Online Sport Journalist, BBC NI

Job Requisition ID: 27687

Job Closing Date: 24/08/2025

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: C
CONTRACT TYPE: Attachment / Fixed-term Contract until 30/09/2026, Part-time (10hr shift per week)
DEPARTMENT: BBC Nations, Digital Journalism
LOCATION: Belfast
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £27,600 – £33,900 pro-rata depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Are you passionate about sport in Northern Ireland? Want to help shape an improved digital service from BBC Sport We are looking for an experienced sports journalist who can play a key role in producing high quality journalism and coverage to provide a richer experience on our website and BBC Sport app for sports fans in Northern Ireland. This is a chance to join a forward-thinking team with the opportunity to be part of something exciting and impactful. You will need to be interested in all sports in Northern Ireland – Irish League football, rugby union, gaelic games, motorsport and everything in-between, have experience in a sport journalism role, be able to collaborate effectively, and have the creativity and drive to make this improved service a relevant offer for our audiences.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

At BBC Sport Northern Ireland, an online journalist is an integral part of a multi-platform department that delivers content across digital platforms, radio and television. We are building a story-led department and the successful candidate will play their part in helping us shape the future of the team. You will be part of an inclusive team that covers sport across the island of Ireland, and sometimes beyond!

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

Being part of a small team of online journalists based in Northern Ireland who deliver original journalism and cover live sporting events.
Write accurate and engaging digital copy to a high standard.
Suggest creative content ideas to the team’s senior group that will inform and entertain our audience.
Attend live sporting events across the island of Ireland and abroad where appropriate.
Collaborate with the wider BBC Sport Northern Ireland department on multi-platform stories.
Engage with and work alongside the wider BBC Sport family across the UK in Salford, Cardiff and Glasgow.
Variable shift patterns and weekend work are also features of this role.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

We need an experienced journalist with a passion for sport in Northern Ireland who has operated previously in a similar role within a digital/publishing team.
A good knowledge of content management systems is essential, as is the ability to work with multiple teams and collaborate effectively.
You should be able to write quickly, accurately and succinctly as well as have experience of generating content for a digital audience.
You will need to show evidence of excellent editorial judgement, have an understanding of digital/mobile-first journalism, and be able to demonstrate creative flair for producing engaging digital content.
The ideal candidates will also be able to display a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC and understand how individual differences can benefit the workplace and output.

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.