Journalist (EXTEND)

BBC News NI is recruiting for a journalist to work in our Belfast newsroom.

Job Requisition ID: 40474

Job Closing Date: 15 March 2026

JOB DETAILS

Band: C
Contract type: Part-time (21 hours per week) for up to 12 months

Department: BBC News Northern Ireland

Location: Belfast (office based)

Salary Range: £27,600 – £33,900 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.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

BBC News NI is recruiting for a journalist to work in our Belfast newsroom. The role will initially be placed in the TV News team, though journalists may be expected to work across the newsroom and may be moved to other teams at the discretion of management.

Here at BBC News NI, we strive to maintain and encourage an inclusive environment for all our employees. We expect our values and behaviours to be embedded in all the work that we undertake. We appreciate everyone’s contribution and actively encourage diversity of thought and creativity in every aspect of our output. We seek to recruit and retain individuals from all backgrounds and from all protected characteristics who enrich our organisation.

Journalists will be required to work on digital content – on our news website and social media channels, on daily programmes – such as BBC Newsline and Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster or The Nolan Show, and in the News Content area.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

Joining the Belfast newsroom means working in a fast-paced environment where your voice shapes impactful, cross-platform news coverage.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

Writing concise and accurate news stories, cues and briefs while demonstrating the ability to exercise strong editorial judgement while under pressure, and dealing with complex editorial and legal issues.

Be passionate about news and the stories that matter to our audiences, contributing on a daily basis to the production of original journalism across platforms and teams in BBC News NI.

Ability to work on programme production, use video, audio and text editing software and be prepared to broadcast and report on air if required.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate will have: a high standard of written English, evidence of writing concise and accurate news stories, a track record of original journalism, a sound knowledge of politics, current affairs and ongoing issues in Northern Ireland, journalistic curiosity, a reputation for creative thinking, and a thorough grasp of the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and journalism law.

KEY CRITERIA

ESSENTIAL

Strong journalistic skills, a passion for news and current affairs, with a good knowledge of production techniques, and a track record of original journalism.
Ability to write news stories creatively and accurately in an engaging manner for mulit-platform audiences to tight deadlines and a strong grasp of editorial and legal issues.
Excellent communication skills and a tenacious attitude to enable effective story research, setting up case studies, interviews and filming.
Sound knowledge of politics, current affairs and ongoing issues in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and further afield.
Ability to work well across the newsroom, in a team and under own initiative.

DESIRABLE

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.
Proficient use of news software, such as Optimo, and production equipment, such as Mojo.
At least six months experience working as a journalist is desired.

If you can bring some of these skills and experiences, 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.