News Editor, BBC Yoruba at BBC

Job Reference: BBC / TP / 623869 / 52937
Contract Type: Permanent
Job Category: Journalism
Business Unit: News - WSG World Service

Job Introduction

• BBC Yoruba is part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the world’s largest public broadcaster. In Africa, the BBC reaches a weekly audience of more than 90 million people on Radio, TV, Digital, Mobile and Social Media. We currently broadcast to Africa in English, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin, Hausa, French, Somali, Swahili, Kinyarwanda/Kirundi, Kiswahili and Arabic.
• BBC Yoruba produces a wide range of audio (BBC minute) and digital content with an emphasis on local, regional and international current affairs. Our coverage includes breaking news, sports, arts, health, business and features. We challenge decision makers to discuss the issues that affect the daily lives of Africans.
• The BBC is looking for an excellent senior journalist to be the Editor of the Yoruba Language Service to deliver a range of digital, audio and video content.

Job Purpose

• Responsible for managing a small team of Journalists, with editorial responsibility for a small programme or service.

Job Description

• Able to prioritise and plan activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing, programme budgets and resource requirements.
• Ability to write creatively in an engaging manner, adapt, produce and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of media suitable for multimedia output.
• Maintains personal effectiveness in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with demanding situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and passion.

Decision Making:

• High level of responsibility and decision making; able to operate alone.

Scope:

• Typically directly manages a group of Senior Journalists and/or a small number of Assistant Editors.
• Typically responsible for team size under 40 people.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Develop and maintain high professional standards of journalism, ensuring delivery of high quality and impactful news programmes.
• Establish the content and running order of the programme and lead others on the production of items through to transmission, including assigning, briefing and establishing priorities for operational and editorial teams.
• Continue the development of programmes across social media and digital platforms, including growing audiences on these platforms.
• Responsible for building team spirit within permanent or temporary teams; ensuring the bestMuse of individual skills. Encouraging team members to think about potential improvements.
• Sets team and individual objectives, as well as clear expectations about required performance levels, rewards success and addresses performance issues promptly and fairly, treats team members with respect.
• Seek ways to increase diversity in our workforce and to ensure that our output reflects the audiences we serve.
• Assist in the development, commissioning and management of relevant business plans and manage individual programme budgets, ensuring value for money in use of resources.
• To act as a facilitator of change, clearly communicating and distributing best practices between teams.
• Foster an environment of productive employee relations, responding to and anticipating challenges from staff, unions and audiences.
• Responsible for ensuring safe working practices and the observance of BBC’s health and safety regulations, including completing hazard assessments.

Role Responsibilities:

• You will report to the Head of West African Languages and also work closely with other senior editorial figures in BBC World Service.
• As the Editor, you will provide creative leadership and vision, to maximise the Yoruba Language Service’s impact and potential in Nigeria, taking into account the changing media conditions in the target area. You will approve content, ensuring that BBC editorial guidelines are adhered to consistently.
• You will manage teams and resources, taking responsibility for ensuring that all output is delivered creatively and on schedule. The successful candidate will have substantial experience in a senior journalistic role within a media environment.
• Fluent in Yoruba and English (written and spoken), you will have experience of delivering output on media platforms. An excellent knowledge of local, regional and international news and current affairs is essential. You will have recent experience of living in the target area, including a good understanding of the complexities of Nigeria.
• A good appreciation of the media situation in Nigeria and the wider target area, and how it is developing with the ability to anticipate changes in the market is essential. Experience of managing budgets is required.
• You must have existing right to work in Nigeria.

Knowledge, skills, training and experience
Essential:

• Either a professional journalist or a senior operational professional with extensive digital and editorial experience of broadcast news and the ability to develop and implement new and innovative approaches to programme structure and content.
• Proven editorial judgement, able to make sound decisions promptly .
• A detailed understanding of digital newsgathering and production. An ability to use new technologies to create opportunities to enhance output and improve working practices.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of more than one team. Resolving conflicts as necessary.
• Can identify a concept 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.
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC and understands how individual differences can benefit the BBC.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Fluency and up to date knowledge of Yoruba and the ability to type quickly and accurately.
• Fluency in English including complete comprehension of written and spoken English and the ability to communicate effectively.
• An ability to lead, inspire and manage a team is essential.
• Ability to grow digital and social media audiences.
• A willingness to learn to operate new technology and adapt to different working methods.
• Ability to write creatively in an engaging manner, produce and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to a young audience.
• A demonstrable experience in working in a multimedia environment and engaging audiences.
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of Nigerian, African and international current affairs.
• A good broadcasting voice and the ability to acquire the appropriate presentation style is desirable.
• A willingness to understand and adopt BBC editorial guidelines and to abide by BBC Values.
• A thorough knowledge of the aims, objectives and standards of BBC World Service and Global News.

Package Description

• Continuing contract
• Local terms and conditions apply.
• Any offer of employment with the BBC will be conditional upon you having the right to work in Nigeria.