Senior Researcher

Job Description

Newzroom Afrika seeks a Senior Researcher to support its editorial teams with high-quality research, content verification, and strategic insights. This 1-year position requires exceptional news judgment, political awareness, and strong collaboration across newsrooms, ensuring the credibility and accuracy of news content and investigative programming.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, political science, international relations, media studies, or a related field
• 5+ years’ experience in a newsroom or research-based media environment
• Proven experience in fact-checking, data analysis, and content development
• Strong understanding of South African and African socio-political landscape
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in digital tools, databases, and news monitoring platforms
• Excellent news judgment
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Analytical thinking and a curious mindset
• Strong editorial judgment and critical thinking skills
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Ability to present complex information clearly and concisely
• Team player with excellent interpersonal skills
• Passion for news, democracy, and truth-telling

Responsibilities

• Conduct high-quality, thorough research on breaking news, feature stories, investigations, and special projects
• Verify facts, statistics, and background details to ensure editorial integrity and factual accuracy
• Provide research briefs, backgrounders, timelines, and dossiers for anchors, reporters, and producers
• Monitor local, regional, and global news trends and developments that could shape editorial direction
• Support in-depth coverage for live interviews, panel discussions, and debates
• Collaborate closely with journalists, producers, and digital teams to align research with storytelling
• Maintain and update a research database for recurring topics and long-term projects
• Identify credible sources, subject matter experts, and thought leaders for interviews or consultation
• Assist in script development with factual inputs and contextual clarity
• Stay updated on legal and ethical considerations in journalism, particularly relating to sourcing