Birdstoryagency-Editor

Job Description

bird is a specialist news agency that offers stories with an alternative perspective on Africa.
It’s a project of Africa No Filter (ANF), a not-for-profit working to shift harmful and
stereotypical narratives about and within the continent. It was created in response to ANF’s
research into How African Media Covers Africa.
bird offers a range of nuanced features and data-rich stories about the people, places and
initiatives shaping Africa. By providing a core offering of stories free to media, bird is not
only changing the narrative, it is also supporting media with one of the most expensive costs
to their business – content. This is a critical offering at a challenging time for many
newsrooms. bird is in the process of transitioning from a fully-funded project of ANF to a
more sustainable media business. It is currently managed by Africa Insight Communications
and AIC’s CEO is the managing editor.
Role and Responsibilities
This is the top editorial position at a fast-moving organization disrupting the news agency
ecosystem across Africa. The EIC will be expected to set the agenda and direct the file while
also working “at the coalface” of news production – including oversight of video, pictures
and audio and occasional re-writing and copy editing – while at the same time being the
public “face” of bird. You will be working with a team of professionals who have experience
in traditional and digital media and also at international news agencies.
Working closely with the managing director and the business and relationships manager,
you will be responsible for ensuring that bird finds the right “pitch” in its content offering,
ensuring that the file not only changes the narrative and points out Africa’s opportunities
but is also trusted, desired and needed by publications, broadcasters and platforms across
Africa.
Your core responsibilities include:

• Set the news/ story agenda at bird.
• Oversee the commissioning and processing of the file (assisting where necessary).
• Ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of the content.
• Help manage the relationships with key funders and corporates by contributing to
  and occasionally delivering, reports.
• Communicate with content contributors through various channels
• Grow the coverage footprint of bird by engaging a wide selection of writers.
• Participate in the development of a bird “style guide” for African news writers.
• Help organize and chair regular online forums that bring African news editors and
  publishers together.
• Write occasional opinion pieces and regularly contribute to bird newsletters, so that
  bird is seen as a thought leader in the ecosystem.
  Competencies
• Experience editing English-language news, preferably at a national or regional level
  multi-media newsroom.
• Wide knowledge and broad understanding of African affairs.
• Experience of and a passion for, the telling of narrative-changing African stories.
• A strong network of African editors and journalists would be an advantage.
• Strong reading/writing capabilities in key African languages (eg KiSwhahili) as well as
  French, and/or Arabic would be an advantage.
• Experience working for an international news agency would be an advantage.
• The ability to edit video, pictures and audio would be an advantage.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and grow a diverse team.
• Capacity to manage a remote team.
  Contact:
  Please reply with a cover letter and CV, to bird@africanofilter.org