Journalist : EXTEND in Ipswich

JOB BAND: C

CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full Time

DEPARTMENT: East News

LOCATION: Ipswich

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £27,600 - £33,900 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights. We are happy to discuss flexible working.

This role is advertised as part of our BBC Extend programme for disabled people. To apply for this role you should identify as deaf, disabled or neurodivergent and must meet either the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010), or the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) if applying in Northern Ireland. You’re broadly defined as disabled under both acts if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long‑term negative or adverse effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. This definition includes both apparent and non‑apparent conditions and impairments, and medical conditions such as Cancer, HIV or Multiple Sclerosis.

We are committed to making the process of applying for this role as accessible as possible. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the application process, or have any questions about our Extend programme, please contact extend@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is fully committed to providing workplace adjustments to help eliminate barriers in the workplace that disabled people face.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

BBC Radio Suffolk is looking for a great journalist with sharp writing skills and a terrific voice to read weekday afternoon and weekend early news bulletins. As the bulletin reader, you will be preparing and reading bulletins for BBC Radio Suffolk, ensuring our smartspeaker bulletins are delivered. You’ll be used to reacting to breaking stories and you’ll be able to work with our digital team so that your content can reach a wider audience. You’ll be a team player, an organised individual with a can‑do attitude and a knack for being able to deliver the day’s news in an accessible and conversational way. On occasion, you may be asked to work on shared bulletins as required.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

We are looking for talented people to be at the heart of our relationship with our local audiences. These roles will be the voice of our local services – passionate broadcasters and brilliant storytellers that inspire and engage our communities. Every day, you’ll make BBC Local famous for its outstanding programming and its deep connection with the people we serve. BBC Local is the family of services we offer across local communities in England, including radio, online, social media and TV. With famous brands and new platforms, we provide a rich mix of content and programming from news to entertainment.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Producing and reading news bulletins on BBC Radio Suffolk across our afternoon output and morning weekend output.
• Producing, editing and setting up stories for bulletins.
• Writing news bulletins and summaries with accuracy, clarity, wit and flair, often under pressure.
• Showing the ability to source a range of stories that connect with our audiences and engage new ones.
• Working with the entire range of on‑air talent, including editors, presenters and reporters.
• Maintaining positive relationships with colleagues throughout the BBC.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• First class writing, production and organisational skills, with significant recent experience of reading live radio bulletins.
• Good knowledge of Suffolk and an understanding of our audience, alongside a track record in delivering content with diverse audiences in mind.
• Editorial judgement: With a sound understanding of media law, making the right editorial and policy decisions based on a clear understanding of the BBC's audiences and distinctive news agendas.
• Excellent communication skills, with a commitment to dealing with colleagues in an inclusive, nurturing and kind manner.
• A creative approach to producing the best content for impact across our different output areas and platforms – radio and digital audio.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED

• The ability to write stories into Optimo.
• A knowledge of Teams as a communication platform is desired but training will be provided if not.
• Experience of working in a multi‑platform newsroom, delivering content for both online and audio platforms.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.

Disclaimer: This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

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.

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants.

Information at a Glance: At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Find out more about the BBC Life at BBC Here you will benefit from:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35‑hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values‑based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract. Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

You belong: We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential. We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity. We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk