Duty Editor, Sub Saharan Africa at Thomson Reuters

The Duty Editor, Sub Saharan Africa is a key supporting editorial role within Reuters' One Newsroom structure. Reporting to the Hub Editor, the Duty Editor provides hands-on support in coordinating daily news coverage by desk-based journalists across Sub Saharan Africa and helps deliver fast, accurate and compelling journalism across formats.

The Duty Editor works under the direction of the Hub Editor and alongside the Executive Producer, Planning, Assignments & Photography Editor and deputies to help execute agreed editorial priorities. The role supports specific newsroom functions: helping coordinate coverage, reporting and production resources, editing and reviewing content for its quality, ethics and standards, monitoring developing stories and following through on editorial decisions in appropriate formats for Reuters clients and audiences.

The successful candidate will be an experienced journalist with strong news judgement who thrives in a fast-moving news environment. They will help coordinate reporting and production resources in line with agreed priorities, support breaking news coverage, contribute to news planning and work across text, video and photography teams to maximise the impact of Reuters journalism.

This role requires a collaborative journalist who can remain calm under pressure, make sound editorial judgements within agreed priorities and help execute newsroom decisions across the region.

Key Responsibilities

As Duty Editor, Sub Saharan Africa, you will:

• Support the Hub Editor in coordinating daily news coverage and editorial priorities across Sub Saharan Africa.
• Help Reuters win breaking news stories by supporting fast, accurate and well-coordinated elemental coverage.
• Support the Hub Editor and other responsible editors in executing Reuters' response to breaking and developing stories, with a focus on journalism originating from desk-based reporters and producers.
• Work closely with reporters, correspondents, photographers and video journalists to help deliver compelling cross-format journalism.
• Contribute to daily news planning and help implement coverage and deployment decisions set by the Hub Editor, Planning, Assignments & Photography Editor and other responsible editors.
• Help coordinate coverage across bureaux, desks and formats as part of Reuters' One Newsroom approach.
• Edit stories and content to Reuters' high editorial standards, ensuring accuracy, fairness and clarity.
• Help coordinate available reporting resources in line with priorities and deployment decisions set by the relevant editors.
• Identify and flag opportunities to strengthen, extend and deepen Reuters coverage across text, video and photography.
• Work with regional and global teams to help ensure Africa's most important stories reach Reuters' worldwide audience.
• Contribute to cross-format collaboration and newsroom transformation initiatives.
• Support the coaching and development of journalists and help foster a collaborative newsroom culture.

Required Qualifications

• Significant experience in a fast-paced newsroom, preferably with a news agency, international newsroom or major digital publisher.
• Strong knowledge of Africa and the political, economic and social issues shaping the region.
• Excellent news judgement and the ability to make sound editorial decisions under pressure.
• Proven multimedia and strong visuals experience covering and coordinating breaking news.
• Strong editing skills and commitment to accuracy, fairness and impartiality.
• Ability to meet deadlines, manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly to changing news events.
• Experience working across text, video and photography in a multimedia news environment.
• Excellent communication, planning and organisational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams and disciplines in a One Newsroom environment.
• Commitment to the Reuters Trust Principles of independence, integrity and freedom from bias.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a senior video editing or newsroom coordination role.
• Proven track record covering major breaking news events, elections, conflicts, disasters or other complex stories.
• Experience supporting coverage across multiple bureaux or regions.
• Knowledge of digital publishing workflows and audience-focused storytelling.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled newsroom tools and emerging editorial technologies.
• Experience mentoring journalists and supporting newsroom development.