News Assignment Editor Free State

CLOSING DATE: 27 JULY 2026

NEWS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Bloemfontein (FS)

Division: News and Current Affairs

Position ID: 60018975  

Scale code: 300

Reporting Line: Regional Editor

Main purpose of the position:

To provide a newsgathering support service to the newsroom, assign, brief, and debrief reporters, manage story development, identify developing stories, and break new angles.

Key Accountabilities:

·       Identify and initiate news stories for SABC News and ensure that they are properly resourced.

·       Contribute to regional and national news diaries and attend editorial meetings.

·       Monitor the development and progress in the processing of stories throughout the day in consultation with journalists and technical staff (Line records)

·       Ensure that journalists deliver high-quality content and meet set deadlines for various SABC News programmes.

·       Continually brief and debrief journalists on editorial content of news stories and requirements.

·       Assign journalists according to their strengths and competencies for the best output.

·       Provide quality control function for focus, script, and sound in the production of news stories. 

·       Ensure productive deployment of resources.

·       Adhere to South Africa’s Constitution, all broadcasting and other legislation, ICASA regulations, the BCCSA Code of Conduct, SABC editorial policies, and radio news and current affairs style guide, etc.

·       Monitor the implementation of and adherence to the newsgathering Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

·       Identify and mitigate editorial and operational risks in line with broadcast regulations and editorial policies.

·       Liaise with senior editorial team members, technical support, platform editors, and news management regarding specific needs and requirements.

·       Handling of enquiries and content-related complaints.

·       Liaise with external stakeholders for newsgathering purposes.

·       Support and enable the successful implementation of SABC’s Performance Management System in accordance with the organizational policy and procedures.

·       Manage available staff and ensure fair and balanced distribution of work.

·       Guide team members to achieve the best and most effective on-air presentation and delivery.

·       Carry out evening shift duty as per newsroom requirements and roster responsibilities.

·       Coordinate the processing of invoices and timeous authorization of freelance payments, and proper deployment and utilization of resources.
 

Requirements:

·       National Diploma NQF 6 / Degree in Journalism NQF 7 or equivalent qualification.

·       8 years of editorial and writing experience

·       Understanding of regulations and legislation impacting broadcasting.

·       Advanced knowledge and understanding of News and Current Affairs production and publishing processes.  

·       Extensive knowledge of the relevant systems and broadcasting operations.

·       Strategic thinking and ability to improvise and innovate.

·       Excellent news judgment and news awareness

·       Keep abreast of the latest broadcasting technology.