The role of Senior Correspondent, Africa at BBC World Service is a pivotal journalistic position based in Nairobi, dedicated to delivering exceptional news coverage, speech, and discussion across analogue, digital, and social platforms to both African and global audiences. The correspondent is expected to operate at a high editorial level, focusing on major stories and breaking news from the region, often involving complex editorial and hostile environments.
Qualifications and Experience
Successful candidates must demonstrate a strong journalistic track record and possess specific skills and attributes:
- Education: A minimum of a BA/BSc/HND qualification.
- Journalistic Record: A high level of editorial awareness and judgment, supported by a strong journalistic record.
- Editorial Expertise: Excellent news judgment, with proven ability to manage complex editorial and legal issues.
- Senior Experience: Extensive experience working at a senior level on major stories and breaking news events.
- Hostile Environment Experience: Demonstrable experience working effectively and safely in a hostile environment.
- Audience Insight: An excellent understanding of various BBC programmes, services, and their diverse audiences, recognizing the audience challenges facing the BBC.
- Digital Proficiency: A clear and impressive understanding of digital media, with a demonstrable track record of delivering compelling journalism through online writing, social media, and digital videos.
Core Abilities
The Senior Correspondent will be expected to:
- Reporting: Utilize proven written and broadcast skills, enabling the delivery of authoritative reports whether from location, the newsroom, or the studio.
- Communication & Clarity: Present and explain complex information and ideas in an accessible manner, utilizing a variety of styles and techniques appropriate for the target audience.
- Innovation: Possess a strong capacity to innovate with digital journalism, actively experimenting with ideas for compelling digital videos and social media content, and confidently helping the BBC to adapt its news and analysis delivery to new audiences.
- Expertise: Develop in-depth knowledge of particular subjects pertinent to the continent and use that knowledge to offer crucial insight and perspective.
- Collaboration: Build and maintain strong working relationships internally across teams and externally with relevant contacts.
- Diversity Commitment: Demonstrate a commitment to enhancing the diversity of the BBC’s coverage, ensuring representation of all audiences and points of view.
- Work Management: Prioritize and plan activities effectively, taking into account deadlines and resource constraints.
- Resilience: Provide high-quality journalism consistently, particularly when operating under pressure, meeting tight deadlines, and dealing with changing priorities.
- Safety: Adhere strictly to BBC safety requirements and instructions, especially in relation to emergencies, and report any accidents, dangerous situations, or defects in safety arrangements.
