Bilingual Reporter Job Vacancy at BBC Africa, October 2014

BBC Africa - BBC News brings together Network News, English Regions and the World Service Group’s English and Language Services to serve a large variety of audiences in the UK and around the world on many platforms.

At the heart of this structure, BBC Newsgathering provides news reports, pictures and audio material to all BBC News programmes and services - both in the UK and internationally - in English and other languages. This content is of the highest possible editorial and technical standard, which in turn provides the best value for money for BBC audiences around the world. BBC Newsgathering has to ensure that in the face of increasing competition, BBC News is the world leader in newsgathering and is at the forefront of both its editorial coverage and technological innovation in broadcasting and digital services.

The BBC Africa is looking for interested/motivated candidates to join the Team as:

Job Title: Bilingual Reporter

Job Reference: BBC/TP/139984/9645
Locations: Abuja and Lagos
Contract Type: Permanent -Full Time

Job Description

Context:

• Nigeria is now the largest economy in Africa and Lagos is the largest city in Africa by population. Its importance for the BBC in audience terms cannot be overstated both in Hausa and in English. In news terms the Boko Haram insurgency continues to threaten the north-east of the country and dominate the headlines. And this comes as the country heads towards a vital Presidential election next year. Yet Nigeria is also the home to one of the most vibrant arts and media scenes in Africa and the human stories from such a huge and growing population just keep pressing to be told.

• You will provide quality, informative programmes and reports in English and Hausa for BBC Television, Radio and Online News programmes.
• You will report to the Africa Bureaux Editor and the Africa TV Editor liaising with the Editor, BBC Hausa Service, the BBC's local Bureau Editor and Assignment Editors in London. You will report on all aspects of national political, economic and cultural life in Nigeria and West Africa and potentially travelling across the region.
• You will stay well briefed on the region in order to report and comment with authority, reporting in both Hausa and English.

• To provide expert coverage of news and events within Nigeria and relations with her neighbours and the wider world.
• To report live from breaking stories, for different areas of output as well as from planned events.
• Interviewing and reporting, preparing and voicing reports for broadcast.
• To provide programme material dealing with the geographical area.
• To come up with good newsworthy stories and creative story treatments for different platforms.
• To accurately dissect, analyse and contextualise an event or story or situation.
• To translate complex material into its most simple form and tailor it for the relevant audience.
• To build strong relationships with relevant programme teams and crews.
• To provide material for online and social media, and radio and TV news bulletins.
• To originate and sell story ideas to the relevant News Planning Units.
• To write and produce finely-crafted, imaginative packages and reports for all BBC outlets.
• To broadcast clearly and calmly, professional and entertaining news stories that are of value to UK, local and international audiences.
• To develop a wide range of contacts and contributors to ensure the widest range of information as possible.

• To advise and brief editorial/production colleagues, both in London and in the field, on relevant topics and events.
• To work closely with the Africa TV Editor, the Editor, BBC Hausa Service and Bureau Editor and other regional colleagues.
• To contribute as required to a range of editorial discussions and programme reviews aimed at optimising BBC News coverage of world events.

• To be responsible editorially in the field for the work of ENG crews.

• To ensure the BBC's Editorial Guidelines are met within the role’s own local team.
• To contribute to the overall management and editorial policies/strategies of the Newsgathering operation.

• To follow BBC safety requirements and instructions, especially in relation to emergencies; and to report any accidents, dangerous situations or defects in safety arrangements.
• To work within the budget set by Africa TV and Newsgathering.

• Substantive experience as a Reporter/Journalist including reporting assignments abroad.
• Experience of reporting on live/breaking news.
• Knowledge of the key editorial and audience priorities for the range of global and UK output.
• Sound knowledge of Nigeria including political, economic and security developments in the region.
• A thorough understanding of the range of platforms and formats.
• Experience in managing people.
• A high level of editorial awareness and judgement.
• Diversity, reaching new audiences, multi skilling, health and safety and the ability to put these policies into practice
• A thorough knowledge of the BBC's Editorial Guidelines.
• A highly developed news and current affairs judgement.
• A thorough understanding of the output of BBC News in English and Hausa..

• An excellent level of spoken and written and broadcast English and Hausa.
• Ability to originate programme ideas.
• Possession of the specific skills, in writing, recording, editing, interviewing, reporting and presenting required for this job; this involves providing radio and television material in a variety of forms, working live to air and producing different types of digital content in text, video and stills.
• Ability to work alone and in teams.
• Ability to build relationships/rapport with a variety of key people e.g. guests, contributors, camera operators and influence them where necessary.
• Ability to negotiate/exercise diplomacy with people where necessary.

• Editorial Judgement: Makes the right editorial and policy decisions based upon a clear understanding of the BBCs distinctive news agenda, the requirements of news and current affairs coverage as well as those of the programme departments.
• Decision Making: Is ready and able to take initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of decisions.
• Influencing Others: Presents sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others. Draws from a range of strategies to persuade people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change.
• Motivation/drive: Constantly seeks to do things better through setting more challenging goals. Is prepared to question the current way of doing things and take risks in pursuit of excellence.
• Flexibility: Adapts to changing circumstances and displays a positive attitude to the process of change.
• Creative Thinking: Translates news and current affairs into high quality programming through a detailed understanding of the requirements of the broadcast media and possession of the necessary writing, directing and reporting skills.
• Subject Knowledge: Demonstrates an expanding knowledge of news and current events in general and specific areas of expertise in particular, including language skills. Develops increasingly useful and exclusive sources of information.
• Analytical Skills: Simplifies complex problems, processes or projects. Identifies casual relationships and constructs frameworks for problem-solving and/or development.