Journalist, Newsday
We are recruiting a Journalist who will have a crucial part to play on the Newsday team.
JOB DETAILS
JOB BAND: C
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: BBC World Service
LOCATION: Nairobi
Local terms and conditions
This work-from-office job is based in Nairobi and highly qualified candidates living outside Kenya are encouraged to apply. We can offer the BBC’s standard Relocation Package to the successful candidate who might need to relocate to Kenya.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
We are recruiting a Journalist who will have a crucial part to play on the Newsday team. You’ll work on original and forward planning stories or special programmes that make an impact on air, on digital and around the BBC.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
Newsday is effectively the BBC World Service’s flagship breakfast programme and one of the world’s biggest radio news shows. It is the most listened-to programme on the BBC World Service English network. The programme now has a production and presentation team based in Nairobi, working closely with the existing team in London. This reflects Newsday’s ambition to bring the programme closer to key audiences in Africa, where it has its largest listenership. Newsday is a truly global programme with a worldwide audience. Alongside its strong reach across Africa, it also has a significant audience in the United States, broadcasting on more than 500 partner stations. Broadcasting live for three hours each day, Newsday aims to be the essential guide to the day’s main global news stories and talking points. The programme regularly interviews leading newsmakers, generating headlines and news lines that are picked up across the BBC and wider media landscape. Newsday is broadcast live Monday to Friday from 0500 to 0800 (London). Staff based in London work a regular shift pattern from Sunday to Friday. This role, based in Nairobi, involves shift working, including early mornings.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:
• Suggest creative story ideas and treatments every day for the programme and also other BBC platforms – and have a proven track record of delivering these.
• Understand which guests will best serve a story and know how to secure their participation.
• Have a strong understanding of World Service target audiences, including how to engage younger listeners and women audiences, which are a strategic priority.
• Write in English creatively, clearly and concisely in an engaging manner, which is suitable for broadcast on Newsday, as well as for digital content and BBC News online
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
• Knowledge of international news and current affairs: Substantial understanding of international news and current affairs, with the ability to demonstrate insight into key global stories and issues, especially those that matter most to our biggest audience in Africa.
• Live broadcasting: Demonstrable knowledge and experience of working in a live and daily news environment, including working on breaking news.
• Journalism and creativity: Strong evidence of identifying original stories and bringing them to life through imaginative storytelling and innovative production techniques. Demonstrable experience of high-quality writing for broadcast and digital platforms.
• Digital impact: The ability to create digital assets using audio, video, or stills – including how to share stories with the widest possible audiences through social media.
• Teamwork: Demonstrable experience of collaborating with colleagues across different programmes, teams, or departments to maximise the impact and originality of output. A proven ability to be an inclusive and supportive team player, with a clear willingness to work collaboratively and contribute positively to shared goals.
