BBC Offers First Steps at 5 Live Newsroom

At Be Broadcast, we often say the media world needs new voices, not just louder ones. So news of the BBC’s First Steps: Radio 5 Live News Placements feels like an overdue and welcome move.

Set in Salford’s MediaCityUK, this paid, two-week placement scheme is designed for people who haven’t had formal journalism training but bring something just as important: curiosity, perspective, and a passion for storytelling.

This isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about genuinely shifting who gets to shape the national conversation.

What’s On Offer

Successful applicants will join BBC Radio 5 Live, working with producers, presenters and journalists on the station’s national news and current affairs output. The placements run in September 2025, giving people a rare behind-the-scenes experience of a major broadcaster.

Importantly, the scheme is open to those who’ve traditionally found the door to journalism locked — including individuals from working-class communities, underrepresented ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.

This initiative is part of the BBC’s broader strategy to make broadcasting more inclusive, representative, and reflective of modern Britain.

Why It Matters

Broadcast news thrives when it reflects the world it serves. At Be Broadcast, we’ve long championed fresh perspectives — whether it’s through community-led campaigns, regional voices, or spotlighting unheard stories.

So we’re thrilled to see one of the UK’s most high-profile radio stations investing in new talent outside traditional pathways.

We often speak to young people, career changers, and creative thinkers who feel called to media but don’t know how to start. This is a real answer to that question.

How to Apply

The deadline to apply is 3rd June 2025 at 11.59pm. The application process is hosted at careers.bbc.co.uk — and you don’t need a journalism degree, just genuine interest and a story to tell.

So if you’ve ever wanted to be part of the media that shapes the nation — or know someone who should be — now’s the time.

Let’s Broadcast a Better Future

At Be Broadcast, we believe the power of broadcast lies in its diversity of thought, experience, and background. Opportunities like these are about more than work experience — they’re about rewriting the script on who gets to inform, influence, and inspire.

More of this, please.