What this life looks like
You bring the news to life on screen and on air. Broadcast Journalists report, present, and produce news and current affairs content for television and radio. In Africa — where media freedom, political accountability, and access to information are live issues — broadcast journalists play a vital democratic role. The best African broadcast journalists are known internationally and their work shapes the continent's public discourse.
What she actually does
You identify and investigate news stories, conduct interviews, write scripts for on-air presentation, present news bulletins and current affairs programmes, report live from locations including conflict zones and disaster areas, file packages for broadcast, manage social media presence, and maintain the standards of accuracy, impartiality, and fairness that journalism requires.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| International Broadcasters | BBC Africa, CNN Africa, Al Jazeera English/Arabic, France 24 Africa, DW Africa, VOA Africa |
| Pan-African Television | Africa24, CNBC Africa, NTV Africa, Arise News — pan-African news broadcasters |
| National Broadcasters | SABC (SA), NTA (Nigeria), KBC (Kenya), GBC (Ghana), ERTV (Ethiopia) — national public broadcasters |
| Digital News Media | TechCabal TV, Channels TV Online, NdaniTV — digital-first broadcast journalism |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa's media sector is expanding — new television channels, digital news platforms, and radio stations are launching across the continent. International broadcasters including BBC Africa, Al Jazeera, CNN Africa, and DW are growing their Africa operations and recruiting African journalists. The demand for broadcast journalists who can speak to African audiences authentically has never been greater.
Your pathway in
- Study Journalism, Mass Communication, or a subject with strong writing and research skills
- Gain experience at student media organisations, campus radio, or local TV stations during your studies
- Apply for internships or graduate journalist schemes at broadcasters and news organisations
- Build a showreel of your on-screen presenting, reporting, and storytelling
- Develop deep expertise in a beat — politics, economics, health, or culture — alongside broad news skills
Skills you will need
- On-camera presenting
- News writing for broadcast
- Interviewing
- Live reporting
- Video journalism
- Social media journalism
A woman in this field
Zeinab Badawi
Sudan/UK
Zeinab is one of the world's most respected broadcast journalists, known for her authoritative interviews with heads of state and coverage of African affairs for the BBC World Service, where she has worked for decades. Born in Sudan and raised in the UK, she has been a powerful voice for African perspectives in international media and has interviewed virtually every major African leader of the past 30 years. She is President of the Royal African Society and an ambassador for African education.
Take your first step
- Present a two-minute mock news bulletin on your phone — write a script about something happening in your school or community and deliver it to camera
- Study how a television news package is structured — the BBC News Academy publishes free guides at newshub.bbc.co.uk
- Research journalism degree programmes in your country and find the broadcasters that offer graduate trainee programmes
- Follow BBC Africa, Al Jazeera Africa, and Channels TV on social media to see how stories are reported and what makes broadcast journalism distinctive
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