Senior Journalist, BBC Focus On Africa

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: D
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time 
DEPARTMENT: BBC News 
LOCATION: Lagos or Abuja, Nigeria

Any offer of employment with the BBC is conditional upon the candidate having the legal right to work in Nigeria and having successfully completed the mandatory National Youth Service programme (NYSC) or holding a valid certificate of exemption.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

We are looking for a highly successful Senior Journalist to supervise the production and outputting of Focus on Africa TV program as well as its digital livestreams and assets and, whenever necessary, do the radio/podcast output. The Senior Journalist will lead a talented team to produce engaging and informative content that resonates with our global audience while reflecting the rich diversity and complexities of African stories. You will be an experienced journalist with experience of handling breaking news and rolling coverage and good understanding of our audience needs.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

Focus on Africa is BBC’s flagship news and current affairs program for our audiences in Africa and those interested in African stories across the world. The program, across TV, radio and digital platforms, aims to provide a comprehensive view of the diverse experiences, cultures, and challenges facing African nations and their people. This includes engaging stories on politics, economics, environment, health, and social issues, along with highlighting achievements and innovations within Africa.

Focus on Africa aims to bridge the gap between African societies and global audiences, offering a platform for voices that often go unheard. The program seeks to foster understanding, promote dialogue, and celebrate the richness of African life by presenting high-quality journalism that motivates, educates, and informs viewers.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Lead the editorial planning, development, and production of Focus on Africa content, delivering engaging, accurate, and visually compelling stories that resonate with African audiences across broadcast and digital platforms.
• Manage and develop a high-performing production team by providing leadership, coaching, constructive feedback, and professional development opportunities, while fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and inclusion.
• Ensure all content meets BBC editorial standards for accuracy, impartiality, fairness, and quality by reviewing and approving scripts, video packages, and other editorial output prior to publication or broadcast.
• Drive audience growth and engagement by overseeing digital output, including podcasts and social media, using audience insights, analytics, market research, and feedback to inform content and digital expansion strategies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with correspondents, contributors, BBC departments, and international bureaux to enhance coverage, source compelling stories, and deliver collaborative cross-platform content.
• Promote diversity in both workforce and output by maintaining broad and diverse contributor networks, sharing knowledge across teams, reflecting the needs of audiences served, and deputising for the Assistant Editor when required. 

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Proven success in producing, commissioning, and delivering high-quality television, digital, and streaming content, with a strong track record in original journalism, daily news output, and current affairs programming.
• Extensive experience working in fast-paced breaking news environments, with a strong understanding of African affairs, global news, and wider cultural, entertainment, and sporting developments.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to lead collaborative editorial teams, mentor less experienced colleagues, delegate effectively, and drive cross-team partnerships.
• Excellent editorial judgement, including significant experience in script editing, sub-editing, video production, and managing complex legal, compliance, and editorial policy issues.
• Strong digital storytelling expertise, including the production of impactful online content, podcasts, and social media output, alongside a good understanding of audience engagement, analytics, and digital best practice.
• Skilled researcher and communicator, with the ability to analyse complex information, write and edit engaging content for diverse audiences, and communicate clearly and effectively in English.
• Knowledge of data and visual journalism, combined with a commitment to diversity and inclusion, cultural awareness, and sensitivity in reporting; experience of filming is desirable.

If you can bring some of these skills and experiences, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.