Journalist, BBC Wales News

BBC Group and Public Services; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

25 days annual leave

Job summary

BBC Wales Newsdesk is seeking a journalist to help cover stories across Wales. The role focuses on writing and presenting hourly news bulletins for BBC Radio Wales, with sport and weather bulletins read by newsreaders, and opportunities to plan and report on own stories for Online, TV and Radio outlets.

You will join a close-knit, multi‑platform newsroom, with flexible working discussed at offer stage and Welsh not required but welcome. Travel is not required.

Qualifications

• Write and read hourly radio news, weather, and sports bulletins.
• Demonstrate strong editorial judgement in identifying and treating stories.
• Support breaking news coverage under tight deadlines.
• Work independently and within a multi‑platform newsroom team.
• Generate story ideas for radio, TV and online using broadcast tech confidently.

Responsibilities

• You’ll write and read radio news and weather bulletins broadcast hourly.
• You’ll provide sport bulletins as part of the news bulletin.
• You’ll contribute editorial judgement on story selection and treatment.
• You’ll collate information on developing stories and respond to breaking news.

Skills

Newsreading

Editorial judgement

Deadline pressure

Team collaboration

Story ideas

Tools

Broadcast systems

Job description

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.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• 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.

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.

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.

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

Here you will benefit from:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pensionscheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract.

Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

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

Disability confident

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: [e-mail]

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.