Journalist at BBC Media Action

Purpose of the Role

• As a social media journalist you’ll be helping shape content that inspires and informs the next generation of African audiences.
• Reporting to the Senior Journalism Team Manager, you’ll play a key role in producing impactful, multi-platform content, and being part of creative projects that connect with audiences across Africa and beyond.  
• We are looking for a motivated journalist with experience in video editing, social media analytics, writing scripts and social media posts as well as the use of tools like Canva, Emplify and Social Flow. 
• The social media team’s mission is to grow BBC Africa’s English-speaking audience by creating bespoke content across various social media platforms including YouTube, Instagram, X and Facebook. 

Key Accountabilities 

• Everything BBC Africa Social does is driven by increasing the audience reach of the English speaking audience in Africa – we go where they are and use our journalism to engage them and try to build a valuable relationship.
• We are based across London, Nairobi and Lagos and work with teams across African language services.
• This role offers the opportunity to build skills across a wide range of social production and work on the biggest news stories, with huge platforms to do so.  

Your Key Responsibilities and Impact 

• Proven track record of originating stories to engage under 25 female audiences. 
• Breaking news and producing engaging content across all social platforms, in video (short and long form), stills, and text.  
• Deliver high quality journalism to tight deadlines.  
• Exercise editorial judgment in developing story ideas and producing accurate and impartial journalism. 
• Work with colleagues from across the continent to make social-first content  
• Curating accounts daily in line with platform-specific strategy.  
• Responding to data and social listening. (Use analytics and social listening to respond to audience trends and optimise engagement. 

Your Skills and Experience – Key Criteria
Essential  

• Social-first scripting, curation and management of large social accounts.  
• Strong understanding of African current affairs and audience dynamics. 
• Skilled in social analytics to maximise the impact of our content. 
• A high standard of editorial judgment, writing ability and production skills based on substantial journalism experience. 
• Shortform vertical video editing (FCP preferable) and filming. 
• Creating visually engaging content usingCanva. 
• Demonstrable experience in originating and curating social content. 
• Desirable: Proficiency in Photoshop.

Why Join the Team

• Be part of the dynamic and innovative team at the forefront of digital storytelling for BBC Africa.
• As a journalist, you’ll be implementing strategy to engage new audiences across socials and drive them to our website.
• Help BBC Africa’s Instagram continue to grow and target under-25s, tell stories across our YouTube account, break news stories across Facebook and X - and who knows where else in the future.