Senior Journalist, Focus on Africa TV at BBC

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• We are looking for a highly successful Senior Journalist to supervise the production and outputting of the Focus on Africa TV programme as well as its digital livestreams and assets and, whenever necessary, the radio/podcast output. You 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 a good understanding of our audience needs.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

Focus on Africa is the BBC’s flagship news and current affairs programme for our audiences in Africa and those interested in African stories across the world. The programme, across TV, radio and digital platforms, aims to provide a comprehensive view of the diverse experiences, cultures, and challenges facing African nations and their people. This includes engaging stories on politics, economics, environment, health, and social issues, along with highlighting achievements and innovations within Africa.
Focus on Africa aims to bridge the gap between African societies and global audiences, offering a platform for voices that often go unheard. The programme seeks to foster understanding, promote dialogue, and celebrate the richness of African life by presenting high-quality journalism that motivates, educates, and informs viewers.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Lead and oversee the planning, development, and production of engaging segments and features for Focus on Africa, ensuring content is accurate, relevant, and visually compelling.
• Collaborate with journalists, researchers, correspondents, and contributors to identify and produce dynamic stories that reflect the experiences and concerns of African audiences, building and maintaining diverse contact lists.
• Mentor, guide, and support staff through feedback and development, fostering a creative, innovative, and high‑performing production team, and deputise for the Assistant Editor when required.
• Ensure all content meets BBC editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, and impartiality, reviewing and approving scripts and video packages in line with the editorial strategy.
• Oversee the digital presence of Focus on Africa, including podcasts, social media, and audience engagement initiatives, using audience insights, analytics, and market research to maximise reach and impact.
• Identify new opportunities for digital expansion and cross‑platform storytelling, coordinating with BBC departments and international bureaux to enhance coverage and collaboration.
• Seek ways to increase diversity within the workforce and ensure output reflects and serves the audiences we reach.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Strong track record in producing or commissioning original, in‑depth stories across daily TV news bulletins, current affairs programmes, and digital and streaming offers.
• Proven experience working effectively in a fast‑paced breaking news environment, alongside a deep understanding of Africa and global affairs, including sport, entertainment, and wider cultural life.
• Demonstrable ability to lead and manage collaborative editorial teams, including delegating effectively, developing less experienced team members, and driving cross‑team collaboration.
• Extensive editorial expertise, including subbing and writing creatively in English, editing video, handling complex legal and editorial policy issues, and preparing well‑researched content for broadcast.
• Strong digital capability, with experience producing impactful digital content including podcasts, applying data and visual journalism, and using social media best practice to reach new audiences.