Freelance Journalists, BBC Asian Network

Asian Network News reflects the lives, concerns and ambitions of young British Asians - on air and online. It puts audiences at the heart of its news and discussions.

We’re looking for freelancers to join the team at busy times.

Bulletins, programmes and digital content are aimed at 18-34 year olds from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan heritage and an understanding of the audience is key.

Asian Network News has built a strong reputation for delivering distinctive journalism and sharing it around the BBC and beyond. It’s a vibrant, creative and ambitious team.

The focus will be working on stories that are relevant and engaging to our audience, including producing and reporting under pressure. There will be considerable on-air opportunities including bulletins and programmes.

There are opportunities to work on high impact digital content for the BBC News website too.

You need to have a clear understanding of our audience, with the ability to find stories that are relevant to them.

You need to be a multi-skilled journalist with a strong understanding of our target audience.

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 we’re keen to hear from journalists with online experience – including social media specialists.

You’ll know what’s important to young British Asians and you’ll have creative ideas about how to tell those stories.

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.