Planning, Assignments & Photography Editor, Africa at Thomson Reuters

Key Responsibilities

Coordinate field deployment of journalists and logistics for breaking news coverage.

Work with newsroom leaders to determine staffing levels that match the ambition and scope of coverage.

Work closely with staff and freelance photographers, as well as the Global Director of Photography, to maintain Reuters’ high editorial and visual standards.

Provide feedback, mentorship and talent development across the region to foster a strong photographic culture.

Troubleshoot and mitigate staffing challenges during fast-moving news cycles.

Lead cross-format planning for major news events and editorial initiatives, ensuring cohesive execution across teams.

Utilise planning tools to maintain accurate, accessible and client-ready coverage calendars.

Communicate with clients in real time regarding coverage as required.

Collaborate with commercial and product teams to improve newsroom planning systems and workflows.

Work closely with the Editorial Safety Team.

Ensure coverage is delivered within agreed budgets and that deployment costs are managed efficiently.

Anticipate coverage needs and move people and resources ahead of major developing stories.

Make clear deployment decisions quickly as news priorities change.

Required Qualifications

Strong editorial judgement and operational decision-making under pressure.

Deep understanding of visual workflows and newsroom technologies.

Excellent photography and photo-editing skills, with knowledge of the latest developments in photojournalism technology.

Outstanding communication, collaboration and interpersonal skills.

Familiarity with newsroom safety protocols and planning workflows.

Proven track record in planning, production or senior coordination roles within a fast-paced newsroom.

Commitment to Reuters Trust Principles of independence, integrity and freedom from bias.

Demonstrated ability to mentor, develop and retain talent.

Strong knowledge of Africa and proven experience working in hostile and challenging environments.

Ability to coordinate complex coverage across multiple bureaus and countries.

Preferred Qualifications

Proven track record leading cross-format coverage across text, video and pictures, with the ability to coordinate complex, multi-country deployments during major breaking news events.

Demonstrated ability to drive newsroom innovation through new technologies, digital workflows, AI-enabled tools or content provenance initiatives.

Experience representing a news organisation externally through client engagement, industry forums, training programmes or partnerships.

Proven ability to direct coverage of major breaking news, elections, conflicts, disasters or other complex events.

Experience directing field teams and coordinating deployment across multiple bureaux.

Familiarity with AI tools and their application in planning, research, production or newsroom workflows.

A strong record of mentoring and developing journalists, photographers and producers in a high-pressure newsroom.

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