Senior Journalist (On the Day)

About the role

The Senior Journalist (On the Day) leads the editorial shift for BBC Swahili’s fast‑moving news output across radio, TV and digital platforms. Working in a 24/7 environment, you will drive story commissioning, ensure seamless multi‑platform delivery and maintain the high editorial standards expected of the BBC.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the on‑shift editorial team, making real‑time decisions on story selection and commissioning.
• Implement a digital‑first approach, planning every story for online publication while adapting content for TV and radio.
• Oversee continuous publishing on the BBC Swahili website, including articles, video embeds, image galleries and social media posts.
• Commission and edit short‑form video for TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook and YouTube Shorts, integrating them into the daily news workflow.
• Use audience analytics tools to monitor performance, adjust content strategy and optimise audience engagement.
• Supervise the production of visualised and linear radio output, ensuring high‑quality broadcast and simultaneous streaming on YouTube.
• Deputise for the Assistant Editor, On the Day, covering morning, afternoon or night shifts as required.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in broadcast and digital journalism, preferably within a multilingual news service.
• Strong news instincts and the ability to make quick editorial decisions under pressure.
• Proven leadership skills, capable of guiding journalists and presenters across multiple platforms.
• Deep understanding of audience behaviour and digital publishing workflows.

Required skills

• Digital‑first editorial mindset.
• Familiarity with short‑form video production and social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook, YouTube Shorts).
• Competence in using audience analytics tools to inform editorial choices.