Senior Journalist (Reporter), BBC (Islamabad)
BBC World Service is an international news provider, part of BBC News, delivering a wide range of language and regional services on digital, TV and radio. It reaches a weekly audience of around 364 million around the world, helping them make sense of the world we live in.
BBC’s Indian Languages and BBC News Urdu brings quality, impartial, original journalism to Indian audiences in India, Urdu speaking audiences in Pakistan and around the world on digital.
Main Responsibilities
• The Senior Journalist (Reporter) will generate content ideas and creative treatments for digital, TV and social platforms for the Indian audiences in India and for Urdu-speaking audiences in Pakistan
• To use editorial judgement, creativity and flair to produce original and compelling content in text, audio, TV/video
• May be required to present news and current affairs content for the website, TV and social media platforms – this may be live or recorded
• Work with Video Journalists as appropriate to research, storyboard, report, present, write, translate, edit and adapt stories or programme material for online and TV audiences
• Use knowledge of social trends in Pakistan to make informed decisions on upcoming stories
• Work with graphic designers to produce creative and original graphics sequences
• Responsible for thinking through and around editorial problems, developing realistic alternative strategies and approaches
• Ensure that BBC Editorial guidelines and all relevant legal, contractual and copyright requirements are met, referring up in cases of difficulty or doubt
• To have appropriate understanding of budgets and be responsible for efficient use of allocated resources
• Delivering to tight deadlines while maintaining the highest editorial standards
• At all times to carry out duties in accordance with the BBC health and safety policy
• Ability to work flexibly including early/late shifts, weekends and public holidays as well as the ability to travel at short notice
Are you the right candidate?
• Significant recent experience of journalism about Pakistan, understanding of India’s geopolitical and cultural domain, global news and current affairs
• A full command and up to date knowledge of written and spoken Urdu as first (or equivalent) language as well as complete comprehension of written and spoken English and the ability to communicate effectively. Additional spoken fluency in Hindi and/or Punjabi is desirable though not mandatory
• A high standard of editorial judgment, writing ability and production skills based on substantial journalism experience
• Demonstrable knowledge of Pakistan and Asia affairs and the ability to lead the production of impactful original digital and TV content as well as the coverage of major breaking news
• To be able to write quickly, clearly and engagingly and sub-edit or rework scripts in English and Urdu that can be used by all platforms. Ability to produce and present content in English would be an advantage
• Maximises opportunities offered by existing and emerging technologies to their fullest extent
• Knowledge of data analytics and experience of using it to shape content and meet the needs of different audience groups
• Experience of commissioning, editing, structuring and writing sharp, engaging news and current affairs in a range of digital and TV formats and generating ideas to reach wider audiences
• A successful track record of working in a digital and TV production environment with demonstrable experience in social media and interactivity
• A clear understanding of the needs and profile of the target audience and the ability to translate these into imaginative and compelling content solutions in text, video and social
• Familiarity with the BBC editorial policy and practice, and of the laws relating to journalism, including copyright
• Ability to identify potential stories through social media platforms and lead the production of engaging content
• Demonstrable experience of working productively and collaboratively. Able to agree clear roles and responsibilities with their colleagues
• The flexibility and adaptability to sustain performance, particularly under pressure to meet deadlines and changing priorities and circumstances
• An understanding of health and safety procedures and how they apply to our output
Job Package
Job Title: Senior Journalist (Reporter) – Islamabad
Job Reference: 20423
Band: D
Contract type: Permanent role – local terms and conditions apply
Location: Office Base is Islamabad, Pakistan
Final date to apply: Wednesday 28th May 2025
Any offer of employment with the BBC will be conditional upon you having the right to work in Pakistan.
We’re happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.
Excellent career progression – the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
Unrivalled training and development opportunities – our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.
Benefits – We offer a negotiable salary package and a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance. You can find out more about working at the BBC by selecting this link to our candidate pack.
If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process please contact the [email protected]. For any general queries, please contact: [email protected].
About the BBC
We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviours here.
Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual’s unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please click here.
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.
