How to Become a BBC Journalist
Jonathan Baker, Head of the College of Journalism, distils the combined views of Editors from across the BBC on how to land a job as a BBC journalist.
'How do I become a BBC journalist?' a question that every BBC journalist is very accustomed to being asked. They probably all give different answers, based on their own experience or the perspective of their own area of operation. And of course there is no one definitive answer.
But as an organisation the BBC can offer some basic information, guidance and advice on how you might go about it.
The BBC employs several thousand journalists. At any point in time, people are arriving, changing jobs, or leaving. So opportunities arise regularly. The BBC is engaged in such a wide range of journalism - across different media and at local, national and international level - that it can be hard to know what's available, what you might be qualified for, and how to take advantage of those opportunities.
You can enter the organisation at every level: from work experience to full-time jobs on high-profile network news programmes. A good place to look when you're preparing for any approach or interview is the BBC College of Journalism website. This is a training area for BBC journalists that is freely available to all UK web users, and by subscription elsewhere. It covers a wide range of editorial subjects and issues, and multimedia craft skills.
The BBC College of Production also has a website that you might find helpful.
At whatever point you seek to join the BBC, you'll find that competition is fierce. There are always many times more applicants than there are posts. You need talent, of course - but you will also need tenacity, and an ability to distinguish yourself from other candidates.
Here's a rundown of the official entry points into BBC journalism at all levels. More information can be found on the BBC homepage.
Work experience
Applications for work experience come in to all parts of the BBC, all of the time. To ensure fairness, they are handled centrally. Go to the BBC Careers website for information on all employment opportunities at the BBC, including Work Experience.
Journalism Trainee Scheme (JTS)
From the BBC Careers website, you can go to Trainee Schemes and then Journalism to learn about the Journalism Trainee Scheme (JTS). Alternatively, go to the College of Journalism website's homepage, or directly.
The JTS scheme is for inexperienced journalists who can write well and have a nose for a story. It lasts a year, after which you should be in a position to apply for jobs as a qualified broadcast journalist. But please note that you are not guaranteed employment at the end of the scheme.
Follow the link for more information and details of how to apply. We offer 15 places a year, and choose candidates through a highly competitive appointments process.
Journalism Talent Pool (JTP)
On the homepage of the College of Journalism website, you'll also see a link to the JTP. This scheme is designed to help people who already have jobs in journalism and who might wish to move to the BBC.
The JTP acts like a recruitment agency: putting trained and experienced journalists in touch with editors who have vacancies to fill. You can be in the pool while working for other organisations. As a member of the pool, you're able, for a set period, to apply for BBC jobs which might not be advertised externally; or might otherwise be restricted to internal BBC staff.
Fellowships
Two prestigious fellowships, supported by the BBC, invite applications from all senior journalists from right across the BBC Journalism divisions:
- The University of Michigan Fellowship
- The Reuters Fellowship at Oxford University.
They each offer the chance to take time out from the day job, gain new insights and bring something back to the BBC.
Production Trainee Scheme (PTS)
If you're interested in programme-making more generally, as opposed to journalism, you might wish to consider the PTS. It aims to develop the programme-makers and commissioners of the future through on-the-job training. We offer trainees a mixture of face-to-face training, online learning and work placements, as well as mentoring by a senior BBC manager. Full details of the PTS.
Full-time or part-time jobs in BBC journalism
Many jobs in BBC journalism are not advertised externally. There could be a number of reasons for this - expense, for example, or a recruitment freeze which means vacant posts are offered in the first instance to existing staff.
Jobs open to external applicants will usually be advertised in the Guardian. But you can keep up to date with everything that's available by visiting the BBC Careers website. Be aware that many jobs are not permanent vacancies but short-term contracts - covering maternity leave, for example.
Jonathan Baker is Head of the BBC College of Journalism.
© MMX