Assistant Editor (Middle East Newsgathering)

The BBC World Service is undergoing a significant strategic review. It is becoming a digital first operation and in WS Languages is being managed by two news controllers – output and content. This new structure seeks to refine the editorial purpose and USP of each of the 42 language services in target markets, ensure that the BBC is known for distinctive and original content and that well-produced stories from all over the world are shared as widely as possible across the BBC.

As part of a team of assistant editors in newsgathering and deployments, you will help lead the gathering, production and delivery of digital-first innovative journalism. You develop a detailed understanding of WS Languages and the key stakeholders and be familiar with the future strategy of BBC News.

Main responsibilities

The assistant editor for Middle East will be responsible for initiating and managing deployments for breaking news and original journalism features. Working with reporting teams across BBC Arabic and BBC Persian, the role aims to provide high impact content for both TV and digital platforms.

Day to day duties and responsibilities will include:

To support, and deputize when necessary, the newsgathering and deployments senior news editor across a range of editorial and management responsibilities.
To manage deployments in hostile environments with quick clear decision making in breaking news scenarios.
To have creative approaches to how teams will gather value-added content in line with our digital-first priority and audience needs.
To attract and retain talent, spotting opportunities to build profiles and reputation of the BBC, regular feedback sessions to develop on air and production talent.
To lead, manage and motivate correspondents, bilingual reporters, field producers, freelancers to produce original, distinctive multi-platform content.
To ensure the safety of deployments, providing safety and risk assessment advice in collaboration with the BBC High Risk team.
To attend (and chair when necessary) daily, weekly and monthly meetings and represent World Service Languages at a wide BBC News level.
To be calm and communicate well, even when under pressure, and deliver on time.
To ensure a high level of accurate, engaging and impartial journalism from across the world.
To champion sustainability in deployments and production
To co-ordinate with the planning and prospects team on all matters of gathering, deployment and content rollout