Freelance Journalists, BBC Newsbeat

Newsbeat is looking for freelancers to join the team in Birmingham - working on radio, online and on-demand output for young audiences.

Newsbeat is the flagship news programme on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra and provides news for the network’s target audience. It’s a highly creative multi-media team and freelancers will need a good understanding of what’s important and relevant to 15-24 year olds.

We’re building a talent pool of reporters, producers, writers and programme editors to work with us at busy times.

Duties will involve finding relevant stories and case studies and turning them into creative treatments for our listeners and readers.

Between our two daily programmes and the regular news bulletins, there’s lots of on-air opportunity. Online content produced by the Newsbeat team appears on the main BBC News website.

We’re looking for freelancers with experience of radio production and output, reporting and bulletin reading and writing.

Experience reporting in the field and working on OBs would also be useful.

We’re also building up our pool of online freelancers so if you can write and edit sharp and engaging copy and know where to find the BBC’s next Most Read story, we want to hear from you.

Whatever the platform, you’ll need to be full of ideas and comfortable working under pressure and delivering to tight deadlines.

You’ll know what young audiences want to hear and read and you’ll be creative and ambitious about how we deliver for them.

Good teamwork skills and plenty of initiative is key.

A thorough understanding of the BBC’s editorial guidelines and values or the ability to pick this up quickly is also required.

Reinventing the BBC for the next Generation

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviours in the document attached below.

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, social background, religion and/or belief. And we promote flexible working opportunities where operational needs allow.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please click here

All opportunities offered, as a result of appointment to this talent pool, will be on a Freelance PAYE basis.

Appointment to the Talent Pool will not entitle candidates to a permanent or fixed term contract in the BBC and neither does it guarantee work. However, it may lead to consideration for broader freelance opportunities across BBC News.

Application Process

Please submit your CV by clicking apply now and uploading your CV to Careers Hub. If it jumps out at us we'll contact you to arrange an informal telephone interview. If that goes well you will then be invited in for a shadow shift.

If you already have a current staff contract with the BBC (continuing or fixed term), you won’t be eligible to apply.

Any work offered with the BBC will be conditional upon you having the right to work in the UK.