1. Working for equality of opportunity
JOB SPECIFICATION
Job Designation:
Baku correspondent
Department:
Azeri Service
Base:
Baku, Azerbaijan
The Role
To report on developments in Azerbaijan and the region, from Baku or other locations if required by
Azeri Service management. To be able to produce quality multimedia material and take an active role
in covering the major events. To originate, research, prepare, produce and present items, packages,
interviews, discussions, background, analysis for video, the Internet and other media forms as
required. To broadcast materials in Azeri (or English if required). To ensure that any programme
material for which the post holder is responsible meets the standards required by the BBC. The post
holder will be expected to undergo training in London and must agree to travel and work in London or
elsewhere when their job requires them to do so.
Key Responsibilities
A correspondent is required to carry out some or all of the following duties in the relevant languages:
· Conduct interviews, chair discussions and act as a participant in other productions.
· Research, report, write, translate, edit or adapt online/multimedia material; to find contributors and
interviewees as well as other sources of material, as appropriate and to the required specification
whilst maintaining professional journalistic standards of accuracy, impartiality and fair dealing and
adhering to the BBC’s Producers Guidelines. To ensure the availability of required production
facilities.
· Be responsible for a moving story, amending and updating material as required. To be able to
freshen a story. To be responsible for thinking through and around editorial problems, developing
realistic alternative strategies and approaches.
· Provide thorough, timely and professional reporting and analysis on events in Azerbaijan and the
Caucasus and around the world, upholding standards of the BBC Producer Guidelines.
· Be able to file in a range of formats, including packages, despatches, articles for the Internet and
video materials (with appropriate training).
· Have an acute awareness of the audience for the material and to provide relevant contextualisation
of all stories.
· Keep the management, producers and fixers/researches of the Azeri Service informed of relevant
upcoming stories in your patch. To come up with regular ideas for programmes, items and analysis.
· Develop strong contacts among newsmakers, pundits and communities.
· Help Azeri Service programmes with ideas on guests, topics and angles.
· Work in close cooperation with producers and editors in the Azeri Service in London, as well as with
colleagues in Newsgathering and Monitoring.
· Liaise closely with other team members and with contributors, reporters and stringers. To advise
other parts of the BBC on target area affairs.
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2. Working for equality of opportunity
· Offer ideas for online items, special projects, video series and actively contribute to the editorial
planning process. Suggest new angles on existing stories, means of moving the story on, and put
forward stories not yet covered. Understand the Service’s strategy and suggest ideas appropriate to
its distinctive style and content.
· Present Azeri Service programmes where required.
· Prepare articles for bbcazeri.com
· Participate in organisation, planning and budget preparation for reporting duty trips in Azerbaijan.
· Ensure proper use of equipment, including recording and studio equipment, laptops, satellite
phones, both on base and on trips. Make sure this equipment is returned following established
procedures. Be responsible for efficient use of allocated resources.
· Be able to represent the BBC to external organisations in a professional manner and maintain good
relationships with representatives of other organisations.
· Provide original material, either in voice and/or script.
· Be aware of BBC guidelines on health and safety.
· All producers may be required to travel on short reporting trips and assignments and to spend
longer periods of time in the target area.
· All producers may be required to work with or move to other programme teams on a multimedia
basis and to have the ability to work across a range of skills and in a flexible manner, and to carry
out these responsibilities in accordance with the BBC’s overall standards and values.
Required Knowledge, Experience and Skills
1. A good knowledge of Azeri including complete comprehension of written Azeri. A good knowledge
of English is an advantage.
2. Ability to write, adapt and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to different audiences
and forms of media.
3. Wide and up to date familiarity with the target area and an in-depth understanding of its history,
politics, social issues and culture as well as the changing needs of the audience. An extensive
knowledge of the media situation in the target area and the way it is developing.
4. An excellent general knowledge of and interest in domestic and international current affairs,
particularly insofar as they affect the target area.
5. Competence in online journalism, and the willingness to learn new journalistic skills, for example
video journalism.
6. Good keyboard/computer skills and the ability to acquire technical skills and to operate technical
equipment. Practical experience and extensive knowledge of the Internet and an understanding of the
potential of new technology is essential. Ability to achieve competence in broadcasting techniques and
required operational skills.
7. An extensive knowledge of the media situation in the target area and the way it is developing.
8. A good broadcasting voice and the ability to acquire the appropriate presentation style.
9. A good education, usually to degree standard.
10. A thorough knowledge of the aims, objectives and standards of BBC World Service.
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3. Working for equality of opportunity
RESPONSIBILITY
The Azerbaijan correspondent reports daily to output editor of the Azeri Service. S/he reports overall to
the Azeri Service Editor. At a local level s/he is managed by the Manager of BBC Monitoring.
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