Job opportubity at BBC Arabic

Broadcast Assistant, BBC Arabic

Job Ref. No 662457  Location London - Broadcasting House

Contract Type  Continuing  Job Category:  Journalism

Closing date for applications  19 September 2011

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JOB TITLE:                  BROADCAST ASSISTANT, BBC ARABIC

GRADE:                        4D

CONTRACT TYPE:     CONTINUING

REPORTS TO:               APPROPRIATE STRAND EDITOR OR OUTPUT EDITOR (positions exist with Talking Point, BBC XTRA, Planning, TV, Radio and Online Video)___________________________________________________________________

BACKGROUND

BBC Arabic is the largest service within the BBC World Service, providing news and current affairs on Radio, TV and Online to Arabic speaking audiences in the Middle East and beyond. It requires a number of Broadcast Assistants to work across the range of its output, supporting editorial teams in all aspects of production.

The post holders will initially be assigned to a specific area of output, but over a period of time may be required to work elsewhere in the department.

MAIN DUTIES

1. To undertake factual research to a broad or specific brief, using a wide range of sources.

2. To act as a point of contact for all parts of the BBC and outside contributors, making arrangements and briefing them concerning the department’s needs.

3. To book, arrange and coordinate production facilities.

4. To assist in studio production, online production, interactive programmes, recordings and transmissions and, where required, to undertake limited operational duties under supervision

5. To work on maintaining and updating the BBC Arabic website and in particular the interactive and video content. To help assemble Internet pages, including text production, editing, selecting, capturing and taking still photos, and editing and uploading video and audio files.

6. To undertake translation work, under supervision.

7. To select, translate and edit public  contributions to BBC output, and contribute suggestions for treatments of stories.

8. To archive callers’ data and archive programmes, and undertake general housekeeping duties

9. To assist in the preparation of fact sheets and publications.

10. To carry out other administrative and secretarial duties as required, including the keeping up-to-date of contact lists.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

1. Ability to work effectively in both written and spoken Arabic and English.

2. A keen interest in Middle Eastern and international news and current affairs.

3. Highly developed organisational skills.

4. Ability to work under own initiative and with minimal supervision.

5. Good IT skills, including Word.

6. Excellent telephone manner.

7. A good knowledge of BBC Arabic output, and of internal and external sources of information.

8. Evidence of working effectively as part of a team.

9. The ability to exercise tact, discretion and courtesy in all dealings with colleagues and other contacts.

COMPETENCIES

The following competencies (behaviours and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in the job. Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate these competencies.

·       Editorial Judgement - demonstrates balanced and objective judgement based on an understanding of BBC editorial guidelines, target audience, programme and department objectives.  Makes the right editorial decisions, taking account of conflicting views where necessary.

·       Creative Thinking - able to transform creative ideas into practical reality.  Can look at existing situations and problems in novel ways and come up with creative solutions.

·       Planning and organisation - able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others.  Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources.

·       Communication - able to get one’s message understood clearly by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information.

·       Managing relationships and team working - able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people.  Works co-operatively with others to be part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively.

·       Resilience - manages personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, set backs or when dealing with provocative situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.

·       Flexibility - adapts and works effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups.  Able to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue, to adapt an approach as the requirements of a situation change, and to change or easily accept changes in one’s own organisation or job requirements.