Jobs at The Citizen

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 April 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.

NEWS REPORTER x 2

Two positions for News Reporters exist within our Editorial Department reporting to the News Editor of The Citizen newspaper. The positions are full time, office-based, when not out in the field and based in Industria West, Roodepoort.

Purpose of the job:

To cover news events assigned by the News Editor and to write accurate and well-written stories for daily publication.

Main Responsibilities:

Production of accurate and well-written news copy
Interviewing people in a range of circumstances
Seeking out and investigating stories via your contacts
Covering important events/issues timeously
Use sources, documents, computer-assisted reporting, and other journalistic tools to develop, report and write exclusive/unique stories
Work with the News Editor in the development of story and project ideas
editor
Do fact checking of all articles you write
Adhere to Code of Ethics and Editorial Standards and Practices
Establishing a network of contacts
Monitor electronic news outlets to pick up on news leads and story ideas
Working across the different news platforms of The Citizen
Taking stories forward at any time of the day, on the most appropriate news platform of The Citizen
Update social media accounts for the purpose of promoting The Citizen’s digital strategy.
Study and adhere to The Citizen and citizen.co.za’s Voice and Style Guide.
Identify and develop newsworthy online stories in conjunction with the news editor
Monitor and utilise 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. Although this is a print position and the Reporter will write for the newspaper, The Citizen has a digital-first mindset and all Reporters must be familiar with digital concepts such as analytics and SEO.

Core Competencies:

Knowledge/Experience	Skills	Attitude
Talent for writing coupled with a keen news sense and interest in breaking news and current affairs	MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook	Ability to accurately, speedily and under pressure
Ability to adapt to changing news and media scene, with a keen interest in news media	Excellent relationship -building and communication skills	High degree of professional journalistic conduct
Matric and Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Journalism	Ability to communicate and post on news events via multiple social media platforms	Deadline driven
At least 4 years’ mainstream journalism experience in a national newsroom	Experience in monitoring and utilising analytics	Ability to work both independently and in a team
Established network of contacts	Experience in adhering to Google algorithm requirements and writing with SEO and Google search in mind.	Availability to work at times irregular hours and on weekends due to the nature of news.

Other requirements:

Valid driver’s licence essential
Own vehicle essential
Solid references
No criminal record

Please send suitable applications with a full CV to cvs@citizen.co.za
Reference in subject line: News Reporter
Closing date for applications: 30 April 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.

ONLINE SUB-EDITOR

A position for an Online Sub Editor exists within our Editorial (Digital) Department, reporting to the Digital News Editor of The Citizen. This position is office-based in Industria West, Roodepoort.

General:
• Must be competent as a copy sub.
• Must be able to work according to strict deadlines.
• Must be passionate about online news and have a strong news sense and interest in current affairs.
• Will work office-based shifts as per operational requirements.

Copyediting:
• Writes or rewrites headlines that work well online, not relying on the headlines off the wires, from journalists or what was in the paper.
• Able to correct common and more subtle errors of grammar, typos, etc.
• Ability and application to rewrite and re-angle copy whenever necessary.
• Give feedback to team members who commit the same errors repeatedly.
• Should be able to prioritise stories.
• Should have enough of a grounding in the facts of whatever stories are dominating the news cycle that he or she will be able to contextualise stories accurately where required or ask the journalist concerned to research and add required information.
• Should be able to spot and rectify mistakes or have these re-checked if something does not seem right.
• Should be aware of the laws that govern our industry so that we do not get into trouble legally or from a more general perspective.
• Names need to be checked and their spelling needs to be consistent.
• Monitor analytics to maximise all stories and articles published on citizen.co.za.
• Adhere to Google algorithm requirements and edit with SEO and Google search in mind.
• Study and adhere to The Citizen and citizen.co.za’s Voice and Style Guide.
• Adhere to Code of Ethics and Editorial Standards and Practices.

Core Competencies:

Knowledge/Experience
• Matric/Grade 12 qualification or SAQA Accredited Equivalent
• An appropriate bachelor’s or higher degree in Journalism/Linguistics or appropriate work experience.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in mainstream journalism in a national news room.
• Advanced awareness of media law and current trends.

Skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Good computer skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Good administrative skills

Attitude
• Ability to work under pressure
• News awareness
• 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: Online Sub Editor
• Closing date for applications: 30 April 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.