Commissioning Editor – Current Affairs & Documentary at MultiChoice

Purpose of the Position:

• To oversee the Current Affairs slate for the premium segment.
• To oversee the Factual Entertainment for the premium segment.
• To oversee high-end and locally skewed documentaries for the premium segment.
• To ensure that the Current Affairs and Documentary slate is assessed against daily news and relevance
• To work with producers and legal to ensure risk is flagged where it is existed and mitigated where instructed.

Key Performance Objectives

Strategic Planning and Content Development

• Research and investigate Industry trends and changes in the market
• Report on alternate programmes/channels/trends and proactively present and discuss new ideas      
• Develop innovative new programmes taking into consideration the Channels positioning and strategy
• Spot new trends in current affairs content, new territories and approaches to contemporary programmes
• Work closely with Senior Manager on ensuring that the strategic objectives are met
• Write commission briefs according channel strategy
• Develop commercial documentaries for the group that aligns with viewer interests, while adhering to legal best-practice.
• Prepare content briefs for the industry and manage pitching sessions
• Monthly evaluated unsolicited scripted submissions that come through the submissions portal
• Establish and maintain effective relationship with Independent Producers
• Establish relationships with all internal stakeholders – Marketing, Publicity, Finance, DMS, Legal, Scheduling, Traffic and Operations

Managing Commissioning Process    

• Send out briefs to the industry and evaluate proposals according to the agreed upon sifting processes
• Ensure unsolicited proposals are submitted to the portal
• Monthly sifting sessions for unsolicited scripted proposals with feedback thereafter to the Senior Manager and Suppliers
• Ensure a fair submissions process in compliance with the company mandate
• Invite production houses to pitch proposals and oversee the pitching process
• Select successful proposals in alignment with channel content strategy
• Provide feedback to production companies after pitching sessions
• Implement and oversee contracting process for successfully commissioned shows with legal
• Oversee the budgeting process liaising between production and M-Net Finance with the Senior manager
• Ensure that production only commences once all paperwork and contracts are signed off.

Manage Production

• Ensure that all current affairs shows uphold fair and unbiased views.
• Ensure that all high-risk shows are flagged to Senior Manager and legal.
• Ensure that all internal stakeholders are kept abreast of new productions
• Communicate all aspects of production to Marketing, Publicity, DMS, Finance and other internal stakeholders
• Hold regular status meetings for productions including external and internal stakeholders
• Ensure that new productions are produced to the M-Net standards and are within the agreed budget and production timelines
• Manage all productions houses and suppliers strictly to contractual deliverables and ensure all contracts agreements are signed prior to production
• Manage the budget of all scripted productions with Senior Manager and Finance
• Approve scripts and shooting schedules for all programmes.
• View and provide editorial feedback on the various offline and online versions of programmes
• Approve all final programmes for broadcast ensuring the editorial ethos of M-Net 101 is adhered to.
• Ensure delivery programs and promotional material as per agreed schedule
• Ensure content is delivered on time for multiplatform use.

Compliance and Governance

• Ensure compliance with the BCCSA
• Ensure that all regulatory clearances (i.e Music/location/talent) as set out by commissioning/licensing contract is secured

Manage performance of commissioned Programmes

• Monitor commissioned programme performance against set business targets
• Develop contingency plans where improvements are required

Qualifications

• A Degree in Journalism, or Film and Television/ Scriptwriting/Film Production/Creative Writing

Experience

• Must be fluent in English & Afrikaans.
• A minimum of 5-7 years of experience as a journalist, executive producer, creative producer or scriptwriter.  
• Extensive television production, broadcasting, and/or newsroom knowledge and experience
• Experience delivering successful current affairs content, and/or documentary.
• Extensive understanding of audiences
• Deep knowledge of current and future content trends in multiple markets and platforms

Technical Competencies

• Financial Management
• Project Management
• Rights management(content)
• Editorial judgement
• Risk Management
• Audience knowledge