Journalist, Nairobi

THE JOB

You will provide English-language coverage of a varied, dynamic and often challenging region from one of the biggest bureaus in Africa.

As AFP’s regional office for East Africa, Nairobi is responsible for covering Kenya and 11 other countries: Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia (including the African Union which has its headquarters in Addis Ababa), Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It also handles the Democratic Republic of Congo in video and may also be required to contribute to coverage there in text and photo.

The job entails reporting as well as desking copy sent from our network of correspondents and translating French stories from francophone reporters in the region and the office.

You will work in close contact with our team of text, photo and video journalists, as well as digital investigation journalists, under the supervision of the bureau chief and the news editor/deputy bureau chief.

You are expected to play a key role in setting the news agenda and producing a high quality, varied and lively file that is accessible and interesting to clients in the region and across the globe.

A willingness to travel in countries where conditions may be rugged or dangerous is also a prerequisite. Training in working in hostile conditions is essential and will be provided if necessary.

In addition to ensuring our coverage of hard news, you will need to generate enterprise reporting on the dynamic shifts taking place in African societies and economies, such as business, technology, artistic and cultural life, the exploding youth population and the Kenyan middle class. Coverage of the environment and climate change will also be an important part of the beat, in addition to sports and wildlife.

You must have a keen eye for the visual and multimedia aspects of the coverage.

You must be ready to work long days given the heavy news load in the region and will be expected to work evening shifts and weekends on a regular basis.

In an ever-changing media environment, the nature of the job could evolve in line with coverage demands and the requirements of an increasingly diverse client base.

SKILLS REQUIRED

The successful candidate will have excellent news judgement, a flair for writing, excellent interpersonal skills and a proven track record working under pressure and in challenging and hostile environments.

You will be at ease putting together polished, well-sourced and authoritative stories with accuracy and speed, from breaking news alerts to wraps as well as features and stories in other formats such as Q&As or photo essays for example.

Mother tongue is English, but a good level of French is vital to work with French speaking stringers and sources in some countries, coordinate the copy in the two languages and deliver English versions of the output in French.

APPLICATIONS

Please send a CV and cover letter to: recruitment.africa@afp.com

AFP is committed to equal opportunities and greater diversity within its teams. We therefore encourage all applications in order to preserve the wealth of profiles, cultures and languages that constitute the strength of our network.