Senior Journalist, Focus on Africa at BBC

We are looking for a highly successful Senior Journalist to supervise the production and outputting of Focus on Africa TV program as well as its digital livestreams and assets and, whenever necessary, do the radio/podcast output. The Senior Journalist will lead a talented team to produce engaging and informative content that resonates with our global audience while reflecting the rich diversity and complexities of African stories. You will be an experienced journalist with experience of handling breaking news and rolling coverage and good understanding of our audience needs. 

Main Responsibilities

• To Lead and oversee the planning, development, and production of engaging segments and features for Focus on Africa, ensuring that content is relevant, accurate, and visually compelling
• To collaborate with journalists, researchers, and contributors to identify and produce dynamic stories that reflect the experiences and concerns of African audiences
• To mentor and guide staff, providing feedback and professional development opportunities to build a high-performing production team
• To ensure that all content adheres to BBC’s editorial standards and guidelines regarding accuracy, fairness, and impartiality
• To review and approve scripts, video packages, and online articles before publication, ensuring alignment with the overall editorial strategy
• To oversee the digital presence of Focus on Africa, including social media platforms and audience engagement initiatives and to utilize audience insights and market research to tailor content that maximizes viewer engagement and reach
• To identify new opportunities for digital expansion, utilizing analytics and audience feedback to inform strategy
• To coordinate with other BBC departments and international bureaus to source stories, enhance coverage, and collaborate on cross-platform features
• To build and maintain relationships with correspondents and contributors as needed
• To foster a culture of creativity and innovation within the team and to encourage the exploration of new formats and technologies, enhancing audience interaction and participation
• To build and maintain diverse contact lists; compile and distribute information with other members of the team
• To deputize the Assistant Editor whenever necessary 
• To seek ways to increase diversity in our workforce and to ensure that our output reflects the audiences we serve

Are you the right candidate?

• Solid track record of outputting daily TV news bulletins, current affairs programmes as well as digital and streaming offers whenever necessary
• Strong experience of coping brilliantly in a breaking news environment and have a deep understanding of Africa and the world. An understanding of sport, entertainment and wider cultural life is essential  
• Exceptional editorial judgment and a thorough understanding of the social, political, and cultural landscapes of Africa
• Proficient in production technologies and techniques, with a solid understanding of digital media platforms and trends
• Demonstrable experience producing digital content that has been impactful and reached new audiences on digital platforms and knowledge of social media best practice
• The proven ability to drive collaboration with other journalists and teams
• Ability to manage less experienced members of the team and demonstrate strong delegation skills
• Excellent spoken communication skills in English, including clarity, articulation, and the ability to convey complex ideas simply
• Ability to write creatively in English in an engaging manner as well as the ability to adapt material with accuracy, clarity and a style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of media
• Strong research abilities to prepare for broadcasts, with the capability to analyze and distill complex information for audience consumption
• An understanding of and respect for diverse cultural perspectives, enabling thoughtful engagement with various community topics and issues
• Track record of dealing with complex legal and editorial policy issues
• Experience of filming would be an advantage