Journalist, digital and social, Sydney – BBC

Job requisition ID: 52883
Closing date: 1 November 2026
Job band: C
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Department: BBC News
Location: Sydney, Australia

Any offer of employment with the BBC will be conditional on the successful candidate having the right to work in Australia.

Purpose of the role

This role involves working across the BBC’s social platforms as well as contributing journalism to the BBC News website. You will undertake a variety of tasks to help the BBC’s journalism reach and inform a broad, global audience.

You will contribute to live online coverage, write stories for the BBC News website, and produce and curate video for social platforms and the website. You will help bring the best of the BBC’s journalism to audiences across social media through creative, engaging and platform-native storytelling.

We’re looking for a flexible and adaptable journalist who is passionate about fast-paced news, with strong editorial judgement and social storytelling skills.

The role operates across a seven-day rota and will involve some weekend working.

Why join the team?

The BBC’s digital news operation in Sydney delivers high-impact journalism in text and video for the BBC News website and social platforms, covering major UK and global stories. The team helps ensure continuous global coverage and prepares the UK operation for its morning output.

You’ll be part of a dynamic team producing news and stories seen by millions of people in the UK and around the world. You will help maintain the BBC’s position as the world’s biggest news site and play a key role in its ambition to become the number one news brand on social media globally.

Key responsibilities

• Produce high-quality news stories, live pages and digital video covering major UK and global events for audiences of millions.
• Deliver accurate and engaging journalism, from breaking news in text and video to features, with strong editorial judgement, flair and context.
• Produce social-first formats for planned and breaking news coverage, identifying opportunities to reach new and underserved audiences through creative storytelling and innovative treatments across social platforms.
• Work with colleagues across BBC News to develop engaging, accurate and platform-native content for BBC News social media accounts.
• Use audience insights, platform trends and performance data to inform content decisions and storytelling and improve engagement, while maintaining a strong understanding of the UK and international news agendas.
• Apply BBC editorial standards and guidelines confidently, particularly on complex or fast-moving stories.

Essential criteria

• Experience of covering the UK and international news agendas in text and video, with familiarity with the BBC’s editorial values.
• Strong editorial judgement and the ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure in a breaking news environment.
• Experience of creating content and publishing breaking news in text, writing accurate, engaging and fast-paced journalism for digital audiences.
• Experience of producing and editing short news video clips, with a strong understanding of what makes compelling video for social platforms and the BBC News website. Experience of FinalCutPro is desirable.
• The ability to identify compelling stories, clips and moments and turn them into engaging social content, with an understanding of the different needs of major platforms including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, as well as emerging platforms.
• The ability to develop angles and approaches to the biggest stories of the day that will help reach new and diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with social listening and using search and audience data to improve storytelling and broaden coverage.
• The ability to work effectively with colleagues across multiple teams and disciplines.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, alongside transferable strengths, the BBC would like to hear from you and encourages you to apply.

Further information

This job description sets out the essential characteristics of the role, its principal responsibilities and the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. It is not intended to provide a complete and detailed account of every aspect of the role.

If you are offered the role, the BBC will carry out employment screening checks. These include reference and right-to-work checks and, where applicable to the role, safeguarding and adverse media or social media checks. Any offer will be conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges in line with the BBC’s recruitment policy. This allows the BBC to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose relevant information may result in the withdrawal of an offer.

For general queries, contact bbchr@bbc.co.uk.

Applications cannot be accepted by CV and must be made online.