Senior Journalist Reporter, BBC Urdu

Job Requisition ID: 29197

Job Closing Date: 13 October 2025

Islamabad, PAK, 44000

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: D
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: BBC News
LOCATION: Islamabad, Pakistan

Any offer of employment with the BBC will conditional upon you having the right to work in Pakistan.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Are you a compelling storyteller with sharp editorial instincts and the ability to generate original story ideas under pressure? BBC News Urdu is seeking a Senior Journalist Reporter to join its dynamic team in Islamabad. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a globally renowned newsroom known for its distinctive, high-impact journalism. You’ll play a key role in reaching and engaging new audiences through original, agenda-setting stories across digital and social media platforms.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

Joining BBC News Urdu means becoming part of one of the world’s most respected news organisations, committed to journalistic excellence. This role offers the chance to report on original and impactful stories from across Pakistan for BBC Urdu’s diverse platforms, serving millions of Urdu-speaking audiences. You’ll thrive in a collaborative, professional environment that values integrity, diversity, and innovation—while growing your skills and advancing your career.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

Break impactful stories – Uncover and develop original journalism that resonates with audiences and influences the news agenda.
Produce engaging content – Create compelling news and feature stories for digital and social platforms, using creativity to bring content to life.
Work across platforms – Report, write, script, and produce video and text stories from Islamabad and across Pakistan for BBC Urdu’s social media and website, as well as contribute to wider BBC outlets.
Live reporting – Present live reports on digital and linear platforms with clarity and confidence to inform and engage audiences.
Produce in-depth features – Report and develop insightful stories that go beyond daily news, offering deeper context and analysis across platforms.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Strong Editorial Judgment: Proven ability to produce accurate, impartial, and impactful journalism, with a track record of shaping the news agenda through original reporting.
Bilingual Proficiency: Fluent in both written and spoken Urdu and English, with the ability to write quickly under pressure and present confidently on camera in both languages.
Storytelling Expertise: Skilled in telling complex, challenging stories that set BBC Urdu apart, with a clear understanding of what makes content engaging and impactful across platforms.
Regional Insight & Access: Deep knowledge of Pakistan and South Asia, with the ability to secure exclusive story leads, sources, and access to hard-to-reach areas.
Digital & Mobile Journalism Skills: Competent in Mobile Journalism, including basic filming and editing, and experienced in creating content tailored for diverse audiences.

If you bring these skills and experiences—or have transferable strengths that align with this role—we encourage you to apply and become part of our mission to deliver trusted journalism.

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]