Senior Journalist – Visual Journalism

Job Introduction

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.

We are seeking an innovative visual journalist who enjoys collaborating with others to join to join our team in Scotland.

Main Responsibilities

A senior visual journalist will have the ability to translate complex ideas and sensitive topics into imaginative and compelling visual formats (eg graphics, maps, data journalism and other bespoke digital content) and will have a strong understanding of what makes visual design stand out from competitors.

You will be working with designers and journalists to produce illustrations and animations using Adobe Creative package such as Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Photoshop and Illustrator whilst maintaining professional journalistic standards of accuracy, impartiality and fairness.

You will produce ideas for data-driven stories and how they could be developed and visualised for multiple platforms while also using data and visual journalism tools and workflows to create excellent content, both editorially and technically.

You will be committed to visual excellence and push innovative design while operating in a fast-paced news environment, usually within tight deadlines.

Are you the right candidate?

The successful candidate must have:

• Significant experience creating visual storytelling using a range of different production techniques.
• Experience of commissioning and coordinating a small team of journalists with differing design and editorial skills.
• Sound editorial judgement, taking responsibility for output on matters of editorial sensitivity under pressure along with a commitment to delivering accurate and impartial journalism.
• A willingness to experiment and try different approaches and formats in digital storytelling to reach new and different audiences.
• The ability to work well with other journalists and teams across our newsrooms and wider BBC Scotland.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the Scottish news and current affairs agenda.
• Ability to 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 BBC

We 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: D
Contract type: Continuing
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.