Cosmopolitan is the number one young women's magazine in South Africa; an indispensable read for an army of loyal Fun, Fearless Females. The magazine is not only known for its excellent editorial, but also its famous events including Cosmopolitan Summer, Cosmopolitan SA Hottest Barmen, Cosmo Lingerie Show, Cosmo Awesome Women and Cosmo Kicks Butt self-defence workshops.
FEATURES EDITOR (COSMOPOLITAN)
- Location: Cape Town, WC
- Date Required: 01/05/2013
- Job Type: Full Time
- Education: Diploma or equivalent
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manages the features section of the publication:
- Manages and liaises with writers, internal and external, on all editorial
- Builds relationships with writers to ensure strong stories for the publication
- Negotiates freelance rates (in line with Associated Magazines rates)
- Finalizes and communicates clear briefs to freelancers and staff writers, and thereafter administers content to completion
- Meets picture editor after features have been commissioned to discuss topics and subjects to be photographed
- Mentors and nurtures more-junior staff writers; finds and develops new writing talent, particularly black writers
- Keeps up-to-date on general and news knowledge
- Maintains a strong network of contacts
- Has a good knowledge of available syndication material (and what stories/subjects already covered)
- Working alongside the digital team to generate online and digital content
- Convenes features meetings timeously.
- Originates editorial ideas and sources stories, including those with local content.
- Assists the editor in compiling the features list, ensuring a balanced mix of features.
- Draws up the booklist and keeps it updated, circulating it to Cape Town staff as well as the Joburg bureau.
- Participates in discussion of content and cover options, and assists with cover lines.
- Edits/rewrites/localises OR writes a share of the features and/or the pages for a certain section of the magazine (for example, all fashion pages), as agreed with features team, ensuring copy is right for Cosmo.
- Writes headlines, intros and captions when necessary.
- Double-checks potentially libelous or controversial articles, asking sub-editors to return them for sign-off after lay-out.
- Helps oversee adherence to the magazine’s brand values and reader profile.
- Ensures that appropriate women for Cosmopolitan appear in the publication.
- At book make-up, checks that the flow and pace of features is good and that there aren’t any repetitions or contradictions.
Responds to queries and all incoming mail and faxes on editorial submissions.
Contributes to the publication’s overall stance on issues and engages in PR and publicity if required.
Liaises on a regular basis with the senior editor in Johannesburg, making sure she is part of the team, keeping her in touch with what’s happening in the Cape Town office and making sure the senior editor does the same in return.
Assists the editor when needed.
REQUIREMENTS:
The features editor needs to:
- have three or four years’ experience in magazines or similar, and have a good grasp of the interests of their readers;
- have a good knowledge of — and a love for — the English language;
- have an interest in and a good knowledge of popular culture in South Africa and internationally;
- be able to work with copy on a wide variety of topics, from fashion and beauty to finance and psychology;
- be comfortable working with features on sex;
- be able to motivate and guide writers;
- have good organisational skills;
- handle deadlines and work effectively under pressure; be computer literate (Microsoft Office Suite and the Internet)
For submissions: via Associated Media Careers page
Website: http://www.assocmedia.co.za/brands/1/cosmopolitan
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