Job Summary
A full time, office-based opportunity for a Digital Journalist exists within our Editorial (Digital) Department, reporting to the Deputy Digital Editor of The Citizen.
Closing date: 29 February 2024
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Purpose of the Job
To cover news events assigned by the Editors and to produce accurate and well-written stories daily for our publication.
Main Responsibilities
• Plan and write fresh, accurate copy to deadline for all platforms, in co-operation with the Digital Editor and Deputy Digital Editor.
• Manage your own daily diary, and pitch 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.
• Adhere to Code of Ethics and Editorial Standards and Practices.
• Monitor and effectively use social media to pick up news leads and story ideas, as well as promote your work.
• Upload and publish stories using the company’s CMS.
• Assist with online administrative functions as directed.
• Mentor and coach junior staff members.
• Monitor analytics constantly.
• Utilise 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.
Core Competencies
Knowledge:
• Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Journalism.
• Minimum 3 years’ mainstream journalism experience.
• Talent for writing, coupled with a keen interest in breaking news and current affairs and politics.
• Established network of contacts.
• Newsroom and current affairs writing experience.
• Ability to adapt to changing news and media scene, with a keen interest in new media
Skills:
• Experience using any CMS (WordPress, Joomla, etc.)
• Experience in using Adobe CS, Final Cut or other video editing tools, or audio editing tools.
• Basic Photography/videography 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
How to Apply
• Please send suitable applications with a full CV to cvs@citizen.co.za
• Reference in subject line: Digital Journalist
• Closing date for applications: 29 February 2024
• 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.
About The Citizen
The Citizen is a Gauteng-based daily, national newspaper, distributed Monday to Friday, with its core circulation in Gauteng (82%). Saturday Citizen appears on Saturdays.
The Citizen is edited by Trevor Stevens, published daily, and carries quality content across its various editorial pillars including: news, business, sport, lifestyle and entertainment, motoring, horseracing, gaming and auctions.
The Citizen embarked on its digital evolution in 2013. The website went live on 1 August 2013 with a fresh look and more responsive design adaptable to mobile, tablet and desktop.
Since then, citizen.co.za has established itself among the top 10 South African news websites, with around 4 million unique browsers and 20 million page views per month.
While we are a general news site, we also reach niche audiences, as the website – just like the print newspaper – caters to our readers’ varied interests.
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