Senior Journalist

JOB DETAILS

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

As Senior Journalist, you will lead editorial decision-making on shift, working closely with the Senior Journalist Team Manager and Assistant Editor to drive commissioning, coordinate output and maintain high standards across digital and radio platforms. You will champion a digital-first approach, leading journalists and presenters in a fast-paced news environment. The role also oversees the delivery of video-first podcasts and livestream content, helping grow audiences through compelling storytelling, innovative formats and real-time coverage of major news events.

The Senior Journalist role is also central to the production of visualised podcasts designed to attract young and female audiences who increasingly consume news through video and on-demand platforms. The podcast is a video-first editorial product, built from the ground up with a distinct visual identity, presenter format and editorial voice, published five times per week.

Alongside the podcast, the Senior Journalist role will lead BBC Yoruba livestreaming capability and other social platforms, covering major news events live and building the audience habits that make the service a destination for breaking and developing stories in real time.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

This is a role for a senior journalist who is as skilled in production craft as they are in editorial judgment; someone who understands what makes video content compelling for young and female audiences, knows how to build and run a daily production pipeline, and has the technical confidence to manage live broadcasts in demanding and unpredictable news environments.

The postholder will work across morning, afternoon or night shifts, deputising for the Senior Journalist Team Manager and Assistant Editor as required.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

Drive a digital first newsroom approach, ensuring every story is planned and produced for publication across digital, radio and video platforms from the outset.
Oversee the production of short form video content for TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, turning daily news stories into high performing digital assets.
Drive continuous publishing across BBC Yoruba website and social channels, commissioning and editing compelling news, video and audience focused content that grows engagement.
Lead the development and production of BBC Yoruba’s visualised podcast, delivering engaging content on trending issues and topics that matter to younger audiences.
Use audience insights and performance analytics to shape editorial decisions, optimise content and identify opportunities for growth across platforms.
Manage BBC Yoruba's live and visualised radio output, ensuring high editorial and technical standards while maximising opportunities for digital distribution and streaming.
Coach and develop journalists in cross platform storytelling, digital production and video journalism, while fostering collaboration across teams to deliver innovative content.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Proven experience leading digital first news operations, with a strong understanding of audience engagement, content performance and growth across digital platforms.
Full fluency in written and spoken Yoruba and English
Expertise in commissioning, editing and publishing content across multiple platforms, including news websites, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and other social channels.
Strong knowledge of audience analytics and the ability to use data and insights to make real time editorial and commissioning decisions.
Excellent news judgement and the ability to identify stories with strong digital potential, shaping them into engaging formats such as explainers, live blogs, Q&As and short form video.
Experience producing or overseeing visualised broadcast content, with a clear understanding of how to create compelling experiences for both audio and on-screen audiences.
Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate, coach and develop teams while maintaining high standards in fast paced and high-pressure environments.
Outstanding writing, scripting and editing skills in Yoruba and English, combined with excellent communication, planning and stakeholder management abilities.

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