Jobs at The Citizen

VACANCY – SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Citizen has a full time, office-based vacancy in its Johannesburg (Industria West, Roodepoort) office for a SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST, reporting to the Digital Editor.

Main Responsibilities

  • Social media management and facilitation to increase brand awareness and brand loyalty and drive Pageviews and traffic to The Citizen’s website.
  • Effectively leverage social media platforms to reach a wider audience and enhance the overall online presence of The Citizen.
  • Increasing audience engagement: Engage with the audience through social media platforms to build a loyal following and increase interaction with news content.
  • Work with the editorial and advertising teams to generate content for social media platforms.
  • Monitor news/trends/competitors.
  • Ensure that social media platforms stay up to date with relevant, goal driven content.
  • Analyse and compile reports to monitor and improve the performance of all social media channels.
  • Use analytics tools to determine what works and what doesn’t on our social media pages.
  • Adhere to algorithm specifications / requirements on the social media platforms.
  • Identify and use the best keywords in posts to increase awareness of The Citizen’s stories.
  • Track trends and news across social media platforms to discover articles, videos, topics etc. that could be used on the Citizen.co.za.
  • Post live reports, updates, videos, photos on social media channels as events are taking place.
  • Community management

Core Competencies:

Knowledge/Experience

  • Matric/Grade 12
  • An appropriate Bachelor’s or higher degree
  • Proven, related, work experience

Attitude

  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Willingness to learn
  • Detail-oriented
  • Self-motivated
  • Dynamic, adaptable and flexible
  • Deadline driven
  • Team player
  • Excellent writing skills

Other requirements:

  • Valid driver’s licence
  • Own vehicle
  • Solid references
  • No criminal record
  • Please send suitable applications with a full CV to cvs@citizen.co.za
  • Reference in subject line: SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
  • Closing date for applications:  30 June 2024

VACANCY: NEWS EDITOR

An exciting opportunity for a go-getter with an excellent sense for news exists as a News Editor in The Citizen’s editorial department, for the newspaper.

The ideal candidate will have the opportunity to be at the forefront of daily news gathering and production in South Africa.

This is a dynamic position which requires someone with a passion for breaking news and managing an energetic news desk.

Main Responsibilities:

  • Quickly identify, assign and publish news stories.
  • Manage journalists, their news diaries and training.
  • Attend general news meetings and update news diary daily.
  • Compile and organise a running diary for future events.
  • Generate original story ideas.
  • Work closely with journalists to develop stories.
  • Ensure that news articles from the department are accurate and drive editorial excellence.
  • Mentor and train journalists and interns in order to produce outstanding copy.
  • Ensure deadlines are met.
  • Line edit stories in order to identify problems such as libel or inaccuracy and to ensure complete fairness.
  • Ensure smooth operation of the news desk, making sure problems are identified early and dealt with promptly and in a positive manner.
  • Liaise with editors, journalists, production and bureaus.
  • Monitor electronic news, other newspapers and the wires to ensure that topical stories are being picked up on.
  • Assist in recruiting journalists.
  • Ensure all sources in the assigned beat areas are regularly covered.
  • To liaise with photographic department to ensure visual elements of stories.
  • Liaise with the digital department to promote digital story-telling.
  • Drive best digital and social media practices to create engaging content.

Core Competencies:

Knowledge/Experience

  • Matric/Grade 12 qualification or SAQA Accredited Equivalent
  • An appropriate bachelor’s or higher degree in Journalism
  • Minimum 8 years’ experience in mainstream journalism in a national newsroom, with a proven track record in hard news gathering.
  • Suitable experience managing a news desk / team of reporters
  • Good talent for writing and copy tasting abilities
  • Advanced awareness of the media law and current trends.

Attitude

  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Self-motivated
  • Deadline driven
  • Team player

Other requirements:

  • Valid driver’s licence
  • Own vehicle
  • Solid references
  • No criminal record
  • Please send suitable applications with a full CV to cvs@citizen.co.za
  • Reference in subject line: News Editor
  • Closing date for applications:  30 June 2024

VACANCY: DIRECT (PRINT MEDIA – NEWSPAPER) SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Province: Gauteng
City: Industria West, Roodepoort, Johannesburg
Type: Full-time; office based

The Citizen currently has a vacancy for a Direct Sales Representative in its sales department. The suitable candidate will be part of a vibrant, forward-thinking team, and be responsible for selling advertising opportunities to direct advertisers.

It is the ideal opportunity for an energetic, self-motivated person with a passion for sales. The successful candidate will report directly to the Direct Sales Manager.

Requirements for the position
• Minimum qualification: National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) or similar
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in a direct sales environment, related to the specific portfolio which will be discussed during the interview
• Sales or marketing diploma (IMM/AAA) will be an advantage
• Willing to do a minimum number of client visits per month of which the majority must be new business.
• Market knowledge and insight
• Strong customer service ability
• Strong negotiation skills
• Must be able to establish and maintain business relationships
• Proven references in terms of client basis within the portfolio field
• Be able to cold canvass and must be target-driven
• Strong admin and planning skills and computer literate
• Proven experience on direct sales
• Tenacity and initiative
• Own reliable transport and driver’s license: not negotiable
• Own cell phone

Key responsibilities
• Ensure targets are met and exceeded
• Grow existing and new business by effectively identifying new opportunities
• Needs analysis

Please send suitable applications with a full CV to cvs@citizen.co.za
Reference in subject line: Direct Sales Representative
Closing date for applications: 30 June 2024

VACANCY: SPORTS REPORTER

The Citizen is seeking to employ a general sports reporter, with a focus on rugby and cricket, within the editorial department, in Cape Town or Johannesburg, reporting to the Head of Sport.

The position will require the candidate to work for print and digital platforms and will involve sub-editing and content-loading administrative tasks.


Purpose of the job:

To cover sports events assigned by the Head of Sport and to write accurate and well-written sports stories for daily publication in The Citizen’s sports pages and website and up-to-the minute content across all digital platforms.

Main Responsibilities:

  • Production of accurate and well-written sports copy for both the daily newspaper and the website.
  • Manage your own daily diary, and pitching unique story ideas, with creative angles, ideas, proposals and elements.
  • Create, publish, and promote multimedia content, working independently as well as with the multimedia team.
  • Liaising with photographers about specific events.
  • Monitor and effectively use social media to pick up news leads and story ideas, as well as promote your work.
  • Gathering of news from a variety of reliable sources.
  • Covering important events/issues timeously.
  • Establishing a network of contacts.
  • Contribute on the production side of both print and digital.
  • Maintaining of good relationship with colleagues.
  • Staying up to date with privacy, contempt and defamation laws.
  • Adhere to Code of Ethics and Editorial Standards and Practices.
  • Monitor analytics to maximise all stories and articles published on citizen.co.za.
  • Adhere to Google algorithm requirements and write with SEO and Google search in mind.
  • Study and adhere to The Citizen and citizen.co.za’s Voice and Style Guide.

Knowledge/Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Journalism.
  • Wide knowledge and passion for sport, in particular sound knowledge of rugby and cricket.
  • 3 years’ relevant experience in a similar position.

Skills:

Full knowledge of:

  • MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook.
  • Excellent people and relationship-building skills.
  • Knowledge and understanding of digital publishing platform WordPress or similar platform.
  • SEO best practices and digital publishing.

Attitude:

  • Ability to work accurately and efficiently.
  • Excellent communication skills and an ability to work individually on a project or in a team environment.
  • Deadline driven.
  • Innovative and independent.
  • High degree of professional Journalistic conduct.
  • Proven journalistic track record.
  • Knowledge of media and publishing law
  • Excellent writing skills and ability to create editorial and multimedia content.

Other Requirements:

  • Valid driver’s licence.
  • Own reliable vehicle.
  • Solid references.
  • Required to work on weekends, public holidays and nights, as this is the nature of Sports.

Please send suitable applications with a full CV to cvs@citizen.co.za

Reference in subject line: Sport Reporter

Closing date for applications:  30 June 2024

Preference will be given to individuals who will add to the diversity of the organisation.

The Citizen reserves the right to not fill the position.