Senior Journalist Reporter

We’re looking for a North East District Reporter who can be part of this change and help drive content with a digital focus, as well as across TV and radio.

Job Requisition ID: 44478

Job Closing Date: 24 May 2026

Belfast, GBR, BT2 8HQ

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: D

CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed-term Contract, Full-time until 31/01/2027

DEPARTMENT: BBC News

LOCATION: BELFAST

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £41,200 – £50,067 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.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

BBC News NI is in the process of transforming its news operation to make it future fit in a rapidly changing and diversifying news media climate, with digital at its heart. We’re looking for a North East District Reporter who can be part of this change and help drive content with a digital focus, as well as across TV and radio. They will work as part of the News Content team to deliver strong and authoritative original journalism. They will work closely with the Digital News team to target opportunity audiences that aren’t usually reflected across BBC NI News. They will have the ability to work independently in the field with a grasp of new technologies and an ability to adapt to different platforms to deliver original content that best suits the audience.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM
Joining the Belfast newsroom offers the chance to operate and grow in a busy and fast-paced news environment. Your work will help inform public understanding, drive important conversations across platforms, and make a real impact. It’s a dynamic environment where your voice matters and your decisions will really shape the content we offer to our audiences.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

Provide story treatments for digital as well as broadcast material for TV and radio
Generate and develop original stories that reflect the audience in the North East and engage with the audience more widely
Pitch story and treatment ideas through News Content to ensure smooth story rollout across platforms with a digital focus

Cover breaking news and be deployed as and when required
Work closely with the Audiences AE and the Growth team to find and develop stories from the patch
Come up with new ways to tell stories using developing technologies
Build a high level of self-shoot, editing skills, and stills taking

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

Extensive experience of original and innovative news content delivery
Track record of story breaking
Ability to deliver engaging written copy under pressure as well as quality broadcast material
Knowledge of news and current events, particularly in relation to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Thorough knowledge of journalism law and the Editorial Guidelines

DESIRABLE:

Ability to work collaboratively as part of a News team delivering content across multiple platforms.
Confidence using computer-based and digital technologies, with a willingness to embrace new ways of working.
Positive attitude with the ability to work effectively and independently in the field.
Experience creating authoritative and illuminating stories that inform audiences across platforms.

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.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

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.