Pambazuka News seeks Editor

Pambazuka News is a prize-winning electronic newsletter on social justice. It is produced by a pan-African community of some 300 citizens and organisations - academics, policy makers, social activists, women's organisations, civil society organisations, writers, artists, poets, bloggers, and commentators. Established in 2000, now with an audience of hundreds of thousands of readers and with content reproduced widely by other websites, news services and the mainstream media, it has become an influential advocacy tool for women's rights, media and freedom of expression, accountability and good governance. The newsletter is distributed by email twice a week (Thursdays and Fridays) and its content is reproduced on the Pambazuka News website (www.pambazuka.org).

EDITOR: PAMBAZUKA NEWS

We are seeking an editor whose primary task will be leading on the development of Pambazuka News as the principal platform of progressive and critical political analysis in Africa.

Reporting to the Director of Fahamu, the editor of Pambazuka News will be responsible for:

* Contributing to the overall policy of the publication
* Deciding the principal themes to be addressed each week
* Deciding on the content of the newsletter each week
* Ensuring that the publication provides a platform for diverse views within the movements for social justice in Africa
* Commissioning articles from potential writers and contributors in Africa or the African diaspora
* Writing periodic editorials
* Planning publication of a series of special issues over the year
* Ensuring that articles are commissioned in a timely manner and ensuring the quality of copy of materials to be published
* Commissioning interviews for podcasting
* Recruiting, managing and overseeing the development of staff
* Contributing to resource mobilisation
* Contributing to the development of a print edition of Pambazuka News

Essential requirements

You must:
* Be committed to Pan-Africanism and to vision and values of Fahamu and Pambazuka News;
* Be an experienced journalist (at least 5 years in an African or Africa related publication);
* Have an substantial knowledge of political developments in Africa;
* Have established working relationships with key commentators and analysts in Africa;
* Have an established track-record in publishing on Africa, preferably in politics or the social sciences or similar;
* Have an established track-record as an activist and participated actively in pan African coalitions;
* Demonstrable ability to work as part of a team;
* Have strong communications skills;
* Have an ability to summarise complex information in everyday language;
* Have an ability to nurture the development of potential contributors to Pambazuka News;
* Be fluent in written and spoken English;
* Be able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines;
* Be highly organised.
* Have some experienced in radio journalism.
* Be a national of an African country;
* Be experienced with the internet and with common office programmes.

Optional requirements
You will also: * Be located preferably in an African country where broadband internet connection is available; * Have a working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese and/or Arabic; * Be proficient in at least one other African language

This is a full-time position. Salary depending on experience.

To apply, please send a detailed CV together with a letter of at least two pages explaing how you fulfill the essential requirements of the post described above.

Short-listed candidates will be invited to complete a series of assignments designed to test your ability to perform the work. Applications should be sent to [email][email protected] to reach not later than 09.00 GMT on Friday 9 November 2007.