Job Description

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Senior Journalist, Digital Live

Job Requisition ID: 26053
Job Closing Date: 20 August 2025
JOB DETAILS
JOB BAND: D
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: BBC News
LOCATION: London
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: 42,800 - 58,500 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application - though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
This senior role is within the Digital Live team, which brings the biggest news stories to huge BBC audiences across the world in a real-time, live format (often known elsewhere as a "live blog").
Our content is highly trusted and valued by audiences for its speed, accuracy and on-the-ground access.
You'll work on the BBC News website helping to manage a team of writers and producers to break news, showcase the best images and videos and bring fast analysis on a wide range of stories and events.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
A Senior Journalist on the Digital Live team takes charge of live pages on the BBC News website, running on-the-day updates of major news stories and planned events, ensuring the content is accurate, rich, accessible and up to the minute.
Senior Journalists on Live are also involved in the forward planning of live coverage and can occasional be deployed to cover events.
Working within the wider BBC digital team they are also called upon to work on the website news desks on certain shifts, including news editing and story writing.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITES AND IMPACT

• We are looking for experienced news writers and editors full of creative ideas who can remain calm under pressure and to work collaboratively with others.
• The role often involves managing a team of Live writers and producers working on a fast-paced developing story as part of our real-time digital coverage - assigning tasks, commissioning reporting, and subbing and publishing posts.
• You are expected to pay close attention to the flow, tone and editorial accuracy of the page, as well as writing compelling website headlines, selecting sharp images, and monitoring video streams and clips.
• These roles involve shift work, with a working pattern which includes some weekend shifts. They are office based, working from the newsroom in BBC Broadcasting House in London.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE - KEY CRITERIA
Essential criteria

• Excellent writing skills and proven copy editing experience
• Strong editorial judgement with experience handling breaking news on digital platforms and a proven track record of making the right decisions under intense pressure
• Proven awareness of the distinctive nature and requirements of real-time, live digital coverage
• A track record of covering the UK and/or international news agenda and delivering insightful, high-quality journalism to audiences
• Experience and understanding of the formats, tools, and techniques to plan and produce live digital coverage in both text and video
• The ability to sift news material with speed and accuracy and devise and enact an editorial plan in collaboration with others

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of audience data, search data and social media to improve storytelling, reach new audiences and broaden coverage
• Ability to spot a wide variety of live opportunities that will grow our audience

Disclaimer
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.
For any general queries, please contact:
Redeployment
The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.
Information at a Glance
This is your BBC
At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world's best loved content, and the BBC's mission to inform, educate and entertain.
Life at BBC
Here you will benefit from:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.
Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.
You belong
We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.
Disability confident
We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we'd be happy to discuss:
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BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.
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