Journalist – EXTEND

This is an opportunity to be part of the team which makes our flagship television news show BBC South Today.

Job Requisition ID: 37759

Job Closing Date: 3rd of February 2026

Southampton, GBR, S014 7PW

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: C
CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed-term Contract, Full Time until September 2026
DEPARTMENT: BBC South
LOCATION: Southampton
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £27,600 – £33,900 per annum depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

We’re happy to discuss flexible working. If you’d like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there’s no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

BBC EXTEND

This role is advertised as part of our BBC Extend programme for disabled people. To apply for this role you should identify as deaf, disabled or neurodivergent and must meet either the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010), or the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) if applying in Northern Ireland. You’re broadly defined as disabled under both acts if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative or adverse effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. This definition includes both apparent and non-apparent conditions and impairments, and medical conditions such as Cancer, HIV or Multiple Sclerosis.

We are committed to making the process of applying for this role as accessible as possible. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the application process, or have any questions about our Extend programme, please contact [email protected].

The BBC are fully committed to providing workplace adjustments to help eliminate barriers in the workface that disabled people face. To do this, we have our own dedicated BBC Access and Disability Service that provides assessments and support throughout employment with us. If you are successful in applying for this role and require workplace adjustments, we will work with you to get your adjustments in place.

If you’d like more information on BBC Extend, please visit the BBC Extend webpage. (EXTEND code: EX2324).

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

This is an opportunity to be part of the team which makes our flagship television news show BBC South Today. Not only does that include the weeknight thirty-minute programme, but there are also bulletins throughout the day and across the weekend. You should be able to write for online, film and make video for Social platforms and provide material for audio services. From the spires of Oxford to the cliffs of the Isle of Wight, this is a region which is never short on news. We’re looking for an ambitious journalist, who is keen to ensure the BBC remains at the heart of the local conversation.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

As well as working on the daily news agenda, you will be planning and producing items that matter to our viewers. You will also have the opportunity to make your original ideas work on both our linear and digital platforms. This is a great opportunity for someone who cares about the importance of informing local and regional audiences about what impacts their lives. This role involves varied working hours, including some evening and weekend working.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

Looking after a story from concept to transmission on BBC South Today. This could include finding and researching stories, booking guests and liaising with reporters.
You’ll have the ability to exercise strong editorial judgement to tight deadlines
Excellent writing ability with a solid understanding of legal and editorial issues
Contributing on a daily basis to the production of original journalism by the BBC South news team
Creating and identifying the content that helps keep the BBC relevant in an ever-changing local news landscape
Liaising daily with teams not only in television but also in radio and our digital services in order to promote an integrated approach to our storytelling

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

Strong journalistic skills and experience of delivering news to a deadline
Understand what matters to people about their local community and beyond
Experience in filming crafting and producing concise, accurate news content
Track record of coming up with original news ideas and stories

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.

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.

For any general queries, please contact: [email protected]

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.