Senior Journalist, Washington

BBC Group and Public Services; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 122,000; Part time

Job summary

BBC News in Washington, DC is seeking a multi-skilled Senior Journalist/Producer to output channel content two days a week (Friday and Saturday). The role supports Editors and fellow journalists and involves writing, producing and editing video for live output across on-air and streaming platforms.

The position requires calm under pressure in the control room, adeptness at visual storytelling, and strong news verification.

Qualifications

• High standard of editorial judgment and production skills in broadcast journalism.
• Experience in live broadcasting and control room operations.
• Ability to write, produce and edit video for live output across platforms.

Responsibilities

• Build rundowns and produce several hours of news coverage for two days a week (Fri & Sat).
• Oversee a team of journalists booking guests and producing segments for DC programmes.
• Reimagine relationships between digital and linear news; oversee social media news gathering and storytelling.
• Create competitive live TV news programming and provide global coverage of events.

Skills

Editorial judgment

Live broadcasting

Control room experience

Social media storytelling

Visual storytelling

Team leadership

Multiplatform broadcasting

Tools

Broadcast equipment

Video editing

Job description

Washington, USA, 20036
| Washington, USA, 20036

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: D
CONTRACT TYPE: 6 month contract (at will) Job Share working 2 days per week - Friday and Saturday
DEPARTMENT: BBC News
LOCATION: Washington, USA
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: $95,000 - $122,000 annually, prorated based on hours worked and depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

Any offer of employment with the BBC will be conditional upon you having the right to live and work in the US (US citizenship, Green Card or work authorisation).

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

BBC News in Washington, DC is looking for curious, talented, multiskilled journalists to act as a Senior Journalist responsible for outputting the channel content two days a week (Friday & Saturday). The position will provide support to the News Editor, Assistant Editor, and fellow Senior Journalists, and are an integral part of a team that maximizes the content created by the BBC and is willing to think creatively to engage viewers around the globe. The Senior Journalist must thrive under pressure and understand the power of visual storytelling both on air and online, and the importance of social media as an integral part of news gathering and reporting. They are creative, curious, efficient, a problem solver and a team player. The role will also be expected to write, produce, and edit video for live output focusing on global events that define the editorial brand of the network, and make full use of the breadth of the BBC newsroom and field resources around the world.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM
The BBC is the world’s leading public broadcaster and BBC News is at the heart of it. We provide trusted news and analysis output to a global audience millions per week, making us the largest broadcast news operation in the world.
It is an exciting time right now as we have expanded our teams in North America. As part of this expansion, we are looking to recruit a Senior Producer to produce our primetime evening and weekend news coverage. Based in Washington, DC you will bring the latest in international breaking news and headlines to worldwide audiences on our news channel.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

As a Senior Producer you will be responsible for building the rundowns and producing several hours of news coverage for two days a week (Friday and Saturday) with the highest level of editorial and production standards, you will help oversee a team of Journalists who book guest and produce segments within the DC TV programmes. You will look for ways to reimagine the relationship between digital and linear news on every platform, understand the power of visual storytelling both on air and online, the essential role of social media as a means of newsgathering and sourcing stories, and the importance of transparency in every aspect of our journalism as an integral part of news verification and authenticity. You will create a competitive live TV news programme and provide comprehensive coverage of global events that define the editorial brand of the network by making full use of the breadth of the BBC newsroom and field resources around the world. You are calm under pressure in the control room, and a clear communicator. Your output will be seen on Friday and Saturday on a streaming channel that will also air on linear TV. Our Senior Producers will be based in Washington, DC and work primetime evenings and work until midnight on Friday and Saturdays.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

To be successful in this role candidates must demonstrate experience in live broadcasting with a track record in covering major news stories and events. You have live control room experience, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and breaking news without a set rundown when needed.
You are creative, curious, efficient, a problem solver, and are passionate about global news and the importance of impartiality. We are looking for somebody who will bring creativity and innovation to how we serve our audiences, on every platform, worldwide.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• A track record of having high standard of editorial judgment, writing ability and production skills based on substantial broadcast journalism experience.
• Observe and uphold the BBC’s cultural values, engaging with colleagues in a calm and respectful manner while being open to different editorial perspectives.
• Understands opportunities offered by existing and emerging technologies to their fullest extent.
• Ability to manage resources, staff, technical facilities and budgets, in order to make challenging broadcasting in the most cost effective manner.
• Thorough knowledge of world affairs, current events, geopolitics, foreign policy and history.
• Exceptional editorial, and production skills: Ability to recognize stories with high potential for provocative, compelling television.
• Ability to write creatively in an engaging manner, adapt, produce and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of media suitable for multimedia output.
• Strong control room experience with extensive experience in outputting/line producing experience.
• Strong understanding of social media storytelling and news gathering
• Detail oriented and able to work under pressure and meet multiple daily deadlines

Candidates Must be willing to work until midnight, including weekends, in Washington, DC.

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

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Life at BBC

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• Fair pay and flexible benefits specific to your location and contract type.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life.
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