Journalist – Commercial Archive

This role is primarily creating content for BBC.COM and supporting other editorial initiatives as instructed.

Job Requisition ID: 38720

Job Closing Date: 09/03/2026

London, GBR, W12 7FA

JOB DETAILS

Job Reference: 38720

Band: C

Job Type: Fixed-Term Contract (12 months)

Salary: Up to £40, 000 + London Weighting (£5,441) – depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

Location: Office Base is London, Television Centre. This is a hybrid role and the successful candidate will balance office working with home working.

WE ARE BBC STUDIOS

A globally renowned media company borne of the BBC. We make and distribute the world’s most sought-after TV, audio and digital content.

Our ambition is to be the home of the most powerful, entertaining, and inspiring stories for people all around the world.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

This role is primarily creating content for BBC.COM and supporting other editorial initiatives as instructed. The core activity will be researching, writing and producing the weekly BBC In History content for the Culture Section of BBC.COM.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM?

The BBC’s Group Archives are a unique asset and at the heart of many commercial opportunities for BBC Studios. The Commercial archive team works across the business, and with partners Public Service, to make sure the archive is being exploited to full effect across the portfolio.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT :

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.
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. Use a range of video, audio and digital equipment and information technology to research, write, assemble, edit and deliver content in the appropriate medium, to the highest professional standards.
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 archive treatments for different audiences ensuring that the output reflects the audiences we serve.
To prioritise and plan activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources available.
To produce engaging packages through a range of production skills.
Delivering to tight deadlines while maintaining the highest editorial standards.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Significant recent experience as a journalist, with a good knowledge of production techniques.
Strong archive research skills, including a thorough knowledge of BBC archives and research systems.
Detailed understanding of BBC editorial policy and how it is applied to archive reuse.
Strong understanding of copyright law and clearance processes.
Ability to use technology as required, in order to gather material for broadcast and able to adapt to new technology and systems with ease.
Ability to create compelling, nostalgia driven storytelling through knowledge of target audiences and their needs and expectations.

DESIRED NOT REQUIRED :

An understanding of how new technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence, can create new opportunities in how the archive is exploited.
Understands how a team works effectively and experience of working without direct supervision.
Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people.
Effective planning and organising skills, ability to concentrate on several areas of work at one time, delivering consistently to deadlines and reacting positively to changes and conflicting priorities.
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.
The flexibility and adaptability to sustain performance, particularly under pressure to meet deadlines and changing priorities and circumstances.

NEXT STEPS

We appreciate your interest in this position and understand how important this opportunity is to you. Due to the high volume of interest we may need to close the application period earlier than anticipated. This step is necessary to ensure we can provide a high level of attention and service to all applicants. Thank you for your understanding.

#BBCSTUDIOS

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Redeployment

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.