News Editor, Great Lakes

The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting radio and television news, speech and discussions in 29 languages to many parts of the world on analogue and digital shortwave platforms, Internet streaming, podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays. It was announced in November 2016 that The BBC World Service will start broa...

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Lead the editorial vision of BBC Great Lakes, ensuring content reflects the multifaceted nature of our diverse audience and upholds high editorial standards for reporting without fear or favour.
• Develop and implement innovative strategies to enhance audience reach and engagement, capitalizing on digital and social platforms and analysing audience data to inform editorial decisions.
• Identify and respond to key regional issues and trends, advising on story angles, presentation, and coverage in collaboration with reporters, producers, and correspondents in Africa and beyond.
• Oversee the editorial process from conception to production, ensuring thorough research, fact‑checking, timely delivery, and strong responses to breaking news while maintaining high journalistic standards.
• Foster a culture of creativity, innovation, and professional growth, mentoring a diverse team of journalists, encouraging new formats and technologies, piloting ideas, and measuring their impact.
• Build strong internal and external partnerships, working closely with other departments and engaging contributors, experts, and influencers to enrich storytelling and align with the BBC’s mission.
• Represent BBC Great Lakes in external forums, champion workforce diversity, manage the budget responsibly, and find economies of scale in using central BBC material.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Strong editorial judgment and the ability to quickly identify and develop impactful stories that reflect complex issues and diverse perspectives
• Recent track record in leading content production and output (radio and digital) at a senior level, with focus on the Great Lakes region news
• Demonstrable recent experience of launching new digital products or programmes that have led to growth in reach and reputation across platforms
• Substantial knowledge of data analytics tools and how data is used to drive decision making on story choice, publication time and recirculation
• Proven experience in managing high level stakeholders
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills in Kinyarwanda, Kirundi and English are all essential.

• Lead the editorial vision of BBC Great Lakes, ensuring content reflects the multifaceted nature of our diverse audience and upholds high editorial standards for reporting without fear or favour.
• Develop and implement innovative strategies to enhance audience reach and engagement, capitalizing on digital and social platforms and analysing audience data to inform editorial decisions.
• Identify and respond to key regional issues and trends, advising on story angles, presentation, and coverage in collaboration with reporters, producers, and correspondents in Africa and beyond.
• Oversee the editorial process from conception to production, ensuring thorough research, fact‑checking, timely delivery, and strong responses to breaking news while maintaining high journalistic standards.
• Foster a culture of creativity, innovation, and professional growth, mentoring a diverse team of journalists, encouraging new formats and technologies, piloting ideas, and measuring their impact.
• Build strong internal and external partnerships, working closely with other departments and engaging contributors, experts, and influencers to enrich storytelling and align with the BBC’s mission.
• Represent BBC Great Lakes in external forums, champion workforce diversity, manage the budget responsibly, and find economies of scale in using central BBC material.

• Strong editorial judgment and the ability to quickly identify and develop impactful stories that reflect complex issues and diverse perspectives
• Recent track record in leading content production and output (radio and digital) at a senior level, with focus on the Great Lakes region news
• Demonstrable recent experience of launching new digital products or programmes that have led to growth in reach and reputation across platforms
• Substantial knowledge of data analytics tools and how data is used to drive decision making on story choice, publication time and recirculation
• Proven experience in managing high level stakeholders
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills in Kinyarwanda, Kirundi and English are all essential.

• BA/BSc/HND