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Senior Journalist (Video & Digital) Job Description

1. Job Summary

The Senior Journalist (Video & Digital) is responsible for leading the development and delivery of high-quality digital journalism through innovative video storytelling, multimedia production, and editorial leadership. The role focuses on creating engaging digital-first content that strengthens audience engagement across websites, social media platforms, podcasts, livestreams, and other digital channels while maintaining the highest editorial and ethical standards.

The successful candidate will lead video journalism initiatives, mentor editorial teams, oversee multimedia production, develop digital content strategies, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful journalism that reaches diverse audiences across multiple platforms. The position requires exceptional editorial judgment, leadership skills, creativity, and extensive experience in digital media production.

2. Key Duties and Responsibilities2.1 Editorial Leadership

The successful candidate will:

• Lead the development and implementation of digital editorial strategies.

• Provide editorial leadership across video, text, audio, and multimedia content.

• Ensure all published content meets editorial policies and professional journalism standards.

• Guide editorial planning and daily news coverage.

• Participate in editorial meetings and contribute to strategic decision-making.

• Maintain accuracy, fairness, balance, and impartiality in all published content.

2.2 Video Journalism and Multimedia Production

The Senior Journalist will:

• Produce high-quality digital video content for multiple platforms.

• Plan, film, edit, and publish news stories and feature content.

• Develop visual storytelling techniques that engage digital audiences.

• Produce livestreams, podcasts, radio simulcasts, and multimedia programs.

• Ensure broadcast-quality production standards.

• Lead by example as a practicing multimedia journalist.

2.3 Digital Content Strategy

The employee will:

• Develop innovative digital storytelling approaches.

• Create content optimized for websites, YouTube, social media, and emerging digital platforms.

• Identify opportunities to increase digital audience engagement.

• Develop platform-specific content strategies.

• Support the organization's digital transformation initiatives.

• Monitor industry trends and emerging digital technologies.

2.4 Audience Growth and Engagement

The successful candidate will:

• Develop strategies to increase audience reach and engagement.

• Analyze audience behavior using digital analytics tools.

• Monitor content performance across digital platforms.

• Recommend improvements based on audience insights.

• Develop content that appeals to diverse audience groups.

• Support initiatives that increase engagement among younger and underserved audiences.

2.5 Production Management

The Senior Journalist will:

• Coordinate multimedia production workflows.

• Manage studio and field production activities.

• Ensure timely delivery of editorial content.

• Maintain high production quality standards.

• Coordinate equipment and production resources.

• Support mobile journalism and remote production activities.

2.6 Team Leadership and Mentorship

The employee will:

• Coach and mentor journalists, presenters, and producers.

• Build team capacity in digital journalism and video production.

• Promote creativity, innovation, and continuous professional development.

• Provide constructive editorial feedback.

• Support talent development and knowledge sharing.

• Foster a collaborative and high-performance newsroom culture.

2.7 Cross-Functional Collaboration

The successful candidate will:

• Collaborate with editorial, production, digital, and technical teams.

• Coordinate news coverage across multiple locations.

• Share editorial resources and production expertise.

• Build productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Support collaborative newsroom initiatives.

• Promote efficient communication across teams.

2.8 Content Planning and Commissioning

The Senior Journalist will:

• Identify and commission compelling news and feature stories.

• Develop editorial calendars and production schedules.

• Prioritize content based on audience needs and editorial significance.

• Ensure timely publication of multimedia content.

• Contribute innovative story ideas that strengthen editorial output.

2.9 Quality Assurance and Editorial Compliance

The employee will:

• Ensure compliance with editorial guidelines and broadcasting standards.

• Verify the accuracy of published information.

• Review scripts, videos, and digital content before publication.

• Promote ethical journalism and responsible reporting.

• Maintain editorial integrity and professionalism.

2.10 Administrative and Operational Support

The successful candidate will:

• Prepare editorial reports and performance updates.

• Monitor production workflows and resource utilization.

• Participate in strategic planning meetings.

• Support departmental projects and initiatives.

• Perform any other duties assigned by management.

3. Minimum Qualifications

Applicants should possess the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Mass Communication, Media Studies, Broadcasting, Digital Media, Communications, or a related field from a recognized institution.

• Professional training in multimedia journalism, digital media, video production, or broadcast journalism will be an added advantage.

4. Work Experience

The ideal candidate should have:

• Extensive experience as a journalist with a strong focus on digital and video journalism.

• Proven experience leading editorial or production teams.

• Demonstrated experience producing digital-first multimedia content.

• Experience developing digital content strategies and audience engagement initiatives.

• Strong portfolio of video journalism and multimedia storytelling.

• Experience working across social media platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and other digital channels.

• Experience using audience analytics to improve content performance.

• Experience mentoring journalists and supporting newsroom development.

5. Required Skills and Competencies

The successful candidate should demonstrate the following skills:

• Excellent editorial judgment and news writing skills.

• Advanced video production, filming, and editing skills.

• Multimedia storytelling expertise.

• Digital content strategy development.

• Strong understanding of social media and digital publishing platforms.

• Knowledge of audience analytics and performance measurement.

• Leadership and team management skills.

• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.

• Strong project management and organizational skills.

• Broadcast production and newsroom workflow management.

• Creative thinking and innovation.

• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills.

• Fluency in Somali and English, including excellent writing and editing skills.

6. Personal Attributes

The ideal candidate should possess the following qualities:

• High level of professionalism and integrity.

• Creativity and innovation.

• Strong leadership capabilities.

• Commitment to editorial excellence.

• Adaptability in a rapidly changing digital environment.

• Excellent problem-solving skills.

• Passion for journalism and storytelling.

• Strong interpersonal skills.

• Accountability and sound decision-making.

• Commitment to mentoring and developing others.

7. Working Environment

The Senior Journalist (Video & Digital) will work in a fast-paced multimedia newsroom, collaborating with journalists, editors, producers, presenters, and technical teams across multiple locations. The role involves studio and field production, digital publishing, live broadcasting, and extensive use of multimedia production equipment and digital platforms. Occasional travel may be required to cover news events, conduct field reporting, and support cross-location collaboration. The successful candidate should be prepared to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and public holidays, to meet editorial deadlines and breaking news demands.

8. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance in this role will be measured using the following indicators:

• Quality and accuracy of published editorial content.

• Growth in digital audience reach and engagement.

• Performance of video and multimedia content across digital platforms.

• Timely delivery of editorial assignments.

• Audience growth on social media and digital channels.

• Compliance with editorial and broadcasting standards.

• Successful implementation of digital content strategies.

• Team development and mentorship outcomes.

• Production quality and operational efficiency.

• Stakeholder and audience satisfaction.

• Innovation in digital storytelling and multimedia production.

9. Expected Outcomes

The successful Senior Journalist (Video & Digital) will contribute to the organization by:

• Delivering engaging, accurate, and high-quality multimedia journalism.

• Strengthening the organization's digital presence and audience growth.

• Leading innovative video storytelling across multiple platforms.

• Enhancing editorial standards and production quality.

• Supporting the successful transformation of digital newsroom operations.

• Developing high-performing journalists through coaching and mentorship.

• Promoting collaboration across editorial and production teams.

• Increasing audience engagement through creative and data-driven content strategies.

• Upholding the highest standards of ethical journalism and editorial integrity.

• Supporting the organization's mission of delivering trusted, impactful, and accessible journalism to diverse audiences.

The Senior Journalist (Video & Digital) is expected to perform all assigned responsibilities with professionalism, creativity, editorial excellence, integrity, accountability, and a strong commitment to delivering high-quality journalism that informs, educates, and engages audiences across digital and broadcast platforms.

Application

Go to BBC World Service on careers.bbc.co.uk to apply