Type: Permanent
Job description
Award-winning independent news agency, African Eye News Service (AENS) is looking to appoint two full-time sub-editors.
The mid-level positions are immediately available, and are based in the AENS newsroom in Mpumalanga's capital, Nelspruit.
Salary is commensurate with experience. The successful candidates will work as part of a team of six full-time reporters & wider network of 20+ on-the-ground correspondents to feed the national and international media with social-justice news from rural Mpumalanga & Limpopo, + neighbouring states.
AENS clientele range from the continent's largest daily newspaper, Daily Sun, to leading 'quality' weekend broadsheets, radio, TV, Internet, and other 'new media'.
AENS has over the past 15yrs produced some of SA's biggest name investigative reporters, specialist writers and newsroom leaders, and has an industry reputation for developing aspiring rural reporters into mainstream stars.
JOB DESCRIPTION: SUB-EDITOR
AENS supplies an electronic newsfeed of up to 20 stories per day to a network of national daily and weekly newspapers, various magazines, internet and broadcast (radio) clients, and a growing portfolio of local and regional newspapers.
The agency is also regularly commissioned to produce exclusive in-depth or investigative reportage for newspapers, magazines, and TV clients that include Carte Blanche.
Because AENS is a rural-based developmental news agency, with eight 'beat' reporters on staff, its sub-editors and other newsdesk managers are required to be good mentors. They work closely with young journalists, inspiring them to the highest ethical and professional standards, while also patiently teaching writing, research, and interview techniques.
Sub-editors should also be prepared to cover for AENS' news editor or editor on occasion, managing the newsfeed, compiling diaries, briefing & debriefing reporters, and liaising with client publications.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
* editing copy to correct legal, grammatical, factual and contextual errors;
* cutting/expanding, re-writing, re-angling/altering copy to fit requirements;
* writing headlines and captions accurately and creatively;
* writing stand-firsts (brief introductions which sum up the story);
* debriefing & liaising with reporters to clarify facts / context in stories;
* providing on-the-job training & mentoring for young journalists or interns;
* packaging stories with appropriate photos or graphics;
* meeting absolutely immovable deadlines;
* addressing concerns from client editors;
KNOWLEDGE / APTITUDE:
* Ability to sub-edit efficiently
* Expertise in spelling, grammar and punctuation
* Ability or make sure that writing flows, is logical and makes sense
* Awareness of legal environment
* Excellent general knowledge (including knowledge of Mpumalanga / Limpopo's socio-economic landscape)
* News sense
SKILLS / COMPETENCIES:
* Good communication skills
* Ability to work under pressure
* Ability to meet deadlines
The successful candidate will be a talented, motivated copy editor, with a keen eye for detail and a willingness and the patience to teach young journalists with weak to poor English first-language skills. He or she must ensure that copy is flawless, informative and, where necessary, entertaining.
The successful candidate will be an individual that is patient, hard-working individual with the ability to process, on average, 15 stories a day and willing to face intimidating deadlines with good humour.
Contact details:
Sharon Hammond
African Eye News Service
jobs@africanpress.com
More information here.
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