Senior Journalist

Job Description & Requirements

Job Purpose

You will be joining a bureau which produces BBC News' primetime Asia morning programs, Newsday and Business Today. Your primary responsibilities will be for Newsday, working within the News channel team.

The goal is to make authoritative, engaging and innovative programs, involving a wide range of stories that would engage audiences around the world and be of particular relevance to those in Asia. It may also involve outside broadcasts.

Main Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Asia News Editor to produce a program that sets the morning news agenda for Asia.
• Ensure program output is of the highest editorial and production quality.
• Creatively plan content, graphics and guests to create an authoritative and engaging program across a wide range of topics.
• Exercise editorial judgement in developing story ideas and producing accurate and impartial journalism.
• Research and write stories, checking factual details; including undertaking background research as required and obtaining further information from all sources, including UGC and social media.
• Commission graphics and source video elements to ensure a compelling broadcast.
• Identify and plan coverage of upcoming stories, offering creative suggestions to enhance the output.
• Suggest interviewees and ideas, book guests, prepare briefing notes for presenters and organize logistics (line bookings, meet & greets, studios, etc).
• Liaise with correspondents across Asia and other regions as needed.
• Liaise and coordinate content with digital teams as and when needed.
• Work across a range of skills on different programs and/or platforms in a flexible manner to BBC standards and values. This includes working early morning hours.
• Field produce business stories, including story packages, interviews and live reports.

Requirements

• A self-starter who takes ownership and responsibility.
• Experienced in live television production. A thorough understanding of the television production process.
• Knowledge of international and current affairs, particularly in Asia Pacific, and excellent news judgement.
• Demonstrated ability to write and book engaging and relevant guests.
• Proven ability to work successfully and in a collaborative manner with a small and diverse team.
• Ability to work under pressure in a calm and professional manner.
• Proven experience in using social media and digital platforms to source story ideas, guests, etc.
• Experience, Skills and Abilities
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with news and current affairs in Asia.
• Fluency in a regional language is an advantage.
• Significant recent experience as a journalist, preferably in live television broadcasting. Ability to plan and output, including selecting stories and deciding on treatment based on strong editorial judgement.
• Good knowledge of television production processes and the ability to adapt to new technologies and media. An understanding of the main production methods of BBC News.
• Strong skills in writing television copy as well as in preparing briefing notes for presenters and producers.
• A keen ability to make sound editorial decisions quickly and independently.
• Creative storyteller who is full of ideas on stories, treatments and production elements to create an engaging program.
• Proven ability to book top level guests.
• Ability to work well under tight deadlines and in a high-pressure live television environment.
• Good understanding of the requirements and potential of interactive media, social media and user generated content, and of different digital platforms and devices and their core audiences
• Ability to produce interesting and engaging cross-platform video pieces making use of appropriate video/TV production techniques.
• Experience in liaising with correspondents, producers and freelancers who contribute to the program.
• Demonstrated experience in fact-checking and conducting background research on stories.
• Ability to build relationships and establish rapport with key people; producers, presenters, crew, guests, sources, PR professionals.
• High level of interpersonal and communication skills, especially working in a multi-cultural environment. Strong team-working skills needed - must be able to work collaboratively in an environment where news is constantly changing.
• Thorough understanding of the BBC Editorial Guidelines and commitment to the editorial aims of BBC News.
• Proven commitment to equality and diversity and the maintenance of health and safety standards.
• Competencies
• Imagination / 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.
• Planning and Organising Is able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources requirements.
• Resilience Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.
• Influencing and Persuading Ability to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others. Can draw from a range of strategies to persuade people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change.
• Managing Relationships and Team working Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people. Works cooperatively with others to be part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively.
• Editorial Judgement Makes the right editorial and policy decisions based upon a clear understanding of the BBC's distinctive news agenda, the requirements of news and current affairs coverage as well as those of the programme departments.