Senior Social Journalist, Afaan Oromo at BBC World Service

Main Responsibilities

• To lead a team as required in the production of output, ensuring the material produced for the website, radio and social media is lively, interesting and of relevance to the target area. 
• To monitor the growth of BBC Afaan Oromo on social media and other relevant platforms, its use and identify areas for expansion.
• To help produce and/or present the BBC’s live radio programme. 
• To respond to breaking stories and to resolve technical difficulties. 
• To be involved in the training of team members and day to day supervision of the team of journalists and other production staff. 
• To assist in the assessment and development of staff, building teams through supervision and contributions to staff appraisals whenever needed. 
• To deputise for the Editor in their absence as required. 
• To research, interview original sources and write reports, analysis and features for the BBC Afaan Oromo website in a range of formats. 
• To create content to drive the BBC Facebook page and other social media platforms and to help moderate these sites responsibly. 
• To be able to conduct interviews in audio and video on request, on phone or face-to-face, with authority and in-depth knowledge about Ethiopia and the region. 
• To ensure that all output material for which the post holder is responsible meets the standards required by the BBC. 
• To use journalistic skills and experience to suggest new angles on existing stories, means of moving the story on and to put forward stories not yet covered. 
• To use editorial skills as appropriate to edit, write and adapt the material for the outputs on Facebook and other relevant platforms as required whilst maintaining professional journalistic standards of accuracy, impartiality and fair dealing and adhering to the BBC’s Producers guidelines. 
• To create material for all multimedia outputs, including text stories, audio bulletins and – with appropriate training – video reports for both BBC Afaan Oromo online and Facebook or other social media platforms. 
• To propose ideas and help to create, produce and maintain BBC Afaan Oromo content, including making output interactive such as editing user comments. 
• To liaise closely with other team members and with contributors and reporters. 
• To ensure that BBC Editorial principles of balance and impartiality and all relevant legal, contractual and copyright requirements are met, referring upwards in cases of difficulty or doubt. 
• To offer ideas for items or series and to actively contribute to the editorial planning process for the Afaan Oromo service. 

Are you the right candidate?

• Fluent, a full command and up to date knowledge of written and spoken of Afaan Oromo language. 
• A good knowledge of English, including complete comprehension of written and spoken English and the ability to communicate effectively. 
• Recent and relevant experience as a journalist and/or reporter both in originating material and editing the work of others. 
• Ability to write, adapt and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of social media. 
• Ability and openness to interact with team members, assign with tasks and make a follow-up to ensure on time submission.
• Flexibility and willingness to take assignments in producing stories and submitting them with short noticed deadline. 
• A good broadcasting voice and the ability to acquire the appropriate presentation style of the network.  
• Strong interest and demonstrated ability of social media story telling experience and skills.
• Able to demonstrate a good range of contacts for interview purposes including political and economic analysts, politicians, etc. 
• Up to date familiarity with the target area and an in-depth understanding of its history, politics, social issues and culture as well as the changing needs of the audience and the media trend.