Reuters is looking for an exceptional journalist and newsroom leader to help drive our coverage of East Africa, with a particular focus on politics and general news. Based in Nairobi, you will have the experience, versatility, writing and editing skills to help produce an agenda-setting multimedia file aimed at investors, professionals and our worldwide media clients.
The job will involve helping to manage a small team spread across 11 countries.You will lead by example with a steady output of exclusive news, compelling human-interest stories and deeply reported, revelatory features. Working closely with colleagues in Africa and beyond, you will write and oversee coverage on a broad range of topics, from the civil war in Ethiopia, climate shocks and insurgencies, to an upcoming leadership change in Kenya and the region’s thriving sports, culture and fintech sectors.
The job will also involve deputizing for the bureau chief in some challenging media environments. A willingness to travel at short notice, and the temperance to deal with poor communications and sometimes obstructive officialdom are essential.
As our Deputy Bureau Chief for East Africa, you will:
- Generate great ideas, edit and write with authority across the file, and work closely with visuals colleagues to deliver stories in all formats
- Be fast and ensure Reuters clients get the news first, even as you drive insightful features
- Have exceptional news judgment, a sound understanding of reader and client needs, and the ability to set priorities in a large region
- Be a mentor who supports and inspires colleagues to sharpen their skills and achieve their career goals
To be our Deputy Bureau Chief, you will likely:
- Have a deep knowledge of East Africa, including an understanding of the key issues and players, and a knack for explaining them to a global audience
- Have a proven ability to cultivate high-level sources, break news and deliver deeply reported, high-impact features
- Be a self-starter with excellent people skills and an ability to manage a diverse team working across multiple countries, cultures and languages
- Have strong diplomatic skills, including an ability to navigate challenging media environments
- Be fluent in English with strong writing skills; Swahili and/or French would be an advantage
- Have at least five years of experience as a journalist, including experience working for international outlets in a real-time news environment
- Have experience working in hostile environments, including conflicts or natural disasters.
Please note, the deadline for application is Friday 3rd June 2022.
What’s in it For You?
At Reuters, our people are our greatest assets. Here are some of the benefits we offer for your personal and professional growth:
- Global Career: As a global company, we can offer a truly international career and progression opportunities
- Learning & Development: On the job learning and coaching with an intensive training package. We also have a dedicated training team focused on the continuous development of our journalists
- Benefits: We offer competitive salary packages and market leading benefits including paid volunteering days and a wellbeing scheme including private healthcare and Multisport card
- Perks: Work alongside Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and a team who provide unmatched, award-winning coverage of the world’s most important stories.
About Reuters
Reuters is the world’s largest multimedia news provider. Founded in 1851, it is committed to the Trust Principles of independence, integrity and freedom from bias. With unmatched coverage in over 16 languages, and reaching billions of people worldwide every day, Reuters provides trusted intelligence that powers humans and machines to make smart decisions. It supplies business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world’s media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Reuters: The Real World in Real Time