Journalist (Actuality And News) at Media24 (Pty) Ltd

The role:

Pop24, Media24’s in-house television production unit, is looking for an enthusiastic journalist to join our ever-growing team on a 4-month contract starting from 1 June 2024 to 30 September 2024. The successful candidate will be a skilled writer with a passion for the job capable of both informing and entertaining viewers. They will primarily be responsible for assisting the Creative Producer for an actuality news show for a broadcaster. The role requires someone who is innovative, creative, and a problem-solver.

Key responsibilities:

• Conduct research to uncover interesting and significant news. 
• Assist to prepare and compile a rundown for broadcast with audio-visual material as prepared and packaged through the collaboration of the team. 
• Identify and utilise a wide spectrum of news sources and contacts and a network in the Afrikaans news environment and maintain these relationships for future use.  
• Interview key persons (witnesses, sources etc.) to obtain more information. 
• Research must be done responsibly by reaching out to relevant resources.  
• Ensure all facts are correct by double-checking with various sources.  
• Obtain first-hand information by being present in happenings. 
• Receive assignments or investigate news leads/tips. 
• Ensure that episodic content packs are deep and consistent by not only offering well-known and obvious information. 
• Maintain notes and audio recordings. 
• Ensure all responsibilities align with the deadlines in the production sheets. 
• Responsible for ensuring that script writing is done in the correct tonality. 
• Ensure that the correct information is supplied, and that spelling is correct.  
• Must attend shoots if required to do so by the creative producer.  
• Ensure that all stakeholders are up to date with any editorial developments.
• Employ networks and think of creative ways of ensuring all guests and experts are of outstanding quality.  
• Ensure good relations and clear communication are held with all relevant participants. 
• Ensure that a record is kept of all guests and experts.  

Skills and competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Afrikaans and English. 
• Detail orientated. 
• Think creatively. 
• Able to create and manage goals and deadlines. 
• Good people skills. 
• Confidence, determination, and drive. 
• Quick learner. 
• Comply with the moral code of the profession. 
• Keep abreast of developments by studying papers, attending events etc. 
• Able to work on numerous projects that happen at the same time. 
• Experience in a position that was highly pressurised.  

Additional requirements:

• Relevant Journalism degree
• Minimum of 3 years experience working in journalism
• A valid driver’s license