Fresh Jobs at BBC

BBC Pidgin digital service aims to deliver our journalism in a lively and engaging fashion, with a focus on creating impact, interactivity and the promotion of content on social media and across all platforms. As one of our Journalists you’ll have a crucial role in increase BBC Pidgin’s time spent on the website and on social with the audience.
By joining BBC Pidgin, you’ll be a part of the team, including Yoruba and Igbo, which serve our audiences in Nigeria and West Africa. You will be based in Abuja, working alongside our operation in Abuja from where the BBC currently produces its Hausa service output. There is a strong emphasis on reaching and connecting with young audiences.

We are now looking for a creative and versatile journalist who is a passionate evangelist of digital storytelling to serve as BBC Pidgin’s reporter in Abuja. 

Main Responsibilities

• Use a range of video, audio and digital equipment and information technology to research, write, assemble, edit and deliver outputs in the appropriate medium, to the highest professional standards. 
• May be required to present the content on radio, TV or online. This might be live or recorded. 
• May include the production and presentation of programmes. This might be live or recorded. 
• Exercise editorial judgment in developing story ideas and producing accurate and impartial journalism. 
• To undertake pre- and post-production and studio work, live and pre-recorded. 
• To liaise closely with other team members and with other departments in the BBC, to ensure that output material is shared, duplication is avoided, and best practice is upheld. 
• Take a lead within a team setting or on delivering a specific piece of journalism or project as appropriate. 
• To tailor different news treatments for different audiences ensuring that the output reflects the audiences we serve. 
• To produce engaging packages through a range of production skills. 
• Delivering to tight deadlines while maintaining the highest editorial standards. 
• At all times to carry out duties in accordance with the BBC health and safety policy.

Are you the right candidate?

To be successful in this role, candidates must demonstrate the following:

• Significant recent experience as a journalist, with a good knowledge of production techniques.
• Must be fluent in Pidgin and English.
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of the BBC’s distinctive news agenda, the requirements of news and current affairs coverage and the audience.
•  A willingness to understand and adopt BBC Editorial Guidelines (especially as regards conflict of interest and impartiality) and to abide by BBC Values.
• Ability to use technology as required, in order to gather material for broadcast.
• Understands how a team works effectively.

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Main Responsibilities

You will take full editorial responsibility for the timely delivery of daily output. Reporting to the Editor, your main responsibilities will include: leading on the production, creative and timely distribution of all digital content, videos, and innovative editorial projects to serve our Pidgin audiences. The SJ will also bear in mind the need to adhere to the BBC's editorial guidelines and objectives.
In addition, you will be responsible for coming up with creative and innovative ways of developing, pitching and telling stories through text and video.

You must have work authorisation for Nigeria.

Are you the right candidate?

Required skills and experience include:

• Fluency and up to date knowledge of Pidgin and the ability to type quickly and accurately.
• Fluency in English, written and spoken English and the ability to communicate effectively.
• A demonstrable track record of growing social media platforms and engaging with audiences.
• A deep understanding of Search Engine Optimization.
• Familiarity with digital news production on websites and social media platforms.
• A willingness to learn to operate new technology systems and to be able to adapt to different working methods.
• Ability to mentor, lead and inspire journalists to bring out the best in them.
• Decent experience with presentation of live and recorded programs.
• A willingness to understand and adopt BBC Editorial Guidelines (especially as regards conflict of interest) and to abide by BBC Values.

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Job Purpose

• As a BBC Journalist you will work creatively across all digital platforms – audio, video and text – to ensure that the Igbo Service output develops and grows a distinctive character and status in its target area.
• On a daily basis, you will engage actively with the audience ensuring consistency of output. You will be required occasionally to do field reporting as required.
• Shift work will be required which will include early mornings, late nights, weekends and public holidays.
• To create bespoke optimized content including social media posts, reports, compilations, interviews, discussions, 'explainers', features video, photos, infographics and other editorial content for social media networks and on all BBC Igbo platforms.
• To ensure that any output material for which the post holder is responsible meets the standards required by the BBC.

Main Responsibilities

• Work with other members of the Igbo and Nigeria team, and the wider BBC Africa newsroom, to identify and produce creative and innovative audio, text and video news content.
• To originate innovative formats for BBC Igbo social media posts best suited for each social network, including Facebook and Instagram and optimize these formats using social analytics and then champion the use of successful formats across the team.
• Re-version BBC material with a mobile audience in mind.
• To create multimedia content for publication on social media and the BBC Igbo mobile audiences, as appropriate and to the required specification whilst maintaining professional journalistic standards of accuracy, impartiality and adhering to the BBC's Editorial guidelines.
• Research, storyboard and produce stories.
• Create headlines and video teasers to promote our stories and reach to as wide an audience as possible.
• To show visual creativity in the use of pictures and graphics to illustrate and explain fast-moving events and complex stories.
• Create headlines and video teasers to promote our stories and reach to as wide an audience as possible.
• Contribute ideas and angles to meetings on how to cover the main news of the day.
• To show visual creativity in the use of pictures and graphics to illustrate and explain fast-moving events and complex stories.
• You may be required to travel off base on short reporting trips and assignments.
• To experiment with emerging tools and platforms.
• Working to short deadlines for breaking and developing stories.
• All staff may be required to work with or move to other teams, 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 the BBC’s overall standards and values.
• The job holder will be expected to work and think collaboratively at all times - both within World Service and across the wider BBC.

Are you the right candidate?

• A full command and up to date knowledge of written and spoken Igbo
• In depth understanding of digital and social platforms - the BBC’s and others - and the different ways audiences are consuming news in Africa
• A strong journalistic track record with knowledge of Africa and African affairs.
• Experience in digital journalism content production and audience engagement.
• Ability to work well with other producers, reporters and teams.
• Wide and up to date familiarity with the area/s to which the Service broadcasts including Africa , Nigeria and West African affairs and an in-depth understanding of the area/s 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.
• Proven editorial judgment and flair, able to make sound decisions quickly.
• Knowledge of the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and commitment to the editorial aims of BBC News.
• Must be able to work well and calmly in a live newsroom environment; handle a rapidly changing news agenda, and have the temperament to enjoy the process.
• Must be able to demonstrate sense of visual awareness as well as technical aptitude.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety policies and practices.