Senior Producer: Xitsonga Current Affairs (12647) at The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead, guide and provide editorial direction to a team of Xitsonga producers / presenters in a bid to provide in-depth coverage of 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.
• Compile the 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 and Current Affairs stories and developments and also determine their importance and relevance.
• Contact, schedule and line-up appropriate, relevant 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 digital / social media activity and content to enhance 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 a 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 programmes 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 and rulings, SABC Editorial Policies, style-guide and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) etc.

Requirements:

• National Diploma / Degree in Journalism or Media Studies or related equivalent qualifications (NQF 6 / 7)
• 6 years’ proven experience in writing and producing News and Current Affairs programmes, especially for radio
• Xitsonga proficiency and fluency, including exceptional reading, writing, translating and speaking skills
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• Understanding legislation and regulations impacting broadcasting
• Good understanding of current trends in the social, economic and political environment
• Computer literacy
• Understanding 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