Senior Journalist

Remuneration: Market Related

Province: Gauteng

City: Industria West, Roodepoort

An opportunity for a Senior Journalist exists within our Editorial Department, reporting to the News Editor of The Citizen.

**Purpose of the Job**:
To cover news events assigned by the News Editor and to produce accurate and well-written stories daily for the Citizen’s print and online publication.

**Main Responsibilities**:

- Publish at least 4 high quality articles per week, across a variety of beats and topics (Exclusives, features, investigative pieces).
- Plan and write fresh, accurate copy to deadline for all platforms.
- Manage your own daily diary, and pitching unique story ideas, with creative angles and elements.
- Create, publish, and promote multimedia content, working independently as well as with the multimedia team.
- Researching of articles.
- Gathering of news from a variety of reliable sources.
- Interviewing sources.
- Covering important events/issues timeously.
- Staying up to date with privacy, contempt and defamation laws.
- Establishing and maintaining a network of contacts.
- Monitor and effectively use social media to pick up news leads and story ideas, as well as promote your work.
- Assist with administrative functions as directed.
- Mentor and coach junior staff members.
- Monitor analytics to maximise all stories and articles published on citizen.co.za.
- Adhere to Google algorithm requirements and write with SEO and Google search in mind.
- Study and adhere to The Citizen and citizen.co.za’s Voice and Style Guide.
- Adhere to Code of Ethics and Editorial Standards and Practices.

**Core Competencies Required**:
Knowledge:

- Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Journalism.
- Minimum 5 years’ mainstream journalism experience.
- Talent for writing, coupled with a keen interest in breaking news and current affairs.
- Established network of political contacts.
- Newsroom and current affairs writing experience.
- Ability to adapt to changing news and media scene, with a keen interest in news media.

**Skills**:

- Communication skills.
- Relationship-building skills.

Aptitude:

- Ability to work under pressure.
- Deadline driven.
- High degree of professional journalistic conduct.
- Ability to work both independently and in a team.
- Availability to work overtime and on weekends.
- Ability to work speedily but accurately.

Other Requirements:

- Valid driver’s license.
- Own reliable vehicle.
- Preference will be given to individuals who will add to the diversity of the organisation.
- The Citizen reserves the right to not fill the position.