BBC
Applications are open for the BBC Africa Correspondent position, an opportunity for an experienced journalist to join the BBC and provide specialist coverage and analysis of major news stories across South Africa and the wider African region.
The Africa Correspondent will be responsible for producing accurate, impartial, engaging, and authoritative journalism for audiences across multiple BBC platforms. The role combines reporting, analysis, digital storytelling, radio, television, podcasts, social media, and video production, making it particularly suited to journalists with strong multimedia experience.
The successful candidate will cover major national and regional stories, develop original story ideas, provide expert analysis of important political and social developments, and deliver content that gives audiences a broader understanding of events in Africa. The role also requires the ability to respond quickly to breaking news and deploy to major stories across South Africa and other parts of the region.
The position places a strong emphasis on digital journalism. The successful candidate will regularly produce content for BBC Online, create digital video in both short and long formats, contribute to social platforms, participate in radio and television broadcasts, and contribute to podcasts. They will also be expected to experiment with new digital formats and identify innovative ways of reaching audiences.
The BBC Africa Correspondent will provide specialist journalism focused on South Africa and developments across the wider African region. The role requires an understanding of the continent's politics, culture, history, geopolitics, and major social and policy issues.
The correspondent will report on major national stories and develop original journalism that provides audiences with context, insight, and authentic voices. Depending on the story, this may involve writing a lead news report, producing a digital video, preparing a live page, contributing a radio report, creating a television package, or developing content for podcasts and social media.
The position also requires journalists to work effectively under pressure. The successful candidate must be capable of analysing important developments at short notice and responding quickly when major stories break.
Successful candidates will receive:
• Fair pay appropriate to their location and contract type.
• Flexible benefits based on the location and nature of the contract.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Support throughout their working life.
• Experience working within a major international public service broadcaster.
• Opportunities to produce journalism across digital, radio, television, podcast, social media, and video platforms.
• Opportunities to cover major African and international news stories.
• Opportunities to develop specialist expertise in African politics, culture, geopolitics, and current affairs.
• Exposure to a wide range of audiences and international journalism platforms.
The role offers an opportunity to work within a values based organisation where editorial quality, public service, and professional standards are central to the work.
The Africa Correspondent will be expected to:
• Uphold BBC Editorial Standards and BBC Editorial Guidelines.
• Produce fast, accurate, fair, and engaging journalism.
• Provide specialist coverage and analysis across a range of subjects.
• Generate original story ideas connected to national and global news agendas.
• Report on major stories across South Africa and the wider African region.
• Explain important social, political, cultural, and geopolitical developments.
• Produce content for BBC Online.
• Create radio reports and contribute to television programming.
• Contribute to podcasts and live broadcasts.
• Produce digital video in both short form and long form.
• Develop field reports and digital video explainers.
• Produce content for social media and other digital platforms.
• Respond quickly to breaking news.
• Develop content strategies that reach younger and female audiences.
• Experiment with new digital formats and approaches to audience engagement.
• Travel throughout Africa and participate in major BBC news deployments when required.
Applicants for the BBC Africa Correspondent position should meet the following requirements:
• Extensive recent journalism experience covering South Africa.
• Strong knowledge of South African culture, politics, geopolitics, and history.
• Experience producing journalism for global news or current affairs media.
• Strong editorial judgement.
• Excellent English writing skills.
• Ability to write quickly, clearly, accurately, and engagingly.
• Experience sub editing and adapting scripts for different platforms.
• A proven record of producing original journalism for the public good.
• Strong experience working in digital production environments.
• Experience with social media engagement and interactive digital content.
• Knowledge of digital video production and optimisation.
• Ability to report authoritatively across radio, online, and social platforms.
• Ability to participate in live radio and television broadcasts during breaking news.
• Understanding of audience needs and the ability to create compelling content in different formats.
• Ability to prepare television packages for major news stories.
• Willingness to work throughout Africa.
• Willingness to participate in major BBC news deployments at short notice, including assignments in hostile environments.
Applicants are required to prepare:
• An updated CV.
• Completed application questions.
• Three examples of previous journalism work in English.
The three examples should include:
• A text or broadcast report covering a breaking news story.
• An example of original journalism in text, broadcast, or digital video format.
• An example of geopolitical analysis in text, digital, or radio format.
Applicants should select work samples that demonstrate their reporting ability, originality, analytical skills, editorial judgement, and ability to communicate effectively with audiences.
The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate strong journalism experience and the ability to operate across multiple media platforms.
The selection process is likely to place particular importance on:
• Recent experience covering South Africa.
• Knowledge of African politics, culture, history, and geopolitics.
• Strong editorial judgement.
• Accuracy, fairness, and impartiality.
• Ability to generate original journalism.
• Strong English writing and reporting skills.
• Digital journalism experience.
• Social media and audience engagement expertise.
• Digital video production skills.
• Ability to work across radio, television, online, podcasts, and social platforms.
• Ability to respond quickly to breaking news.
• Ability to provide insightful geopolitical analysis.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet demanding deadlines.
• Willingness to travel and work in challenging environments.
BBC
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