Journalist - Lifeline Programme (Arabic)

Job introduction

BBC Arabic is the largest of the BBC’s forty language services providing multimedia content on BBC platforms and through social media to our Arabic speaking audiences in the Middle East and across the world 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

Our output is contemporary in style and outlook and adheres to BBC Values of accuracy and impartiality. We aim to have broad appeal, free from commercial, political and religious affiliations or pressures.

We are looking for four Journalists to originate and produce, as part of a team, a wide variety of news and current affairs content for relevant output.

Main responsibilities

• To research, write, translate, edit or adapt items, stories or programme material for Lifeline (Arabic) Programmes - for Middle East and Sudan
• To undertake pre and post production and studio work, live and pre-recorded. After appropriate training, use a range of video, audio and digital equipment and information technology to research, write, assemble, edit and deliver programmes in the appropriate medium, to the highest professional standards
• To find contributors and interviewees when required, as well as other sources of material and/or actuality, as appropriate and to the required specification
• To prepare and broadcast in studio, live or recorded radio programmes
• To update the programmes’ webpages with digital content and engage with web users before and after broadcasting the programmes
• To offer ideas for stories and items, programmes and series, attending pre-programme and planning meetings as required. To suggest new angles and formats on existing stories in order to bring them to life for the audience
• To liaise closely with team members in the bureau and in the region and with contributors, reporters and stringers for commissioning material for the output
• To be able to perform on air with or without a script, conduct interviews and chair discussions, live or pre-recorded when required
• To be familiar with different technical systems, including news production systems, demonstrate a willingness to learn to operate new technology systems and to be able to adapt to different working methods
• To build strong relationships with other parts of the BBC, in particular within the World Service
  
  

Are you the right candidate?

• A full command and up-to-date knowledge of spoken and written modern standard Arabic and a complete understanding and command of written and spoken English
• Significant recent experience as a journalist, with a good knowledge of production techniques
• Demonstrates sound editorial and policy decisions based upon a clear understanding of the BBC’s distinctive news agenda, the requirements of news and current affairs coverage, the programme departments and the audience
• Ability to use technology as required, in order to gather material for broadcast
• Understands how a team works effectively and adopts the most appropriate role
• Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC and understands how individual differences can benefit the BBC
• Effective planning and organising skills, ability to concentrate on several areas of work at one time, prioritising, delivering consistently to deadlines and reacting positively to changes and conflicting priorities
• Ability to write creatively in an engaging manner, adapt, produce and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of media suitable for multimedia output
• The flexibility and adaptability to sustain performance, particularly under pressure to meet deadlines and changing priorities and circumstances
• An understanding of Health & Safety procedures and how it applies to broadcasting
  
  

Job package

Job Title: Journalist - Lifeline Programme (Arabic)

Job Reference: 22345

Band: C

Contract type: 4 x Fixed Term Contract or Attachment until 31st March 2026 – local terms and conditions apply

Location: Office Base is Cairo, Egypt

Final date to apply: Tuesday 22nd April 2025

Any offer of employment with the BBC will be conditional upon you having the right to work in Egypt.

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.

Unrivalled training and development opportunities – our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.

Benefits - We offer a negotiable salary package and a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance. You can find out more about working at the BBC by selecting this link to our candidate pack .

If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process please contact the [email protected]. For any general queries, please contact: [email protected].

Freelancers are eligible to apply for an internal role if they are on a Worker Contract and they have worked continuously for 6 months. If they have worked for less than 6 months continuously or have a break of 3 weeks or more between engagements, they must seek Divisional HR approval to apply for an internal role prior to submitting an application.

If you are unsure which contract you are on, you can speak to your booker or the HR BP, however if it helps - both a PAYE freelance or Modus Gross contract is considered a Worker contract and covered by the Worker terms found here .

Please note that the application process will require you to upload a CV and complete the online application form with the opportunity to detail your experience, skills and knowledge required for the role.

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 here .

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 .

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.