News Assignment Editor

South African Broadcasting Corporation - Bloemfontein, Free State

Closing date yi 27 ka July 2026

Purpose

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

Requirements

National Diploma NQF 6 / Degree in Journalism NQF 7 or equivalent qualification.
8 years of editorial and writing experience

Skills & Competencies

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 judgement and news awareness
Keep abreast of the latest broadcasting technology.

Responsibilities

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 organisational 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 authorisation of freelance payments, and proper deployment and utilisation of resources.