Senior Staff Writer, Travel
Bold. British. Creative: that’s BBC Studios. Combining the strengths of the UK’s most-awarded production company with a world-class distributor, we fund, create, distribute and commercialize world-class content for the BBC and other UK and international companies. Our aim is to inspire audiences around the globe with quality content that informs, educates and entertains and to strengthen the BBC, our partners and wider industry both creatively and financially. We seek to be the best British content company in the world; a first-choice partner and employer, where everyone can flourish and do their best work.
Digital News and Streaming
At BBC Global Digital News & Streaming, (a team situated within BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC) we aim to help people understand the world around them, make informed choices, and take an active part in society and democracy. As we expand our footprint to meet increasing demand for our style of quality and impartial journalism and unscripted content in North America, we are seeking motivated, passionate, high performing individuals across a variety of skillsets to join our global team. Our primary locations are New York, Washington DC, and London; we are seeking candidates whose location allows them to work hybrid from any of these offices.
Join us and be an essential part of one of the world’s most recognized brands and trusted news organizations.
Job Purpose
BBC Studios is seeking a travel staff writer to join the features team on BBC.com. They will be responsible for writing travel articles that range from quick reactions to the news, to regular columns, and longer form destination guides. Candidates should have a strong background in digital lifestyle journalism, a solid understanding of SEO best practices, an insatiable appetite for the trending stories of the day and a knack for getting in (or starting) those conversations. This person will help deliver on BBC Travel’s mission to help our readers fall in love with the world, by providing stories that inspire, inform and entertain. The ideal candidate for this role will have experience delivering work that is as engaging as it is editorially rigorous, and the ability to find and connect with sources around the world. Quick, clean copy is a must.
It is important to note that this role will not require constant globe-trotting, as you’ll mostly be reporting on the travel trends happening in real time around the world, alongside a team based in New York. Additionally, the BBC’s stringent editorial guidelines prevent anyone on this team from accepting press trips or other freebies to which some travel writers may be accustomed.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Daily pitching, reporting on and writing travel trend and human interest stories that go beyond reporting on the news and into analyzing, contextualizing and making conversation-fodder out of it.
Contributing to and delivering on SEO strategy to fill an always-on editorial calendar with planned pieces that complement coverage of timely, trending topics.
Potential occasional editing of colleagues’ work.
Upholding BBC’s rigorous editorial standards and journalistic best practices.
Collaborating across a multimedia team, including occasionally contributing text for videos, social media posts, or BBC News live blogs.
Helping drive the growth and reputation of BBC.com with new audiences and demographics, with topical, sharable stories that inform and entertain.
Reviewing and responding to analytics to understand story performance and pivot coverage accordingly.
Maintaining a collaborative, team-player mentality, working toward collective goals alongside a very talented group of colleagues.
Above all else be a creative, engaging writer, who’s crafty with a headline and always looking for their next great story.
Knowledge, Skills, Training & Experience
8+ years professional writing experience, preferably in digital media
You are a strong communicator and eager to collaborate across a global team of engaged journalists, editors, and video producers.
You are an enthusiastic storyteller, tapped into the trends and triumphs in travel, with experience reporting in (or at least on) destinations all around the world.
You have a passion for news and culture and like the challenge that comes with moving conversations forward.
Open and receptive to feedback, eager to teach your colleagues as well as learn from them.
Ability to write creatively in an engaging manner, with accuracy, clarity and style to produce impartial journalism that stands up to journalistic rigor.
Multilingualism is a bonus.
Keen editorial judgment in developing ideas for an international, primarily North America-based audience.
Experience working within a Microsoft Office environment and using a CMS.
Experience of using analytic tools and data to evaluate story performance.
Compensation
The anticipated annual base salary for this position is $80,000 to $90,000. This range does not include other benefits that an individual may be eligible for. The actual base salary offered depends on the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and geographic location of the position.
This range is not inclusive of a flexible, hybrid working schedule & benefits including but not limited to: 100% BBCS covered medical & dental insurance, vision, & 401k match.
Benefits and Perks
100% Employer-Paid Medical and Dental Insurance (PPO plans)
Generous Paid Time Off
Flexible, Hybrid Working Arrangements
Work/life balance
Free Retirement Consulting to All Employees
Pet Insurance
Commuter Benefits
Gym Reimbursement
Bagel Mondays, Thirsty Thursdays, and more!