Data Journalist, Visual Journalism

BBC Local is recruiting a data journalist with experience in storytelling, using graphics to tell stories.

You’ll be part of the Central Editorial Team, which provides a range of multi-platform central services for local and regional teams across England. Our Data Journalists deliver a wide range of data-led stories as well as supporting the delivery of journalism locally. It works in partnership with data teams across the BBC.

Key Responsibilities And Accountabilities

To generate original ideas for impactful data-driven investigations that will resonate with regional audiences and the wider BBC.
To explore and summarize data for interesting news angles using spreadsheet software such as Google Sheets and Excel.
To use off-the-shelf data visualisation tools such as Flourish and Datawrapper to explain complex datasets to our audience.
To support the delivery of data journalism to regional teams, along with providing expertise and guidance to colleagues.
To monitor data releases from public authorities and other sources for potential sources news stories.

Knowledge, Skills, Training & Experience

You will be a talented investigative journalist, brimming with story ideas.
You will be adept at handling datasets with a track record of delivering public interest news stories from a variety of data sources.
You will have experience in creating graphics, telling visual stories online and/or for TV.
You will enjoy working on long-form digital investigations rather than daily news.
You will be passionate about local news and have an understanding of BBC Local, and the BBC teams across England.
You will be passionate about exploring the latest developments in digital storytelling and computer-aided journalism.

Skills/experience

A good understanding of statistics and statistical analysis.
Experience of working with graphics to visualise data.
Experience of using visualisation tools such as Datawrapper and Flourish (including spatial data).
Experience negotiating with public officials for data and open records, and sound understanding of how to gather information via Freedom of Information requests.
Experience of writing for the web and using content management systems to make compelling content.

Desirable Experience

Knowledge of programming languages used by data journalists such as Python and R.
A knowledge of basic HTML and CSS and an understanding of web page design.
Knowledge of web scraping tools.