Journalist at BBC Swahili

Job description

JOB DETAILS JOB BAND: C CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time DEPARTMENT: BBC World Service LOCATION: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Local terms and conditions 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 BBC Swahili is one of the BBC World Service's biggest and fastest growing language services, reaching millions of Swahili speakers across East Africa and beyond. Operating across radio, TV and digital platforms, the service provides independent, impartial journalism to audiences whose access to free and trusted news is often limited by political pressure, media restrictions and disinformation. BBC Swahili is transforming into a story-led model built around two complementary editorial streams: On the Day and On Demand. WHY JOIN THE TEAM The Journalist is the core production resource of both streams. Whether working a morning, afternoon or night shift within On the Day, or contributing to planned video and podcast production within On Demand, the Journalist is expected to move fluently between platforms, formats and roles (such as writing a web article, filming a clip, voicing a radio package and publishing a social post), often on the same story, within the same shift. This transformation demands journalists who are not simply willing to work across platforms, but who think across platforms instinctively. That means asking, before production begins, how a story will serve audiences on the website, on YouTube, on TikTok and on radio or TV, and making deliberate choices about format, length and angle for each. Your Key Responsibilities And Impact Write clear, accurate and engaging articles for the BBC Swahili website on a daily basis, producing content that is well-structured, properly sourced, SEO-aware and published to deadline. Produce and present short-form video content including news moments, explainers, interviews and reaction pieces optimised for publication on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook and YouTube Shorts, as a standard part of daily output. Self-shoot, present and edit short video content using mobile or camera equipment, applying strong visual judgement, clear audio, appropriate framing and basic graphic or caption overlays to produce content that meets BBC Swahili’s production standards. Contribute to BBC Swahili’s visualised and linear radio output, performing on screen as well as on air and understanding the specific demands of presenting and reporting for a simultaneous radio and YouTube streaming audience. Research, script, film and edit TV packages independently or in collaboration with Video Journalists, ensuring content is well-sourced, clearly structured and appropriate for the target broadcast slot. Develop and maintain a range of contacts across East Africa to support original newsgathering, tip-offs and on-the-ground reporting, and use those contacts to contribute stories and angles that go beyond wire and agency copy. Contribute to live coverage of breaking news events across all platforms including livestreaming, producing timely, accurate content at pace while maintaining BBC editorial standards. Essential CriteriaYOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Proven ability to produce content across multiple digital platforms including a news website, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram Reels and Facebook, TV and radio with an understanding of the editorial and production requirements of each. Strong digital writing skills, including the ability to produce clear, accurate, well-structured articles in Swahili that are engaging for online readers and appropriately optimised for search. Experience of producing and presenting short-form video content for social media platforms, including vertical formats for TikTok and Instagram Reels, with a clear understanding of what makes short video content hold attention and drive shares. Practical experience of self-shooting video using mobile or camera equipment, with the ability to apply sound visual judgement in a range of settings including studio, location, interview and news-gathering environments. Confidence presenting to camera, with the ability to deliver scripts, interviews and two-ways clearly and naturally for both broadcast and streaming audiences. Experience of producing content for radio, including writing scripts for the ear, voicing packages and conducting interviews for broadcast. Solid experience of sourcing, verifying and reporting news accurately and impartially under deadline pressure, including the ability to apply verification techniques to social media content and user-generated material. Fluency in written and spoken Swahili and English, with the ability to write, sub-edit and present in both languages to a high professional standard. 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: bbchr@bbc.co.uk We are unable to accept applications via CV and only applications made online will be considered. Please click on the APPLY NOW button to proceed with your application.