Assistant Editor, Newsbeat

BBC; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 63,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading broadcasting company in Birmingham is seeking an Assistant Editor to deliver innovative multimedia output for 15-24 year-olds. The role involves strong editorial leadership, shaping news coverage, and managing a creative team. Ideal candidates will have substantial journalistic experience, substantial radio skills, and a clear understanding of engaging young audiences. This part-time role offers a competitive salary and valuable experience in a dynamic newsroom.

Qualifications

• Strong editorial judgment and the ability to respond quickly to breaking news.
• Experience managing a team, inspiring creative storytelling.
• Understanding of how to engage the 15-24 audience.

Responsibilities

• Shape daily news coverage and support planning.
• Oversee all aspects of output and manage production budgets.
• Drive strategic objectives of BBC News.

Skills

Strong editorial judgment

Journalistic experience at senior level

Substantial radio skills

Team management

Understanding of Newsbeat audience

Job description

JOB DETAILS
JOB BAND: E
CONTRACT TYPE: x1 Part-time FTC/Attachment, 12 months (17.5 hours per week)
DEPARTMENT: News and Current Affairs, Live and Daily News, Newsbeat
LOCATION: The Mailbox, Birmingham
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £52,300-£62,300 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
Interviews will be held on Wednesday 26 November, in Birmingham.

Purpose of the Role

Assistant Editors at Newsbeat take responsibility for delivering diverse and original multimedia output – reaching millions of 15‑24 year‑olds across the UK. The role is crucial for setting the daily news agenda through creative storytelling and upholding our standards of editorial rigour, accuracy and impartiality. In addition, Assistant Editors play a key role in leading and managing the team.

Why Join the Team

As part of a young, dynamic and creative newsroom, you will be at the forefront of the BBC’s mission to engage 15‑24 year‑olds with impartial, trusted and relevant journalism. In this role, you will have the chance to shape Newsbeat’s editorial offer – taking our reporting to new audiences in new ways, making impact across the BBC and beyond. You’ll be expected to know what matters to young, diverse audiences and come up with original ways to tell those stories. You’ll oversee making stand‑out radio for Newsbeat’s 15‑minute programmes as well as help lead our digital output with a range of writing, video and social media skills.

Your Key Responsibilities And Impact

• As an Assistant Editor you will be a key member of the management team and will provide strong editorial leadership.
• You will help shape daily news coverage, as well as supporting planning and commissioning.
• In this role, you will oversee all aspects of the output and help manage production budgets.
• You will play a key part in managing the team and will work to create an environment that brings out people’s strengths and prioritises development; providing regular feedback and assisting with appraisals.
• As an advocate for innovation, you will keep ahead of the latest developments in storytelling.
• You will take a lead role in ensuring our content reaches as many 15‑24s as possible and be an advocate for collaboration.
• You will support the development of relationships across the BBC and represent Newsbeat at internal and external meetings.
• You will support the deputy editor and the executive editor.
• You will help drive forward the strategic objectives of BBC News, while also delivering on the strategic goals of Radio 1, 1Xtra and Asian Network.

Essential Criteria

• Strong editorial judgment and journalistic experience at a senior level, with the ability to respond quickly and effectively to major stories and breaking news.
• Substantial radio skills and a strong sense of what works on radio and digitally.
• Experience of managing a team – including motivating, inspiring creative storytelling and driving forward new ways of working including leading change.
• Clear understanding of Newsbeat audience and a strong vision on how to reach our current and new audiences with distinctive and engaging journalism.
• Experience or ability to provide editorial leadership in shaping daily news coverage with a track record of supporting, driving and delivering high‑impact original journalism.

Desirable

• Audio and video production/editing.
• Clear knowledge/understanding of the strategic direction of radio with experience planning and commissioning stories.
• You will have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build, lead, motivate, challenge and develop our teams of journalists and support staff.