Assistant Editor Glasgow, Scotland
Job description
BBC Scotland News is the nation's leading news service on television, radio, online, and social media.
We are changing to put the audience even more firmly at the heart of everything we do. We want to produce the best original journalism, reach new and different audiences, and broaden our storytelling.
‘Fewer, bigger, better’ is the approach. We want to tell the high quality stories that really matter to audiences across Scotland. We want to combine breaking and developing news with accessible analysis and explanation of events - and we make even more use of audience data with ambitious targets for audience growth.
With the rapid shift from linear to digital, we’re building a story-led newsroom where the focus will be on generating a bigger impact for our online audience. Video content will be gathered to work on the website, social media, TV and on iPlayer, while audio will increasingly focus on podcasts and a new offer on BBC Sounds.
As leader of the newly-created News Impact Team, this is a rare opportunity to get in right at the beginning to shape the change we want to see.
Main ResponsibilitiesWe are looking for an Assistant Editor to help recruit and lead a News Impact Team. Working to the new Deputy Editor, Head of Multiplatform News Output, you’ll be responsible for the team’s day to day operation – commissioning and developing off-diary story ideas, assigning projects, liaising with output editors throughout the production process, feeding back to correspondents and production staff, complying content and maintaining a strategic overview.
You will work closely with the new On-the-Day News team and the Long Form Journalism team to avoid duplication and ensure smooth planning and roll-out of original stories. When off-diary stories are commissioned, you will ensure they are developed closely with all output and keep the audience and the needs of digital central to that process.
This new flexible model of supporting planned and off-diary stories will be based on the ‘Pitch & Reward’ model which BBC Scotland News recently piloted, welcoming ideas to be pitched from across the department and providing editorial and production support to get them made in a multiplatform way.
Are you the right candidate?The successful candidate will be an experienced team leader with first-class interpersonal skills, who can influence and persuade at all levels and across all platforms.
You will have experience of original journalism and a creative approach with a track record in overseeing several projects at once.
You will demonstrate confidence in executive producing editorially and legally complex projects.
You will be expected to implement strategic plans to achieve annual and longer-term objectives for audience and digital impact growth amid a continually changing media landscape.
Excellent organisation skills and time management are key for the role; you'll need the ability to work under pressure and be able to juggle multiple and changing priorities.
You will have an understanding of changes in audience behaviour, and strategies for providing value to all audiences, especially those BBC News sometimes underserves.
You will role model the BBC values and be able to inspire and unite teams behind these values and behaviours, within an inclusive newsroom culture.
About the BBCWe don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviours in the document attached below.
Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please click here
Package Description
Band: E
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Glasgow
We’re happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.
- Excellent career progression – the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
- Unrivalled training and development opportunities – our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.
- Benefits- We offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 26 days (1 of which is a corporation day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.
