Journalist, Global Disinformation Unit

BBC Studios Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An international broadcasting organization in London is seeking a Journalist for its Global Disinformation Unit. This role focuses on producing impactful investigative stories that highlight the harms of disinformation. Candidates should have proven experience in investigative journalism, a solid understanding of disinformation, and proficiency in open-source intelligence tools. Offers a competitive salary, flexible working hours, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Competitive salary package

Flexible working hours

25 days annual leave

Defined pension scheme

Discounted dental and health care

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver original, high-impact investigations.
• Proven experience investigating coordinated influence operations.
• Experience with social media monitoring and open-source tools.

Responsibilities

• Producing and commissioning investigative stories.
• Tracking disinformation trends using analytic tools.
• Creating engaging content in video, audio, and text formats.

Skills

Investigative journalism experience

Disinformation journalism

Open-Source intelligence proficiency

Multiplatform storytelling

Excellent written English

Tools

BrandWatch

CrowdTangle

Job description

JOB BAND: C
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time / Attachment, seven months
DEPARTMENT: Global Disinformation Unit, BBC News
LOCATION: NBH, London
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £30,000 - £39,750 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the key teams at the BBC. The BBC Global Disinformation Unit challenges disinformation globally, exposing the industry behind fake news. As a Journalist in the team, you'll drive impactful investigations that hold power to account and tell stories about the real‑world harm of disinformation while navigating legal and editorial policy complexities. You will produce outstanding original investigations with and for the BBC’s World Service Languages.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

This is a chance to join the BBC’s Global Disinformation Unit and produce impactful investigations projects that expose disinformation actors and highlight the real‑world harms of disinformation. The team produces outstanding original journalism using data‑driven research and OSINT techniques alongside traditional journalism to bring audiences these stories in an accessible, engaging format.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Producing and commissioning investigative, global human‑interest stories that show the impact of disinformation on people’s lives and hold disinformation actors to account
• Tracking the spread of disinformation across global platforms and identifying trends in spread of disinformation content using OSINT, analytic tools and traditional journalism techniques
• Creating engaging short or long‑form video, audio and text formats that showcase the investigations
• Collaborating with other teams across the BBC, including the World Service Languages
• Ensuring all content upholds BBC editorial policy

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Proven experience in investigative journalism – Demonstrated ability to design and deliver original, high‑impact investigations, with experience working closely with high risk, safeguarding, legal and editorial policy teams.
• Experience with disinformation journalism – A solid track record of understanding how disinformation spreads and experience investigating coordinated influence operations and tracking digital manipulation.
• Open‑Source intelligence proficiency – Experience with social media monitoring and using open‑source tools and digital forensic techniques to gather and authenticate information from online platforms. Familiarity with tools such as BrandWatch and CrowdTangle and proven experience transforming data into compelling storytelling.
• Multiplatform storytelling experience – Success in translating complex, data‑heavy stories into compelling multi‑platform content. Demonstrated experience crafting investigative stories for a range of formats, from text pieces and long‑form documentaries to digital shorts. Strong scriptwriting skills are essential. Proficient in FCP to a high professional standard.
• Excellent written English – Ability to craft sharp, clear, and engaging copy for multiple platforms, with proven experience of stories shared with other Languages teams and English online.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED

• Proficiency in other languages besides English is desirable.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

About the BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Benefits

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35‑hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values‑based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract.

Find more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual’s unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief.

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: [e-mail]

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.