Journalist, Digital and Social, Sydney

BBC Group and Public Services; Sydney; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits

Career development

Support in working life

Inclusive workplace

Job summary

BBC News in Sydney is seeking a journalist to work across social platforms and contribute to our global news website. You will write text stories, produce and curate video for social and the site, and help bring BBC journalism to diverse audiences.

The role involves a seven-day rota with some weekend work and requires strong editorial judgement and fast, accurate reporting. You will craft engaging, platform-tailored content, use audience trends to inform decisions, and collaborate with teams

Qualifications

• Experience covering UK and international news in text and video.
• Strong editorial judgement and ability to work quickly under pressure.
• Proven track record publishing breaking news in digital formats.
• Experience producing and editing short news video clips.
• Ability to identify compelling stories and tailor to social platforms.
• Knowledge of social listening and audience data to inform storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Produce high quality news stories and live pages for millions of viewers.
• Deliver accurate, engaging journalism across text and video.
• Create social-first formats for planned and breaking coverage.
• Collaborate with BBC News teams to craft platform-native content.
• Use audience insights to inform content decisions and engagement.
• Apply BBC standards on fast-moving stories.

Skills

Editorial judgement

Under pressure

News writing

Video editing

Social content

Social platforms

Story angles

Audience data

Collaboration

Platform-native storytelling

Tools

FinalCutPro

Job description

JOB BAND: C
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: BBC News
LOCATION: Sydney, Australia

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

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

This role will involve working across our social platforms and also contribute to the journalism on our news website. You will have a wide variety of tasks to help our news reach and inform a broad, global audience. You will contribute to live coverage online, write text stories for the news website, make and curate video for social platforms and the news website. You will help bring the best of the BBC’s journalism to audiences across social media platforms with creative, engaging and platform-native storytelling.
We’re looking for flexible and adaptable journalists passionate about fast-paced news, with strong editorial judgment and social storytelling skills. This role works across a seven-day rota and will involve some weekend working.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

Our digital news operation in Sydney has been set up to deliver high-impact journalism in text and video on site and across social platforms for the biggest UK and global stories. This team ensures continuous global coverage and prepares the UK for its morning output.
You’ll be part of a dynamic team producing news and stories seen by millions of people in the UK and around the world. You will help maintain our position as the world’s biggest news site as well as play a key role in pursuing our ambition to be the number one news brand on social globally.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Produce high quality news stories, live pages and digital video that cover major UK and global events for audiences of millions.
• Deliver accurate, engaging journalism, from breaking news stories in text and video to features, with strong editorial judgement, flair and context.
• Produce social-first formats for both planned and breaking news coverage and spot opportunities to reach new and underserved audiences through creative storytelling and innovative treatments across social platforms.
• Work with colleagues across BBC News to develop engaging, accurate and platform-native content for BBC News social media accounts.
• Use audience insights, platform trends and performance data to inform content decisions, storytelling and improve engagement, while maintaining a strong grasp of UK and international news agendas.
• Apply BBC editorial standards and guidelines confidently, particularly on complex or fast-moving stories.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Experience of covering the UK and the international news agenda in text and video and a familiarity with the BBC’s editorial values.
• Strong editorial judgement and the ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure in a breaking news environment.
• Experience of creating content and publishing breaking news in text - writing accurate, engaging and fast-paced news for digital audiences.
• Experience in producing and editing short news video clips and a sharp understanding of what makes for compelling video for social platforms and site - FinalCutPro experience is desirable.
• Ability to identify compelling stories, clips and moments and turn them into engaging social content - with an understanding of the differing needs of major social platforms including TikTok Instagram, YouTube and emerging platforms.
• The ability to come up with angles and approaches to the big stories of the day that will help us reach new and diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with social listening and using search and audience data to improve storytelling and broaden coverage.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues across multiple teams and disciplines.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, 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.

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Find out more about the BBC

Life at BBC

• Fair pay and flexible benefits specific to your location and contract type.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life.
• A values‑based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Candidate pack

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.