Job description

Vacancy for: Junior Editor

Based: Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa

How to apply: Use ‘Apply’ button on this page. Please do not send applications by email.

Projects Abroad’s mission is to provide the gold standard of support and safety, so our volunteers and interns can fulfill their potential, discover themselves and create positive change in the world.

Projects Abroad is the world’s largest international volunteering and internship provider, recruiting young people from all over the world.

We’ve been running projects and sending volunteers/interns all over the world for 25 years. We have sent over 115,000 enthusiastic volunteers to 29 countries to teach conversational English and to gain work experience in the fields of medicine, journalism, veterinary science, law and conservation.

Cape Chameleon is a volunteer-led magazine sponsored by Projects Abroad and staffed by writers from all over the world. Based in the Southern Suburbs, the online magazine covers subjects ranging from human rights to the environment to reviews. 

The Junior Editor assists volunteers to write articles for the online magazine, maintains social media platforms, manages the WordPress site and helps to mentor different levels of writers into budding journalists.

As a Junior Editor, you will:

• Ensure editorial standard of excellence.
• Interact and build relationships with volunteers from all different ages, countries and backgrounds.
• Conduct detailed and enthusiastic inductions for every volunteer who arrives at the journalism placement.
• Plan your workload and the workload of volunteers thoroughly.
• Make decisions and give direction to volunteers on a daily basis.
• Plan and organise events for journalism volunteers to attend and participate in.
• Run in-house workshops for journalism volunteers on themes and topics connected to journalism.
• Constantly motivate and inspire the volunteers with their work and guide them through every process from researching, interviewing, writing, editing. This involves giving detailed feedback on their articles, suggesting improvements and advising them on how to execute these changes.
• Upload content using our WordPress platform, carefully checking published material and following template styles.
• Research pictures and run copyright clearance if necessary.
• Update the Projects Abroad database weekly with information on the project and the interns; as well as liaise with Projects Abroad staff, locally and internationally.
• Represent the company at various events if needed and actively look for ways to build on the brand.

Job conditions

The successful candidate will be employed on a short-term six-month contract. Please specify your availability in the application form.

An offer of employment is dependent upon receipt of satisfactory references, a criminal record check and a successful personal interview.

Salary and benefits

Projects Abroad pays a competitive local salary, as well as agreed day-to-day work-related expenses.

To apply

Complete the online application form by making sure you fill out all required fields. (If any of them are not applicable, please state NA).

Upload a two-page CV and a Cover Letter (highlighting how your skills and experience meet the specification – one page maximum).

Recruitment process

If you are a shortlisted candidate, you will be invited to attend an interview with our staff in Cape Town. Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Company Description

Projects Abroad’s mission is to provide the gold standard of support and safety, so our volunteers and interns can fulfill their potential, discover themselves and create positive change in the world.

Projects Abroad is the world’s largest international volunteering and internship provider, recruiting young people from all over the world.

We’ve been running projects and sending volunteers/interns all over the world for 25 years. We have sent over 115,000 enthusiastic volunteers to 29 countries to teach conversational English and to gain work experience in the fields of medicine, journalism, veterinary science, law and conservation.

Requirements

You should:

• Have a background in journalism or media studies qualification.
• Have proven writing abilities.
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Have very good people skills – you’ll need to interact and build relationships with volunteers from all different ages, countries and backgrounds.
• Be a dedicated follower of global news with a keen interest in local news as well as sound general knowledge.
• Be skilled with social media – including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – to guide interns on how to use the platforms for Cape Chameleon’s purpose.
• Be flexible and adaptable.
• Have superb copy-editing skills – including extensive re-writing (yet without losing the writer’s voice) and fact checking.
• Have excellent organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Have excellent decision-making skills.

Posted on 26 Apr 15:05