Journalist Apprentice (L7)

Summary

The Level 7 Journalist Apprenticeship offers top-tier training for those with demonstrated potential, helping you develop advanced journalism skills. You'll gain hands-on experience while working towards a Level 7 Apprenticeship and the industry-recognised NCTJ National Qualification in Journalism, all while studying and learning on the job.

Annual wage: £21,840 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Senior journalist (level 7)
Hours: Pattern of hours may vary
35 hours a week
Possible start date: Tuesday 9 September
Duration: 2 years
Positions available: 1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

As a Journalist Apprentice you will:

Gain hands-on experience creating quality news and sports content for BBC TV, audio, online and digital platforms.
Develop journalistic skills, researching, writing, and broadcasting news stories and features across topics including current affairs, business, politics, sport and culture.
Learn from and work with experts in the field at the largest public service broadcaster in the world.

Where you’ll work

Salford

M50 2QH

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

BAUER RADIO LIMITED

Your training course

Senior journalist (level 7)

Equal to master’s degree

Course contents

Identify and use techniques to extract compelling stories from (big) data sets, social media and dense reports, such as financial information from companies or government to create the most effective story or feature for the target audience..
Undertake thorough research before reporting to ensure that content/material published or broadcast is accurate, compelling and verifiable
Identify, select and use multiple sources of information, cross-checking and corroborating when necessary. Take accurate, relevant notes when and where needed
Present data stories in a visual way that helps the target audience understand the subject matter.
Research, evaluate and select a method and the platform(s) to be used to tell stories which will meet the employer’s strategic goals, reach the biggest audience and satisfy their needs. Seek ways to modify or introduce new techniques; combining information from multiple sources including people, reports, data and social media.
Produce content in accordance with legal, regulatory and organisational requirements; use different multimedia combinations, where needed, producing and sourcing video and audio assets
Make decisions and judgements at speed and when under pressure, on the way stories are researched and presented, ensuring the media outlet is leading when breaking news
Assess the legal or regulatory issues and take responsibility for a course of action with regard to publication, and decide when professional legal advice is needed.
Interrogate sources of information to establish the demographic and sociographic profile of the employer’s target audience to find where suitable contacts could be located
Use contacts to find exclusive stories which meet the needs of the target audience; verify information from contacts and critically review its short and long-term implications
Identify and evaluate the qualities of self and contacts to make decisions as to how best to nurture the informant; assessing where legal/regulatory/ethical problems may arise from working with a contact
Develop strategies to handle contacts and maintain loyalty, even when their information may not always lead to a story
Use audience data to evaluate the success of the strategy used and how that can inform future decision-making
Monitor relevant social media on a systematic basis, proactively seek new sources of user-generated content that will help improve targeted content, the number of viewers/readers and depth of engagement
Evaluate a wide range of social media platforms, identifying and selecting the appropriate social media for the content, maintaining the correct tone for the platform being used.
Produce stories which resonate with the audience as measured by audience analytics, social media interaction and reach, plus other internal "tools" used by employers to understand audience sentiment.
Undertake different types of interviews to extract information, even from those who are reluctant to speak; identifying and selecting the right interviewing technique to suit the interviewee.
Critically analyse answers from interviewees to inform questioning and, if needed, other people to speak to. Probe for detail and inconsistencies in replies from interviewee
Take responsibility for ensuring that material from outside sources is verified, conforms to all legal, regulatory and ethical issues and is presented to the audience in the correct manner
Critically evaluate own and team members work to ensure additional multimedia content is produced to industry standards and is of a quality to maintain and advance the organisation's reputation in the industry, making changes when needed.
Format and edit other’s material to meet the employer’s audience, following employer’s guides to editing, using approved programs and checking materials taking responsibility for devising strategies to reduce the time and costs of the editing process
Proactively develop and maintain own professional competence, with the willingness to learn new processes and technical skills, and manage own continuing professional development (CPD)
Lead the team in producing authentic, accurate and verifiable, publication/broadcast content
Research and set performance indicators for the team, communicating objectives and goals to team members; develops coaching strategies and training plans to help others improve.
Seek constructive feedback from relevant people about your performance; taking action as required
Build engagement, motivation and develop high performance, agile and collaborative cultures, demonstrating leadership skills and developing junior colleagues
Work through complex editorial situations and dilemmas, at speed and when under pressure, demonstrating well-developed editorial judgement in line with their organisation’s editorial values and aims
Use and develop systems to track contributions from outside sources, including any agreements made with the people submitting the content
Produces video or audio content which "draws in" the viewer/listener/user and adds value to the story being told
Identify and use techniques to extract compelling stories from (big) data sets, social media and dense reports, such as financial information from companies or government to create the most effective story or feature for the target audience..
Undertake thorough research before reporting to ensure that content/material published or broadcast is accurate, compelling and verifiable
Identify, select and use multiple sources of information, cross-checking and corroborating when necessary. Take accurate, relevant notes when and where needed
Present data stories in a visual way that helps the target audience understand the subject matter.
Research, evaluate and select a method and the platform(s) to be used to tell stories which will meet the employer’s strategic goals, reach the biggest audience and satisfy their needs. Seek ways to modify or introduce new techniques; combining information from multiple sources including people, reports, data and social media.
Produce content in accordance with legal, regulatory and organisational requirements; use different multimedia combinations, where needed, producing and sourcing video and audio assets
Make decisions and judgements at speed and when under pressure, on the way stories are researched and presented, ensuring the media outlet is leading when breaking news
Assess the legal or regulatory issues and take responsibility for a course of action with regard to publication, and decide when professional legal advice is needed.
Interrogate sources of information to establish the demographic and sociographic profile of the employer’s target audience to find where suitable contacts could be located
Use contacts to find exclusive stories which meet the needs of the target audience; verify information from contacts and critically review its short and long-term implications
Identify and evaluate the qualities of self and contacts to make decisions as to how best to nurture the informant; assessing where legal/regulatory/ethical problems may arise from working with a contact
Develop strategies to handle contacts and maintain loyalty, even when their information may not always lead to a story
Use audience data to evaluate the success of the strategy used and how that can inform future decision-making
Monitor relevant social media on a systematic basis, proactively seek new sources of user-generated content that will help improve targeted content, the number of viewers/readers and depth of engagement
Evaluate a wide range of social media platforms, identifying and selecting the appropriate social media for the content, maintaining the correct tone for the platform being used.
Produce stories which resonate with the audience as measured by audience analytics, social media interaction and reach, plus other internal "tools" used by employers to understand audience sentiment.
Undertake different types of interviews to extract information, even from those who are reluctant to speak; identifying and selecting the right interviewing technique to suit the interviewee.
Critically analyse answers from interviewees to inform questioning and, if needed, other people to speak to. Probe for detail and inconsistencies in replies from interviewee
Take responsibility for ensuring that material from outside sources is verified, conforms to all legal, regulatory and ethical issues and is presented to the audience in the correct manner
Critically evaluate own and team members work to ensure additional multimedia content is produced to industry standards and is of a quality to maintain and advance the organisation's reputation in the industry, making changes when needed.
Format and edit other’s material to meet the employer’s audience, following employer’s guides to editing, using approved programs and checking materials taking responsibility for devising strategies to reduce the time and costs of the editing process
Proactively develop and maintain own professional competence, with the willingness to learn new processes and technical skills, and manage own continuing professional development (CPD)
Lead the team in producing authentic, accurate and verifiable, publication/broadcast content
Research and set performance indicators for the team, communicating objectives and goals to team members; develops coaching strategies and training plans to help others improve.
Seek constructive feedback from relevant people about your performance; taking action as required
Build engagement, motivation and develop high performance, agile and collaborative cultures, demonstrating leadership skills and developing junior colleagues
Work through complex editorial situations and dilemmas, at speed and when under pressure, demonstrating well-developed editorial judgement in line with their organisation’s editorial values and aims
Use and develop systems to track contributions from outside sources, including any agreements made with the people submitting the content
Produces video or audio content which "draws in" the viewer/listener/user and adds value to the story being told

Your training plan

You’ll study for your industry recognised Level 7 Apprenticeship qualification, learning both on and off-the-job. The Journalist Apprenticeship scheme follows the Senior Journalist Apprenticeship Standard (curriculum) and combines academic training with practical on the job experience. Apprentices from all BBC bases will follow the same curriculum.

Apprentices work towards the industry recognised Level 6 National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ).

Areas of study include:

Advanced Reporting Skills
Media Law and Ethics
Teamwork
Leadership and Communication
Broadcast Journalism
Data Journalism
Multi-media Storytelling
Digital, Social and Mobile Journalism

To complete the apprenticeship there is also an End Point Assessment (EPA). This begins once you have completed your NQJ.

The EPA has two elements: firstly, a journalism project and presentation; and secondly, a professional discussion based on a portfolio of evidence.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade Pass or above)
Maths (grade Pass or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Team working
Creative
Initiative

About this company

We are a leading early careers employer and hire more than 250 apprentices each year. We are committed to skills and talent development both inside and outside the BBC and, as one of the world’s most creative and technologically-advanced organisations for the last 100 years, a career at the BBC means learning from the best. We want people who show potential to join us at the BBC. Don’t worry if you don’t have extensive experience, it’s your passion and values we are interested in.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

On successful completion of your apprenticeship, you will be able to apply for Journalist job opportunities inside or outside the BBC.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BAUER RADIO LIMITED

earlycareersrecruitment@bbc.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000283974.

Apply now

Closes in 11 days (Thursday 28 November)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

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