Work with us: We’re offering three paid internships for final year students

If you are interested in health reporting and have a strong academic record, this internship could be for you.

In September 2015, Bhekisisa expanded its health coverage to the rest of the African continent. In March 2016, the centre launched its own website. Our Johannesburg-based reporters travel to other African countries and Bhekisisa staff are also mentoring journalists across Africa to empower them to file solutions-based health features. Moreover, we work with health policymakers, activists and researchers to write opinion pieces. Bhekisisa’s stories are published on our website, the  Mail & Guardian’s website,  M&G Africa’s website, as well as in the weekly newspaper edition of the Mail & Guardian.

Bhekisisa is currently accepting rolling applications for three paid internship positions. Each intern will be mentored by a senior reporter or editor. Specifically, we are looking for the following positions:

1. Print journalist intern – this position will be mentored by Bhekisisa’s news editor
2. Print journalist / social media intern – this position will be mentored by Bhekisisa’s news editor
3. Multimedia intern – this position will be mentored by Bhekisisa’s senior multimedia journalist

Prospective candidates must be final year journalism students at a university or journalism students studying towards an honours journalism degree. Students must be available to complete a four-week internship between November 2016 and January 2017.

The deadline for applications is 23 September, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so students are encouraged to apply early.

Students must send the following as part of their application to [email protected]. Incomplete applications will not be considered:

• CV;
• Academic Transcript;
• A recommendation from a journalism lecturer that includes the lecturer’s contact details (email and phone number). This recommendation should be able to speak to the quality of your work and should be sent directly to the Mail & Guardian at  [email protected]. Please ask your lecturer to use your full name and ID number as a subject line;
• A 400-word motivational statement clearly stating which of the three positions you are applying for and why you would be a good fit for this internship. This motivation should speak to the tasks / qualities outlined in the relevant job description below;
• Two samples of your writing (for the print internships) or two examples of your multimedia work (for the multimedia internship).

Internship descriptions
Multimedia Intern

The candidate should have strong news instincts with an interest in health, podcast, video and photo skills, a better-than-average grasp of the English language, and should be dynamic, confident and reliable.

PURPOSE
Produce original multimedia content for Bhekisisa and work with African correspondents and Bhekisisa reporters on videos, slideshows and podcasts.

KEY OUTPUTS

• Create original, relevant and compelling multimedia content;
• Must be able to follow a brief, shoot and edit independently as well as work as part of a team;
• Conceptualise original content ideas and apply these;
• Work with a content management system to upload multimedia;
• Assist the multimedia reporter with tasks such as archiving, etc;
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Final year university journalism student
• Knowledge of audio and photography is preferable;
• Must have a strong editorial sense, be able to research stories, conduct interviews and produce stories in their entirety;
• Knowledge of the online editorial industry and environment;
• Understanding of how multimedia and multi-platform news media works;
• An excellent grasp of the English language;
• A portfolio of work;
• South African citizenship;
• A valid driver’s license that is valid in South Africa.

SKILLS & BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES

• Ability to identify relevant health content;
• Good camera work and video editing skills;
• Able to use the Adobe suite, particularly Premiere Pro, Photoshop and InDesign;
• Flexibility to adapt style to demands of the material;
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver under time constraints;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written);
• Good planning and implementation skills;
• Strong analytical & conceptual thinking skills;
• Able to work independently and as part of a team;
• Should have good, sound news judgment.

Print Intern Journalist

The candidate should have strong news instincts with an interest in health and a desire to explore narrative and feature writing. The person should have a better-than-average grasp of the English language, and should be reliable, open to feedback and be able to work independently as well as time manage.

PURPOSE

Produce original news and feature print and online content for the Bhekisisa website and the Mail & Guardian newspaper.

KEY OUTPUTS

• Proactively pitch ideas for articles. These ideas should be well-thought through and show an awareness of current health news;
• Work with editors to develop these ideas into either short news stories for the web or longer form features for the website or newspaper. Note: the journalist will be expected to research their story as well as conduct interviews and write the initial draft of their stories independently;
• Work with a content management system to upload your articles as well as those from fellow reporters and contributors;
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Excellent English writing and language skills, including spelling and grammar, and attention to detail;
• Ability to work well as part of a team and independently while showing initiative;
• Strong time-management skills;
• Willingness to work outside normal working hours if need be;
• Familiarity with the South African Press Code;
• Must have a strong editorial sense, be able to research stories, conduct interviews and produce stories in their entirety;
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver under time constraints;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written);
• Good planning and implementation skills;
• Strong analytical & conceptual thinking skills;
• Should have good, sound news judgment;
• You need to be a South African citizen.

Print / Social Media Intern Journalist

The candidate should have strong news instincts and news writing abilities. This person has an interest in health and strong desire to understand more about the use of social media within journalism as well as web analytics.

PURPOSE

Produce regular short, health news pieces as well as social media content for the Bhekisisa website as well as official social media accounts. There is some space to work on longer features for online and the newspaper.

KEY OUTPUTS

• Proactively pitch ideas for articles. These ideas should be well-thought through and show an awareness of current health news;
• Work with editors to develop these ideas into short news stories. Note: the journalist will be expected to research their story as well as conduct interviews and write the initial draft of their stories independently;
• Work closely with editors to produce social media content;
• Assist editors in tracking web and social media trafficking, developing an understanding of web and social media metrics;
• Work with a content management system to upload your articles as well as those from fellow reporters and contributors;
• Compile daily copy tastes for team when asked;
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Excellent English writing and language skills, including spelling and grammar, and attention to detail;
• Strong time-management skills;
• Willingness to work outside normal working hours if need be;
• Familiarity with the South African Press Code;
• Must have a strong editorial sense, be able to research stories, conduct interviews and produce stories in their entirety;
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver under time constraints;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written);
• Good planning and implementation skills;
• Strong analytical & conceptual thinking skills;
• Familiarity with the South African Press Code;
• Ability to write about topics such as gender-based violence and HIV in a sensitive manner;
• Familiarity with TweetDeck, HootSuite as well as Facebook, Twitter or Google Analytics is an added advantage. Prior experience with any content management system is also an asset;
• You need to be a South African citizen.