Senior Bulletin Writer: Setswana at The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

• To lead, guide and provide editorial direction to the Setswana Audio News / Radio Bulletin and Production team with the Bulletin Editor in providing depth of coverage to current issues by investigating and exploring angles of news stories, developments and trends.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Lead effective, efficient and creative brainstorming sessions for Setswana Audio / Radio News Bulletins and content selection in accordance with SABC News and Current Affairs’ editorial objectives and the public mandate.
• Compile a newsworthy list / running order of Bulletin stories in consultation with the Bulletin Editor.
• Correct linguistic, grammatical and factual errors.
• Attend daily and weekly national diary / editorial and planning meetings with or at the request of the line manager.
• Determine and assign stories and continuously give direction to the team.
• Ensure that all stories adhere to the highest quality of editorial and language standards.
• Continuously follow-up on the progress and angles of stories until delivered for broadcasting, posting and publishing.
• Research, analyse and understand the undercurrents, subtexts and nuances in news stories, developments and trends to determine their importance, relevance and impact on the target audience.
• Determine different news angles and updates for each story to pursue for broadcasting, posting and publishing.
• Ensure adequate planning of Bulletins.
• Write, translate, voice, edit and read (“present”) quality stories in accordance with all platform requirements.
• Brief Bulletin Writers / Readers on different story angles to pursue.
• Verify all audiovisual content, material and scripts to ensure factual accuracy, balance and fairness of Bulletins and all digital / online / social media content.
• Brief technical team members, where applicable, on the Bulletin running order and collaborate in preparing for broadcasts.
• Write and produce strong headlines / teasers with defining, meaningful and memorable news story soundbites / audio content.
• Print scripts and running orders according to the required Bulletin structure and deadlines.
• Engage in, co-ordinate and check online / digital / social media activity and content to enhance Bulletins.
• Perform and assign tasks to Bulletin Writers / Readers (social media, follow-ups and breaking stories etc).
• Continuously review Bulletins for improvements.
• Alert Bulletin Editor about live interviews and breaking news for consideration.
• Follow-up on tipoffs, leads and stories.
• Consult and engage on stories daily and in advance of known news events, including briefing and debriefing sessions.
• Promote good professional and interpersonal relationships and maintain a productive environment.
• Contribute to compliance reports and listener complaints within required deadlines.
• Write daily end-of-shift production reports for editors.
• Adhere to South Africa’s Constitution, all legislation, ICASA’s licence conditions and regulations, the BCCSA and Press Council codes and rulings, the SABC Editorial Policies, SABC News style-guide and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

REQUIREMENTS:

• National diploma / degree (NQF 6 / 7) in journalism, media studies or relevant equivalent qualification.
• 6 years’ proven experience in writing, translating, producing, voicing and reading News Bulletins and Current Affairs programmes.
• Setswana proficiency and fluency, including exceptional writing, translating, reading and speaking / presenting skills to optimise impact of editorial content.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Good, clear broadcast voice.
• Strong news sense, editorial judgement, general knowledge and attention to detail.
• Professional communication and interaction with all stakeholders.
• Good understanding of current trends in the social, economic and political environment.
• Well-developed computer literacy for news broadcasting, posting and publishing environment.
• Good understanding of news multimedia, multiplatform production and use of social media as a journalistic tool.
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of Audio / Radio News and Current Affairs production and broadcasting processes and systems.
• Advanced understanding of broadcasting, posting and publishing laws and regulations, as well as news / media developments, trends and technologies.
• Knowledge of and interest in news, radio broadcast and digital / online developments and trends.
• Ability and willingness to work under pressure, including long and irregular hours.

Deadline:7th April,2026