BBC News has unveiled the digital team leading its newly launched Sydney bureau.
The team is made up of experienced digital journalists who will take responsibility for the BBC News site during Australia daytime hours. This change will enhance global breaking news content for UK BBC News online audiences as they start their day, bolster 24-hour news coverage for all audiences globally, and increase BBC News’ editorial presence in Australia.
Australian audiences have access to wide-ranging engaging content from across the BBC, through the launch of the BBC app and the refreshed BBC.com site last year.
The BBC’s digital platforms are a home for ground-breaking storytelling that starts conversations, including the free BBC News channel livestream and recent addition of BBC podcasts.
Leading the new team is Jay Savage as news editor. He was previously digital editor for almost 10 years with BBC News.
Savage’s team will consist of three senior journalists; Chris Graham who has previously worked with UK news outlets The Independent, The Times and The Daily Telegraph, Helen Sullivan who joins from her previous role as reporter and liveblogger with The Guardian, and Victoria Bourne who joins from her previous role as reporter with the ABC.
The team will be rounded out with three journalists; James Chater who joins from his previous role as correspondent with DW in Taipei, Yang Tian who joins from her previous role as news producer with The Guardian and Ottilie Mitchell who joins from the BBC News US digital team.
Recruitment will continue for further roles in the team.
“I am delighted that we have newly in place such a stellar team of editors and journalists for our Sydney bureau to enable us to deliver our world-class breaking news content online during local daytime,” Samanthi Dissanayake, executive news editor, Digital International, BBC News said.
“The team is part a much wider connected network of BBC News correspondents across the world who bring unrivalled expertise and access for our online global news stories.
“This enhancement serves all of our online audiences globally, and also the UK, where audiences will start their day with the best of our innovative and trustworthy news content.”
Top image: Jay Savage, Helen Sullivan, Chris Graham, Victoria Bourne