CIRCULAR NO.1 OF 2025
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following positions:
JOB TITLE: HEAD OF NEWS
GRADE: I
NO. OF POSITIONS : ONE (1)
DEPARTMENT: LTV
RESPONSIBLE TO : DIRECTOR OPERATIONS
JOB SUMMARY
Under the supervision of the Director Operations, Head of News is responsible for management, supervision and control of the newsroom and financial matters.
MAIN DUTIES
MANAGEMENT OF THE NEWSROOM
- Monitor news to ensure quality control
- Guide the editor for the smooth running of the Newsroom
- Hold meetings with the Editor to be updated on news coverage daily
- Subscribe to news agencies to get news material
- Schedule meetings with clients.
- Undertakes, lead and manage the planning of story submission times
PRESENTATIONAL DUTIES
- Participate in news conferences, meetings, workshops and seminars to acquire
- Participate in news organization seminars on news ideas and policies
MANAGEMENT OF DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET
- Consolidate annual objectives and submit them to Director Operations for approval and to provide direction for the Newsroom
- Actively participate in the preparation and submission for the annual budget for inclusion in the ministerial budget to secure funds
- Participates in the preparation and advice the Director Operations regarding approval of sectional workplans to ensure that they are in line with depart-mental objectives
- Monitor departmental expenditure and ensure adherence to financial regulations and procedures and to guard against overspending
- Prepare requisitions for the Newsroom
- Prepare the tender notice of jobs to be carried out in the section
MANAGEMENT OF NEWSROOM STAFF
- Participate in the development of human resources plans to enable effective staffing of the department and advices of the Director Operations on shortages and other needs.
- Assign and allocate responsibilities and duties to Section Heads and periodically monitor their performance
- Approve sectional training plans to facilitate purposeful and systematic training
- Periodically evaluate perfomance of staff under his/her supervision
PERFORM ANY OTHER RELATED DUTIES THAT MAY BE AS-SIGNED DUE TO DEMAND OF THE SERVICE
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Master’s degree in journalism/media studies/communication with at least three (3) of satisfactory service as either Editor or Sub Editor
OR
Postgraduate qualification in journalism/media studies/communication with three years’ experience of satisfactory service as either Editor or Sub Editor
OR
A Bachelor of journalism/media studies/communication or any Social Science Degree/Humanities and six (6) years’ experience as Editor/Producer or Reporter in the TV Newsroom
RESPONSIBILITY
For Work of others
The job holder is required to supervise the Editor and the Sub Editor
For Property (Equipment, Material and Finance)
The job places on the incumbent responsibility to ensure that equipment and materials are in a safe custody, for example locking the newsroom where computers, telex, fax and news materials are kept
For effect of Errors
The incumbent is responsible for the errors committed while communication the instructions two cover events which could result in no news being broad- cast and loss of listenership
The incumbent is responsible for errors that may be committed while editing stories for broadcast that may lead to misinformation
The incumbent is responsible for errors that may be committed while collect- ing, translating, writing and reading news
COMPLEXITY
Authority of decision-making
The incumbent has the authority to make decisions on the newsworthiness of the material
Problem Solving
The incumbent may occasionally have to clarify what assignments he/she gave to the Editor and the Sub Editors
The incumbent may occasionally have to mediate between conflicting subordinates
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
The job holder is expected to work independently and report to the Director Operations on a weekly basis
CONTACTS
The job requires the incumbent to make contacts with:
Director Operations to get assignment s
Editor to give assignments
Members of other department and sections when discussing job related issues Members of other ministries, districts, organizations and the public about disseminating information
EFFORT
Mental Effort
The job requires minimal effort
Emotional Effort
The job holder has to work under pressure especially when news material is late for editing and reading. Occasionally the incumbent has to deal with politically or otherwise motivated requests for broadcast of events not in compliance with professional ethics and code of conduct of news broadcast
WORKING CONDICTIONS
Unfavorable Conditions
The job holder also has to work beyond normal working hours
HAZARDS
Minimal
Applications should be made on the relevant forms of GP 104 for serving officers and GP 103 for job seekers duly accompanied by certified copies of educational certificates, transcripts, ID and Council on Higher Education (CHE) Certificate of verification should be hand delivered to:
The Human Resource Office
Ministry of Information, communication, Science, Technology and Innovation 3rd floor Moposo house
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION WILL BE ON THE 03rd FEBRUARY 2025