Senior Producer- Current Affairs: Setswana (NW) (12881) at The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead, guide and provide editorial direction to a team of Setswana Producers / Presenters in a bid to provide in-depth coverage of News and Current Affairs issues in accordance with the public mandate.
• Research stories and identify potential interviewees through various News mediums, including SABC News Research.
• Attend daily diary meetings with or at the request of the Executive Producer.
• Formulate the Radio Current Affairs programme running order, indicating stories, interviews and Questions & Answers (Q&As) for broadcast.
• Lead effective, efficient, and creative brainstorming sessions for Radio Current Affairs programmes and determine content depth and quality.
• Determine and assign stories, and continuously give direction to the production and broadcast team/s.
• Continuously follow-up on the progress of stories until delivered for on-air production and broadcast.
• Research, analyse and understand the undercurrents, subtexts and nuances in News stories, developments and determine their importance and relevance.
• Contact, schedule and line-up appropriate, relevant, diverse and different newsmakers, editors and reporters for their views and input on stories.
• Write, translate, voice, package and edit quality radio News and Current Affairs stories and features.
• Brief, guide, mentor and give direction to the production team regarding writing, translating and compiling cue-sheets, scripts and packages.
• Brief Producers / Presenters on different story angles to pursue.
• Edit all scripts and audio to ensure quality on-air production and broadcasts, including facts, accuracy, balance and fairness.
• Brief the Technical Producer / Operator on the programme running order and work with them to prepare for and process all audio items for broadcast.
• Write and produce strong teasers and programme trails with defining, meaningful and memorable soundbites.
• Monitor and give direction during the broadcast of the Radio Current Affairs programme.
• Professionally engage in, co-ordinate and check social media activity and content to enhance the programmes.
• Assign on-air tasks to Producers / Presenters (social media, follow-ups and breaking stories etc.).
• Determine where and when to slot in relevant and meaningful listener contributions during the live programme, including doing pre-interviews and written / social media communication and comment.
• Manage all segments in the programme to comply with the allocated and available time.
• Continuously review content, inserts, programmes and broadcasts for improvements.
• Form and maintain good relations with newsmakers and attend networking sessions.
• Consult and engage on stories daily and in advance of known news events, including briefing and debriefing sessions.
• Maintain good relations with editors and reporters to overcome challenges and defuse tension constructively.
• Archive all programmes in script and sound immediately after broadcast.
• Write / compile Outside Broadcast (OB) plans and submit feedback reports timeously.
• Contribute to compliance reports and listener complaints within required deadlines.
• Adhere to the Constitution, all broadcasting and other laws, ICASA licence conditions and regulations, the BCCSA and Press Council codes of conduct and rulings, SABC editorial policies, style-guide and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Minimum Requirements:

• National Diploma / Degree in Journalism or Media Studies or related equivalent qualifications
• 6 years’ proven experience in writing and producing News and Current Affair programmes, especially for radio
• Excellent mother-tongue proficiency / fluency and writing skills in Setswana
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• Understanding of legislation and regulations impacting broadcasting
• Good understanding of current trends in social, economic and political environment
• Computer literacy
• Understanding of multi-media platform production
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of Radio News and Current Affairs production processes, systems and broadcasts
• Strong news sense and editorial judgement
• Knowledge of and interest in radio broadcast developments and trends