Reporter, BBC News Bangla

Job Description Job description We are looking for a seasoned and skilled Reporter for the BBC's Bangla service, with a strong editorial vision and can come up with original story ideas that can travel and cater to global audiences with creative digital treatment and formats. You need a strong understanding of West Bengal and Bengali society, culture, politics and a flair for bringing their stories to both the Bengali and international audiences.The Kolkata-based reporter will play a crucial role within BBC News Bangla as well as BBC Indian Languages digital and TV output. Who We Are From April 2024, the majority of the BBC's Indian operations has moved to the Collective Newsroom which has been set up by some of the BBC's most experienced journalists in India. It has more than 250 journalists and operational staff, bringing you distinctive, impartial and world-class content and is the BBC's sole provider of content for its Indian language websites and social media platforms including English. Based in the BBC's largest international market, we bring you the best of Indian journalism guided by the world's biggest and most reputable news organisation. We provide digital, audio and television content in Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi and Telugu as well as English. Our Vision: Home to India's most credible, creative and courageous journalism. Our Mission: To lead with facts bringing diverse voices through innovative and impactful journalism in the public interest. To know more about us, please visit our website : https://collectivenewsroom.com/ We are an equal-opportunity employer, that strongly supports diversity and inclusion at the workplace, and encourages female candidates and persons from other diverse groups such as marginalised, under-privileged communities and differently-abled people, to apply. About BBC News Bangla BBC News Bangla is the Bengali language service of the BBC World Service and was set up in 1941 for Bengali audiences in South Asia and worldwide. It provides up-to-date news and current affairs, covering both domestic and international news stories and is multiplatform, with a multimedia website with a focus on digital video, text, interactivity for both desktop and mobile platforms, and a TV news programme. The service aims to make international news relevant to Bengali speaking audiences in both Bangladesh and India, and aims at bringing quality, impartial, original journalism with news and current affairs to the Bengali speaking region. Key responsibilities and accountabilities - Not only will they be providing timely, expert and authoritative coverage of news and current affairs events in India, but they will also cater to the Bengali audience of BBC Bangla Service, advising teams on stories across the border around stories relevant to both audiences. - The successful candidate will be required to report for multi-platform outlets, including television, online and social media, mainly in Bangla. Understanding of Hindi and English is an added advantage. - To provide timely, expert and authoritative news coverage and analysis on their region, fully observing Editorial Guidelines. - To advise BBC Indian Languages, the Input Editor (India) and the wider BBC Bangla team about news topics and events daily. - To pitch original impactful stories with digital treatments, making sure that they work for online, social and TV platforms. - To follow safety requirements and instructions, especially in relation to emergencies; and to report any accidents, dangerous situations or defects in safety arrangements. - Will be expected to work flexibly, as required. - Alert editors to breaking news and be ready to file accurate, on-the-spot reports and present, as soon as possible. Check and advise against coverage when necessary. - Develop and use all formats and platforms available to tell the story in the most appropriate way, with a particular focus on social media to deliver our journalism to audiences. - Supply items for the news diary, coming up with a stream of realistic coverage ideas and working jointly with other reporters and producers in the field/region. - Provide regular advice on news developments, guidance on agency or newspaper stories and briefings on government policies. - To gather material for broadcast on news topics and events, culture, society, policy, politics and features from East and North-East in a way which is reflective of the audiences we serve. - To provide timely, specialist and self-assured news coverage and analysis of news and events of interest to the audiences. - Maintain regular and clear communication with the Editors ensuring everyone is briefed on own movements and contact numbers at all times throughout the assignment. - Delivering to tight deadlines while maintaining the highest editorial standards. - At all times to carry out duties in accordance with the health and safety policy. Requirements Experience of live broadcasting, including live breaking news with good on-screen presence, self-assured microphone voice and ability to communicate effectively with target audience. - High-level of written and spoken Bengali is required. - Good understanding of digital platforms and the types of content which do well on them. - Knowledge of and aptitude for information technology skills. - Demonstrable interest and proven track record in social media. - Ability to present programmes appropriate to the needs of Collective Newsroom as company and BBC Indian Languages as well as BBC News Bangla. - Proven skills in filing despatches and ability to produce radio/TV two-ways and make video and text-based stories in Bengali. - Should be able to produce story board of video stories in new formats appealing to young audiences. - Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people. - Demonstrates balanced and impartial judgment. Makes appropriate editorial decisions, taking account of conflicting views where necessary. - Demonstrable interest in new media which will include knowledge of how to maximise a story. - Work in partnership with other reporters and producers. Last Date to Apply: 5 November 2025