaise closely with other team members and with contributors, reporters and stringers. To collaborate constructively with colleagues in BBC Africa whether in London or abroad, and to advise other parts of the BBC on target area affairs.
• 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.
• After appropriate training, to be able to use a range of audio & digital equipment and information technology to research, write, assemble, edit and deliver programmes in the appropriate medium, to the highest professional standards.
• After appropriate training, file TV reports in Hausa and English.
• All multi-media broadcast journalists may be required to travel outside Nigeria on reporting trips and assignments.
• All multi-media broadcast journalists may be required to work with or move to other programme teams on a multi-media and multi-lingual basis and to have the ability to work across a range of skills and in a flexible manner, and to carry out these responsibilities in accordance with BBC Values and the BBC’s overall standards.

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Skills

• An excellent broadcasting voice and the ability to acquire an appropriate presentation style.
• Ability to write, adapt and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of media.
• Ability to also write for different media platforms in Hausa and English.
• Good keyboard/computer skills and technically adept. Practical experience and extensive knowledge of the internet and an understanding of the potential of digital and social media is essential.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Proven recent and relevant experience as a journalist.

Knowledge and Experience:

• An outstanding command and up to date knowledge of Hausa language (first or equivalent).
• An excellent knowledge of English including complete comprehension of written and spoken English and the ability to communicate and write effectively.
• Wide and up to date familiarity with the area/s to which the Hausa Service broadcasts and an in-depth understanding of the areas history, politics, social issues and culture as well as the changing needs of the audience. An extensive knowledge of the media situation in the target area and the way it is developing.
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of African news and current affairs. A good knowledge of and interest in international and British current affairs, particularly insofar as they affect the target area/s.
• Knowledge of the aims, objectives and standards of the BBC World Service.
• Demonstrable interest in and experience of social media.

Desirable:

• A working knowledge of Igbo, Yoruba, Pidgin, French or Arabic.

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.
• 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, set backs 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.