Full Job Description

Hausa Service

BBC World Service

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

The BBC’s Hausa Service broadcasts a daily mix of news and current affairs programmes through radio and online. Working as part of our journalistic team and keeping to tight deadlines, you’ll write, translate and adapt material swiftly and accurately into Hausa and sometimes in English in a style suited to radio and online journalism. You’ll help produce a range of news and current affairs output, including items, packages, interviews, discussions and complete programmes. The role will involve you in research and newsgathering, as well as in reporting, producing and presenting output.

Hausa should be your first (or equivalent) language, and you need to have full comprehension of English. With significant, recent journalistic experience, you’ll have an excellent microphone voice, strong writing skills (in Hausa and English) and strong radio presentation skills. You should also have an in-depth understanding of African and international current affairs, along with the ability to work well in a team and with a wide range of people from different backgrounds.

JOB SPECIFICATION

Job Purpose

  Working to Editor, Abuja to initiate and produce the range of news and current affairs output including originating research, newsgathering, preparing, reporting, producing and presenting items, packages, interviews, discussions and complete programmes Also providing background, analysis and features, for the range of output. To ensure that programme material meets the standards required by the BBC Editorial guidelines, maintaining professional journalistic standards and adhering to BBC policy and legal and contractual guidelines.

Key Behaviours

  1. To source, collect, research, report, write, translate, edit and adapt stories or programme material; to find contributors and interviewees as well as other sources of material and/or actuality, as appropriate and to the required specification whilst maintaining the BBC’s professional journalistic standards of accuracy, balance, impartiality and fair dealing. To ensure the availability locally of required production facilities.

2. To write material for programme scripts, bulletins and links, exercising sound editorial judgement.

3. To undertake interviewing and reporting duties in both recorded and live situations, in studio or on location and to perform at the microphone with or without a script, chair discussions and act as a participant whether live, pre-recorded or on location.

4. To prepare and present bulletins, including assessing incoming copy, sub-editing news copy and deploying the necessary resources.

5. To produce live and pre-recorded news and current affairs programmes and to prepare packages under supervision.

6. To initiate and implement programme ideas where a high degree of original contribution is required. To contribute to the planning of newsgathering and output and be responsible for developing stories, amending and updating material as required. To be able to freshen/update a story. To be responsible for thinking through and around editorial problems, developing realistic alternative strategies and approaches.

7. To offer ideas for items, programmes/series and to actively contribute to the editorial planning process. To suggest new angles on existing stories, means of moving the story on, and to put forward stories not yet covered. To understand the Service’s strategy and to suggest ideas appropriate to its distinctive style and content.

8. To provide briefings for reporters, staff, stringers and contributors and to advise other parts of the BBC on coverage for the region. To provide appropriate feedback to reporters to help them and ensure their work is of an appropriately high standard.

9. To be responsible for studio production of live and pre-recorded programmes. To respond to breaking stories whilst on air, and to resolve technical difficulties.

10. After appropriate training, to be able to use a range of analogue & digital equipment and information technology to research, write, assemble, edit and deliver programmes in the appropriate medium, to the highest professional standards.

11. To build and maintain links with BBC WS Online, BBC News Online and BBC Online, to enable the efficient production of online content.

12. To be responsible for efficient use of allocated resources.

13. To develop and maintain good contacts in Nigeria and to fulfil a public relations role e.g. responding to local enquiries.

14. May be required to travel to the UK for short assignments etc.

15. Required to work flexibly across programme teams with the ability to work across a range of skills and in a flexible manner, and to carry out these responsibilities in accordance with the BBC’s overall standards and values.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

  · A good broadcasting voice and the ability to acquire the appropriate presentation style.

· Ability to write, adapt and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of media.

· Good interviewing skills

· Ability to carry out detailed research

· Good keyboard/computer skills and the ability to acquire technical skills and to operate technical equipment. Practical experience and extensive knowledge of the Internet and an understanding of the potential of new technology is essential.

· Ability to work effectively within a team and a wide range of people with different backgrounds.

· Recent and relevant experience as a journalist.

· Educated to degree level (or equivalent)

DATE OF ISSUE: May 06

(A job specification 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.)