Job purpose

Reporting to the Sajha Sawal Editor and working on set to the direction of the Senior Producer, the Presenter will present the Sajha Sawal programme, facilitating the audience to ask questions of decision makers and moderating the debate between audience and their leaders.

The Presenter moderates the lively discussions that take place between studio audience and panellists each week, and will ensure that the leaders and policy makers respond clearly and directly to the questions addressed to them. The post holder will also pose questions submitted through social media. The Presenter will work with the rest of the Sajha Sawal editorial and production team to plan future programmes based on research evidence of audience needs, identify suitable panellists and review programmes following production. The post is based in Kathmandu and will require regular travel throughout Nepal.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Present Sajha Sawal the weekly radio and television discussion programme, ensuring high journalistic standards and compliance with BBC Editorial Guidelines at all times including accuracy, fairness, balance and impartiality
• Contribute across the range of editorial activities within the Sajha Sawal team, including offering ideas for future programme topics, selecting panellists, forward planning and background research
• Produce high quality scripts for promos and programme links
• Attend weekly editorial planning meetings for Sajha Sawal, programme debriefs and programme reviews
• Maintain an excellent contacts book of potential panellists for the debates from political and civil society
• Contribute to the long term vision for Sajha Sawal that puts improving the lives of people in Nepal as the focal point of the programme
• Provide support to presenters from the FM partners of BBC Media Action as they moderate their own local versions of Sajha Sawal
• Engage proactively with Sajha Sawal audiences through social media activities

Essential skills and experience

• Experience working as a journalist and presenter in television and/or radio.
• A strong background in current affairs journalism. Considerable experience in presenting radio and/or television programming.
• Excellent presentation skills and an engaging broadcast voice.
• Well-developed facilitation, moderation and interviewing skills.
• An understanding of the role of media in providing a platform for accountability, and the wider role of media in development.
• Able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Excellent editorial judgement and knowledge of BBC editorial guidelines and how they apply to programme content.
• Excellent writing skills for radio and/or television.
• A good understanding of the processes of radio and/or television production.
• Clear understanding of the aims and values of BBC Media Action and an awareness of the development goals of our programming.

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience working in the development sector in Nepal or elsewhere.

Competencies
The following competencies (behaviours and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in the job. Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate these competencies.

• Editorial Judgement: Demonstrates balanced and objective judgement based on a thorough understanding of editorial guidelines, target audience, programme and department objectives. Makes the right editorial decisions, taking account of conflicting views where necessary.
• Communication: The ability to get one’s message understood clearly by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information.
• Creative Thinking: Is able to transform creative ideas/impulses into practical reality. Can look at existing situations and problems in novel ways and come up with creative solutions.
• Decision Making: Is ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the decisions made.
• Planning and organising: Is able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources requirements.
• Resilience: Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, set-backs or when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.
• Influencing and persuading: Ability to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others. Can draw from a range of strategies to persuade people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change.
• Managing relationships and team working: Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people. Works cooperatively with others to be part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively.

To apply,
If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a CV and covering letter outlining your interest in the role, and demonstrating how you fulfil the essential skills and experience, by 28 March 2014 to [email protected]