The BBC World Service has unveiled a series of programming and organisational changes aimed at bringing journalism closer to audiences in Africa. The move is designed to deepen regional storytelling, enhance local relevance, and expand the presence of African perspectives across the BBC’s global news platforms.
As part of the shift, the flagship global news programme Newsday will adopt a dual-location presentation model split between London and Nairobi. A new team is being established in Kenya, with presenter Anne Soy anchoring from Nairobi alongside co-presenters Rob Young and James Copnall in London. The refreshed format will debut on December 1.
In a further strategic realignment, the BBC is relocating its Focus on Africa podcast from London to Nairobi, bringing it under the same roof as the programme’s established TV unit. The daily news podcast will continue to provide continent-wide coverage, while a visualised in-depth episode-led by presenter Nkechi Ogbonna-will be published every Friday and distributed on the BBC News Africa YouTube channel.
The Focus on Africa TV programme, fronted by Waihiga Mwaura, will maintain its editorial sensibility but undergo a design refresh with an updated format and a more pronounced digital-first approach. Production will transition fully to Nairobi, supported by teams operating across both Nairobi and Lagos.
According to Juliet Njeri, Regional Director for Africa, these updates form part of a broader global restructuring effort intended to strengthen the BBC’s connection with the roughly 120 million people it reaches weekly across Africa. The revamped Focus on Africa formats will roll out on December 2 across BBC radio, digital, and podcast platforms.
