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BBC Announces Year Long Training For Journalists With Disabilities

Placement Overview

In BBC News, we aim to deliver the best and most innovative content. We want to challenge and speak to our audiences in new and engaging ways and most importantly, we want to be in touch with what’s on people’s minds.  Our aim is to create more opportunities for journalists with disabilities in BBC News due to an under-representation across the BBC as a whole.  This year we are also open to applications for production management assistant roles. We want anyone with a disability, be that hidden or visible, to consider applying to be part of this exciting opportunity. 

 Under the year-long programme we are offering six positions for placements in teams across BBC News. The roles available are at various levels of experience, from junior levels to more experienced senior editorial levels. We will match the right candidate to the right opportunity.

Across the 12 months you will receive bespoke training and support from BBC managers and you will also be mentored by someone from within BBC News.

If you’re creative, passionate about storytelling and want to either work behind the scenes or delivering innovative content for a wide range of audiences across our  digital and other platforms then we want to hear from you.

Who are you?

  • You have a real enthusiasm for News and Current Affairs
  • You are creative, full of journalistic ideas, determined and resilient
  • You have a disability  (hidden or visible)

What’s on offer?

  • A 12 month continuing contract* with a UK based BBC News team, starting 8th April 2019 (* subject to successfully completing a probationary period)
  • Bespoke training  and learning tailored to your position
  • Any reasonable adjustments required to create the best possible working environment for you
  • You will work with experienced BBC editors and staff as well as being mentored by someone within BBC News
  • You will be part of a network of people who have joined the BBC on this programme
  • For internal BBC staff the opportunity to also be considered for a three month development attachment in a BBC News team

Our commitment to you

We are committed to making the process of applying for this programme right for you as an individual and we have our own BBC Disability Access Service that provides assessments and support for disabled people throughout the recruitment process and during your employment with us.

Please note that some placements in BBC News will involve working shifts including weekends and overnights, however the programme aims to be as inclusive as possible, so reasonable adjustments both in terms of office location and part time/flexible working will be considered on a case by case basis.

Do I qualify?

Disabilities are recognised by the Equality Act 2010: “A person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment, and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. This definition includes impairments or medical conditions such as Cancer, HIV or MS.”

People who were recruited on the 2017 Extend in News programme are ineligible to apply.

The roles available

People applying for the 12 month programme will be selected for one of the following roles and will be matched to the most suitable team:

  • Journalist
  • Video Journalist
  • Senior Journalist
  • Production Management Assistant

Please see the relevant job descriptions for further information.

Current BBC staff can also apply for a bespoke three month development attachment in a BBC News team (any UK location), working with experienced editors and staff to support and develop your skills. We will work with you to identify your development goals and arrange the best possible placement.

 

Extend in News programme 2017

The programme was run for the first time in 2017, with people working as Broadcast Assistants, Broadcast Journalists and Senior Journalists in the following BBC News teams:

  • UK and World Online
  • Digital Video
  • 5Live
  • Social News and UGC
  • Reality Check
  • BBC Stories
  • Digital Current Affairs
  • Radio Current Affairs
  • Panorama
  • Newsnight
  • BBC Click and The Travel Show
  • BBC Politics

 

This has resulted in a vast amount of new content, some of which can be seen below:

Digital Current Affairs video coverage of the 2018 Paralympics in South Korea,, including work which was taken by World TV, Videos of the Day, BBC Health, BBC Points West.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-43371541/skiing-helps-me-take-on-the-outside-world

A 14 minute documentary for BBC Newsbeat filmed about accessible clubbing in Ibiza: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06j7gs0

Widely read written pieces for BBC Stories, including:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-41888146

A Radio 4 feature on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b86z4v

A UGC team NHS project: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/health-43656406

What it’s like to rent when you have a disability, broadcast on BBC Breakfast and the News Channel

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews/videos/what-its-like-to-rent-when-you-have-a-disability/10155622018078129/

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