Reporter, BBC News Urdu

Job Description We are looking for a seasoned and skilled Reporter for the BBC's Urdu service based in India. The successful candidate will have 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 the society, culture, politics of the Urdu-speaking audience and a flair for bringing their stories to both the Urdu audiences in India and Pakistan and international audiences. 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. 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. To know more about us, please visit our website : https://collectivenewsroom.com/ Last date to apply: 6 November 2025 About BBC News Urdu BBC News Urdu is one of the oldest language services in BBC World Service. Originally a radio service, it is now a predominantly digital service and provides up-to-date news and current affairs for the Urdu-speaking audiences in India, Pakistan as well as globally. Covering both domestic and international news stories, it is multiplatform, with a multimedia website with a focus on digital video, text, interactivity for both desktop, social and mobile platforms. The service aims to make international news relevant to Urdu speaking audiences and aims at bringing quality, impartial, original journalism with news and current affairs to the Urdu audience in both India and Pakistan. Key responsibilities and accountabilities - The Delhi-based reporter will play a crucial role within BBC News Urdu as well as BBC Indian Languages digital and TV output. - Provide timely, expert and authoritative coverage of news and current affairs events in India, and also cater to the Urdu audience of BBC Urdu Service, advising teams on stories across the the border around stories relevant to both audiences. - To report for multi-platform outlets, including television, online and social media, mainly in Urdu. 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 Digital Video Editor (India) and the wider BBC Urdu 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 north India 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 Urdu 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 CNR as company and BBC Indian Languages as well as BBC News Urdu. - Proven skills in filing despatches and ability to produce radio/TV two-ways and make video and text-based stories in Urdu. - 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 judgement. 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.