Internship: Reporter (Politics)

This internship opportunity as a Politics Reporter sits within the News and Current Affairs division of the South African public broadcaster, offering a structured entry point for aspiring journalists to develop their craft in a demanding, multi-platform news environment. The role is centred on identifying, initiating, researching, investigating, planning and recording audio-visual material for radio, television and digital or online outlets. It is designed for a candidate who can produce news and current affairs reports that are not only fair and accurate but also compelling and relevant to the broadcaster’s diverse target audiences. As an OSD-graded position, this internship provides practical exposure to the full editorial cycle, from story conception to broadcast, while embedding the intern within a professional newsroom that operates under strict regulatory and ethical standards.

The successful candidate will be expected to possess a National Qualifications Framework Level 6 diploma in Journalism, Media Studies or a closely related field. Crucially, proficiency in both English and an indigenous broadcast language is required across reading, writing and speaking, enabling the intern to serve a wide audience authentically. The role demands a solid understanding of current media trends and developments, along with the ability to engage professionally with multi-media platforms. Applicants should also demonstrate sound general knowledge, computer literacy, and the capacity to interact with and manage a variety of stakeholders, from sources and interviewees to editorial colleagues and external partners.

The core duties are hands-on and varied. The intern will initiate and cover stories as assigned, producing quality scripts and clear voice-overs, including live on-air broadcasts. This involves researching, investigating and breaking stories, as well as providing informative and well-researched input during live crossings and within packaged content. A key responsibility is checking facts, accuracy and the overall quality of stories and content, alongside setting up and recording interviews. Meeting tight story and broadcast deadlines is essential, as is staying abreast of ongoing news events and developments. The role also requires obtaining broadcast-quality audio-visuals and photographs for publication or posting, using relevant recording equipment including a smart phone. Beyond practical reporting skills, the intern must adhere to South Africa’s Constitution, all broadcasting and other legislation, ICASA’s licence conditions and regulations, the BCCSA and Press Council codes of conduct including rulings, the SABC News editorial policy, the News and Current Affairs style guide, and standard operating procedures. This is an exceptional opportunity to gain rigorous, ethical journalism experience within a major public service broadcaster. Candidates should note that this is an internship post, subject to the applicable employment equity targets and internal policies of the organisation, and they will need to submit their application in the prescribed manner before the closing date displayed alongside this summary.