Journalist – BBC (London)

BBC LOCAL is restructuring and the South’s Newsroom is looking for three talented reporters to join the Local Story Team based in Southampton.  There are two roles working predominantly across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight and one role specialising on coverage of Dorset stories – but all three will be expected to work on any story as required. They will all be office-based in Southampton. The newsroom will be providing stories for online, radio and TV as well as supplying content for our digital and social platforms. We’re looking for strong all-rounders. You’ll have experience in setting up and producing great stories, and will have an experience and passion for reporting. Creativity is really important – you’ll have the ability to tell stories in a dynamic way that engages our audience. You’ll be a good team player, brimming with ideas, contacts and story treatments to share with the audience. We are working to a story led approach with an emphasis of producing cross-platform stories that appeal to a broad audience. You will be expected to work on different shifts as required – including occasional weekend working.

Local knowledge is essential, as is a passion for storytelling. You will be reporting to the Senior Journalist Team Manager at BBC Radio Solent, and BBC South’s Senior News Editor.
You’ll be skilled in coming up with creative content and be great at telling stories in an engaging way. Your reports will include a range of diverse opinions and perspectives while meeting high journalistic standards and observing the BBC Editorial Guidelines. In our newsroom, no two days are ever the same. You may be writing stories for BBC news online, gathering audio, video, contacts and content for use by BBC Local Radio, our social and digital platforms as well as producing content for BBC South Today. You’ll be comfortable reporting live and providing news content for core radio programmes. Occasionally you’ll be asked to read radio news bulletins. You’ll be expected work on assigned stories but also to bring in your own story ideas.

You’ll have a keen sense of what makes a good story, have great writing skills and strong broadcast persona. You’ll understand the digital landscape and be aware of the separate needs of different platforms. Demonstrating a commitment to our audiences you’ll also recognise opportunities to connect with different and new audiences and consumers of content. You’ll be a team player but comfortable working on tasks on your own. In an ever-developing media landscape we need creative journalists and reporters who embrace change, are flexible and open minded, willing to think differently and be bold in trying new approaches to their work. BBC Local is at the beginning of a process of change and you will need to be able to adapt as the change process evolves.