Journalist, BBC Wales News

BBC; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

The BBC Wales Newsdesk in Cardiff seeks a journalist to write and present hourly news bulletins for BBC Radio Wales, including sport and weather, with opportunities to plan and report on own stories across Online, TV and Radio outlets.

Join a widely skilled, close-knit team delivering high-quality news daily while contributing ideas across radio, TV and online output. This fixed-term, full-time role offers flexible-working discussions at offer and a salary range below.

Qualifications

• Write and present high-quality hourly radio news, weather, and sports bulletins.
• Demonstrate strong editorial judgement in identifying, prioritising, and treating news stories appropriately.
• Support breaking news coverage and gather information on developing stories under tight deadlines.
• Work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a multi-platform newsroom team.

Responsibilities

• Write and read radio news and weather bulletins broadcast hourly with high quality.
• Read sport bulletins as part of the news bulletin.
• Demonstrate editorial judgment in identifying stories and treatment.
• Collaborate with the Newsdesk to cover breaking stories and manage workload.

Skills

Write hourly radio news

Read weather bulletins

Editorial judgement under deadlines

Teamwork in multi-platform newsroom

Tools

Broadcast systems

Job description

JOB DETAILS

• JOB BAND: C
• CONTRACT TYPE: Attachment / Fixed-term, Full-Time Contract until 14/06/2027
• DEPARTMENT: BBC Wales Newsdesk
• LOCATION: Cardiff
• PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £28,000 - £35,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
• Welsh language skills are not necessary for this role.
• We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

As a journalist on the BBC Wales Newsdesk, you’ll play an important role in helping cover a wide range of stories across Wales. The role will mainly comprise of writing and presenting hourly news bulletins for BBC Radio Wales. Sport and weather bulletins are also read by our newsreaders – with support from our colleagues in those departments and the newsdesk. The job will also include newsgathering shifts, and the opportunity to plan, pitch and report on your own stories which could be broadcast across Online, TV and Radio outlets.

Why Join The Team

The Newsdesk team are a widely skilled, close knit team, responsible for dealing with a wide range of stories every day that end up being broadcast on Online, Radio and TV services. As a newsreader for Radio Wales, you will be part of a team responsible for delivering that news to a high quality, to the audience on a daily basis. You’ll also help deliver sport and weather news. Story ideas are always of interest, which could lead to you covering those stories across different outlets.

Your Key Responsibilities And Impact

• You’ll be able to write and read radio news and weather bulletins that are broadcast hourly to a high quality, during the week and on weekends. You will also be responsible for reading sport news bulletins as part of the news bulletin.
• You’ll show editorial judgement in knowing what stories we should be covering, and how they should be treated.
• You will be able to help the Newsdesk respond to breaking news stories, and collate information on developing stories.
• You will be able to work together in a team to divide workload on some stories, but also be able to work alone when needed.

Essential Criteria

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Write and present high-quality hourly radio news, weather, and sports bulletins.
• Demonstrate strong editorial judgement in identifying, prioritising, and treating news stories appropriately.
• Support breaking news coverage and gather information on developing stories under tight deadlines.
• Work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a multi-platform newsroom team.
• Generate story ideas and contribute across radio, TV, and online output, using broadcast systems and technology confidently.

Desired But Not Required

• Online copy writing skills.
• Welsh language skills – not required but always helpful in the BBC Wales Newsroom.
• Any story ideas you may have.

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.

In addition to the above, you will also need to write and record a 90-second news bulletin featuring a mix of Welsh, UK, and international stories, covering a range of topics to showcase your on‑air voice. You can use a mobile recording app (e.g. Voice Record 7 or other), then upload it via WeTransfer or Dropbox. Please make sure the file is accessible and is available to access at least 2 weeks after the job advert closes.

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.

For any general queries, please contact: [e-mail]

Redeployment

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.