Announcement

Mid-Senior General News Reporter

Our Joburg team is in search of new talent. Could that be you?

Job Overview
-To identify, initiate, investigate, research, and produce quality agenda-setting journalism for Daily Maverick’s online platform and its print publication, DM168

Roles and responsibilities
– produce accurate hard news stories, including breaking news;
–  investigate and research original content and ideas for news stories, features and analysis
– Generate and maintain a strong network of contacts covering various areas including politics, courts, business, environment and social justice.
– deliver writing of a high standard that is engaging and clear
– Deliver investigative, exclusive, in-depth stories
– adhere to deadlines
– mentor younger team members
– develop and manage a diary

Requirements
– Between 5 to 8 years of journalism experience
– Journalism/tertiary qualification
– Driver’s licence
– Exceptional news sense and editorial judgement
– Exceptional writing skills and attention to detail
– insightful understanding of Gauteng an advantage
– photographic/visual/multimedia skills an advantage
– impeccable general knowledge
– be willing to travel
– be willing to work some weekends and after hours when required
– be able to work virtually

BENEFITS
Flexible & remote working: We are a remote-friendly organisation
Generous annual leave: We provide a minimum of 15 annual leave days (with no maximum) as part of our leave policy.
Type: Full Time

Please send a short motivation letter and CV to [email protected]

Closing date: 23 May 2022

DM168: A Weekly Newspaper For People With Cool Minds And Fiery Hearts

DM168 launches tabloid design

The tabloid design allows us to deliver hard-hitting investigations and burning business issues in a digestible and easy-to-read fashion, ensuring every South African has access to quality, factual information.

Editor of DM168 Heather Robertson says: “We sent a survey to our readers following the bumper festive edition. From their positive feedback we decided to change the design of DM168 permanently to a slick, beautiful tabloid edition.” 

You can now carry DM168 wherever you go and keep up to date with live music concerts, art exhibitions, theatre, hikes, mountain bike meet-ups, trail and road runs, food fairs and much, much more. 

You can pick up your copy of DM168 at locations throughout South Africa for only R25.

Maverick 451 sells the option rights to Caryn Dolley’s To The Wolves

Maverick 451 is delighted to announce that Cape Town- and London-based production company Spier Films has optioned To The Wolves by Caryn Dolley. Spier intends creating a fictionalised series based on Dolley’s extraordinary account of cop collusion and gang warfare at the heart of Cape Town’s criminal underworld.

“Through activist friends and the writings of Caryn Dolley in Daily Maverick, I became more aware of the role of gangsterism in preserving the status quo under apartheid, and how, like in many parts of South African life, the foundations of corrupt cops and politicians facilitating gangsterism have come home to roost throughout the post-apartheid era. This has left behind broken communities with an inability for people in these communities to advance,” says Spier Films’ Michael Auret.

Spier Films is the company behind the TV series Professionals, starring Brendan Fraser (The Mummy) and Tom Welling (Smallville), the first African-produced, co-created and co-financed series to be aired on a prime-time US network, The CW, and has also sold the show to Viaplay (Scandinavia), RTL2 and TNT (Germany), e.tv (South Africa) and Disney. Spier previously won the Golden Bear in Berlin for U-Carmen eKhayelitsha and has been at Cannes with The Salvation starring Mads Mikkelsen and Eva Green, as well as the Sundance Festival with Young Ones starring Michael Shannon, Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

“To The Wolves has shone a stark and dramatic spotlight on the dark heart of Cape Town’s underworld, and like the very successful Baltimore-set TV series The Wire, Cape Town now has the chance to tell its stories, in this genre,” says Auret.

Spier Films hopes to offer young people from these affected communities the ability to participate in the production through programmes such as the Young Filmmaker Programme run by Quinton Fredericks, in an attempt to offer alternative life choices to what is available to them now.

“I’m deeply appreciative to Spier Films for wanting to highlight the vast and grave realities that state-infiltrated criminality – as detailed in To The Wolves – produces. Even fictionalised, this will further emphasise and create awareness about the trickle-down effect of State Capture – corruption that is not confined to high-level offices, but spills over onto streets,” says Dolley.

“A massive thank-you to 451 for guiding me through this To The Wolves journey (that’s taking exciting, unexpected turns) and to my hard-working Daily Maverick colleagues,” she adds.

For media enquiries please contact Fran Beighton at [email protected].

Announcement

Maverick 451 sells the option rights to Six Years With Al Qaeda: The Stephen McGown Story

The Swedish production company Polar Peak Productions has optioned Six Years With Al Qaeda: The Stephen McGown Story.

Polar Peak intends to produce a dramatised adaptation based on the gripping account of the capture and captivity of Stephen McGown, along with two other captives who would collectively become known as the Timbuktu Three, by members of Al Qaeda in 2011.

“The hardships and experiences during Stephen McGown’s captivity are at the core,” says Mr Sune Nises of Polar Peak.

“The story is layered with the personal fears, the doubts, the reflections, and the determination of someone who is caught in this situation. It is about a man who learns to know and understand the individuals, the culture and the religion of his kidnappers, and the despair and the forces that drew them to action. In this, there is a story of special importance, as we see it, in today’s polarised social climate.

It is set against the backdrop of big geopolitical, religious-cultural, and military conflicts. The behind-the-doors diplomacy is by itself dramatic.”

Polar Peak Productions has partnered up with The Film Factory for production in South Africa. “The Film Factory and Danie Bester are well-established partners, with a solid track record,” says Nises. Among other things, they produced Toorbos, based on the novel by Dalene Matthee, which was South Africa’s official submission to the 2021 Academy Awards.

“I’m delighted to be working with Polar Peak on this new venture. As always, a huge thank you to Daily Maverick and Maverick 451 for their unwavering support and dedication to my story. This is going to be a very exciting project!” says Mr McGown.

Six Years With Al Qaeda has seen numerous reprints since its first publication in November 2020. In 2021, it won the SABA (SA Booksellers’ Association Award) in the nonfiction category.

Little, Brown acquired world English rights and published the book under the title Six Years A Hostage in 2021. This deal with Polar Peak was brokered by Catrina Wessels on behalf of Maverick 451.

If you have not yet read this incredible story of resilience of the human spirit, you can pick up a copy at the Daily Maverick Shop.

Translation rights are available. Please contact [email protected].

Announcement

The gift that keeps on giving

Education is the key to success and for many South African children it is also the first step towards breaking socioeconomic barriers. We believe a world that is full of smart, curious children who are independent thinkers, is a better world. Periodic school attendance and virtual classes have been a different experience for all families over the past two years. Many children have lost confidence in learning or are still struggling to keep up with their peers. It will take a long time and all our effort to ensure we recover and no child is left behind.

So, when we embarked on a project to create the MavericKids Activity Book, we envisioned it reaching children all over South Africa. And we committed to donating a copy of the book to a child in need for every copy bought in the DM Shop. Thanks to the generosity of Daily Maverick readers and supporters, and in partnership with Gift of the Givers, we have started making that happen.

Our goal was to donate 2,000 books and when Gift of the Givers came on board as our distribution partners, they committed to including stationery packs with every book. This meant we could give children in need a full learning experience and ensure they could immerse themselves in the full MavericKids Activity Book experience.

Thanks to the support from readers who bought in the DM Shop, in January 2022 we exceeded that target and handed over 2,060 books to Gift of the Givers who set out to distribute them in schools and childcare facilities in South Africa. Pupils at Sintethemba High School in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape were among the first to receive the donated books. The school was very appreciative, saying the content is in simple English, breaking the language barrier for the pupils.

We are incredibly proud of this project and excited for the potential that each book has to change lives, bring hope and some light into the world. We could not have done it without our readers and we thank you for supporting the vision we had for the MavericKids Activity Book and the pupils who have received them. In partnership with Gift of the Givers, we will be continuing the buy-one-donate-one initiative for the MavericKids Activity Book. So, if you would like to spread the news and tell your family, friends and colleagues, or make a contribution by donating a book, visit the DM Shop and purchase a copy of the MavericKids Activity Book.

Announcement

Events and Webinar Coordinator Job Description

Job overview:

The primary role of the events coordinator is to oversee the day-to-day planning and execution of Daily Maverick’s live events and webinars. This includes on the ground event set-up and break down, communication with high-level speakers, engagement with audience members, coordinating with all suppliers and ensuring that the events are fully planned and prepared for. The events coordinator will work closely with the events manager to grow the events and ensure the strategic objectives, and key results, set for the department are on track to be achieved. The events coordinator will also work closely with the business and sales team so as to ensure sponsor requirements are met and reported on.

This role is essential in the growth of both reader revenue and audience engagement while at the same time ensuring that the high quality of Daily Maverick’s events are upheld.

Responsibilities and duties:

• Oversee the set up of events including:
• Sourcing relevant venues for each event
• Liaising and negotiating with suppliers
• Overseeing of event set up and execution with designers and stakeholders where relevant
• Establish and maintain relationships with venues and vendors
• Liaise with suppliers and ensure all event touch points are aligned with the Daily Maverick Brand
• Ensure highest level of customer service
• Monitor quality and consistency of displays
• Assist the primary event manager as needed
• Communication with hosts and speakers pre, during and post events
• Liaising with the sales team when sponsors are involved so that all collateral is received and shared with the relevant parties and displayed correctly at events
• Booking in marketing material across various channels, with the relevant person, including the Daily Maverick website, newsletter and social media
• Technical training with virtual event panelists
• Running the live room and troubleshooting any technical issues that may arise
• Assist the events manager in marketing efforts and ensuring all webinar and event assets are set and running at the correct times
• Record all statistics from event marketing as well as the number of registered attendees vs live attendees and draw insights from the conversion rates
• Ensure that the Daily Maverick brand and identity are strongly represented in all communication
• Analyse, evaluate and report on event statistics
• Compile sponsor reports
• Coordinate the preparation of marketing and promotional material in collaboration

Qualifications, skills and attributes:

• At least two years of event planning and onsite experience
• Clear interpersonal communication skills and a professional demeanour with both internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to develop rapport with hosts, panellists and audience members
• Strong prioritisation and time management skills
• Solutions orientated, with an ability to approach problems logically and with structured thinking
• Commercially-minded making decisions with positive real-world impact
• Ability to quickly adapt in a dynamic workplace environment
• Audience focused with a team player mentality
• Ability to work well independently and across diverse teams at Daily Maverick
• Must have a love and passion for working on events!

If you’re the right person to join Daily Maverick’s events team, please send through your CV and cover letter to [email protected] 

Announcement

DM is Hiring: Head of Talent

“People are our most important asset” is an often trumpeted soundbite but nowhere more relevant than in a modern media organisation – although we loathe to think of people as just ‘assets’.

Journalism is one of the most highly pressurised industries with many challenges. But also, one that can make a lasting impact on the world. Where some organisations struggle to figure out a purpose, Daily Maverick is consumed by it. (And we’re not afraid of a meme).

In this role, you will directly report to and work closely with the founders (Editor-in-chief and CEO) to implement and scale a world-class talent strategy and culture that is aligned with the purpose of the company. 

You will help ensure that we have a thriving, productive and evolving workplace where the team is enabled and supported in working towards our vision by serving the South African public with our journalism.

Enabling a positive culture to thrive by working closely with our senior leadership team will be a vital aspect of your responsibilities. The role will focus on managing/driving activities related to talent management, talent acquisition, employee experience, employee engagement, continuous learning & development, performance management and reward.

Your responsibilities will include: 

• Defining and managing our employee experience aligned to our high performing culture
• Designing a culture and values-driven recruitment process and actively recruiting new team members through our current growth phase
• Design and manage an onboarding programme to provide engaging induction to new employees
• Design and manage the performance review process 
• Develop a learning philosophy with supporting learning and development initiatives to enable high performing and high growth careers
• Support and drive continuous learning experiences across the organisation
• Manage an employee engagement survey and work with leadership to continuously improve our employee value proposition
• Design and manage an employee wellbeing programme in consultation with our in-house counsellor 
• Manage career growth and progression through organisational development and active talent reviews
• Design and manage a recognition programme that embeds performance into our culture
• Work with the leaders to define a competitive reward strategy relating to compensation, benefits, etc
• Own all internal employee communications and write up regular internal newsletters relating to talent 
• Support our people operations processes to scale by automating workflows and adopting suitable systems and software
• Work closely with leadership to actively build and manage a strong culture based on our core values and purpose
• Advise on employee best practices in line with new trends in the industry, further afield and with the vision and mission of the organisation

Your role will be critical in scaling the internal systems of a high-growth media organisation. This is a unique opportunity to join Africa’s revolutionary media platform and directly support our management team in key decision-making. The role will likely expand into a team as the organisation prepares for accelerated growth in the next few years.

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum

• At least 8 years of experience in people/talent/HR, employee relations and organisational development, with a demonstrable track record of designing and implementing people processes across a business (or exceptional achievements within fewer years of professional experience);
• 3-5 years of experience in managing and growing a People team 
• Thorough knowledge of South African labour legislation, compliance requirements, disciplinary procedures, and HR policies and procedures;
• Strong leadership and people management skills;
• Near-perfect communication skills;
• Highly skilled in problem-solving and negotiations;
• A specific interest to work in a purpose-driven media company, evidenced by prior professional experience or involvement in such a space;
• Extreme ambition to grow a company in terms of culture, employee wellbeing, retention, and satisfaction;
• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management, Organisational Development or another relevant field, or equivalent education/experience

Preferred 

• Prior experience in a media environment is desirable
• 5+ years of managerial experience in a rapidly scaling company
• Passionate about creating an exceptional employee experience
  
• Cape Town based

BENEFITS

Flexible & remote working: We are a remote-friendly organisation and offer flexible work options.

Generous annual leave: We provide a minimum of 15 annual leave days (with no maximum) as part of our leave policy.

Join the heart of revolutionary media in Africa: You’ll work with the best of the best and collaborate with exceptional people. Join one of the most ambitious and exciting media organisations with a dynamic founding team.

Life-changing work: be part of having a profound impact on society.

APPLY

Please send a one-page motivational letter and CV to [email protected]

Announcement

DM is Hiring: Maverick Insider Member Support

Job Description

Daily Maverick is looking for an energetic and enthusiastic individual to join their Maverick Insider support team.

Maverick Insider (MI) was established when it no longer became feasible to rely solely on digital ad revenue, so we created a membership where readers can voluntarily contribute to help sustain our journalism. Daily Maverick believes that journalism is a public service and should therefore be free for all, regardless of their economic status. We will never erect a paywall; instead preferring the membership model where those who can afford to contribute, do so, in exchange for some extra benefits while keeping all our content free for everyone. 

We’re looking for a dynamic person to join our membership support team based in Cape Town. 

Responsibilities:

• Addressing email queries raised by Maverick Insider members and technical support.
• Liaising with the retention team and addressing billing-related queries
• Investigating and solving member related issues
• Identify and assess members’ needs through quality engagement to achieve satisfaction
• Expanding the Maverick Insider Knowledge Base by extracting feedback from customer queries and providing solutions

Skills: 

• Excellent working knowledge of MS Excel / Google sheets
• Strong written communication skills
• Ability to meet personal and team Objectives and Key Results (OKR’s)
• Ability to manage high volumes of incoming customer queries
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to work individually and in a team.

Attributes: 

• Driven by delivering great customer service
• Ambitious
• Innovative
• Analytical
• Fast learner
• People person: a great attitude where ‘no task is too small and no challenge is too big.’

Location: Gardens, Cape Town

Type: Full time

Please send a one page motivational letter and CV to [email protected]

Announcement

Mid-Level Marketing Coordinator Job Description

JOB TITLE:
Marketing Coordinator

REPORTS TO:
The Marketing Coordinator will report to the Marketing Manager.

JOB OVERVIEW:
The primary objective of Daily Maverick Marketing is to grow (brand and audience), and to communicate and engage with our readers. With growth and engagement at the core of all the business areas marketing serves, it is critical to align marketing efforts across divisions and to consolidate them to achieve brand resonance and prominence locally and internationally.

The role of Marketing Coordinator is essential in the day-to-day execution of Marketing and Business outputs, working closely with the Daily Maverick Business Team to achieve overall strategic objectives and key results. Reporting to the Marketing Manager, the Marketing Coordinator will provide support in marketing copywriting, management of marketing channels, and the coordination of efforts across the Business Team. As Daily Maverick continues its expansion and pursuit of cross-disciplinary collaboration, the Marketing Coordinator will be a key component to that continued growth.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: 

• Assist in the coordination and execution of long- and short-term marketing strategies related to the internal and external marketing of:
  • Maverick Insider (Daily Maverick membership community)
  • Live Journalism Webinars
  • Podcasts
  • Maverick 451 (Daily Maverick book publishing division)
  • Daily Maverick Shop
  • Daily Maverick 168 newspaper
  • Various Newsletters across the Daily Maverick newsletter suite
• Assist with writing copy for Marketing and Business Division efforts
• Drive the execution of marketing initiatives for events, newsletter, webinar, podcast, shop and newspaper marketing
• Ensure the Daily Maverick brand and corporate identity are strongly represented in all communications
• Assist with the coordination of the social media strategy across all platforms for all Daily Maverick editorial and commercial products
• Explore new opportunities to promote the brand across various touchpoints
• Analyse, evaluate and report on marketing campaigns and activities
• Coordinate the preparation of marketing and advertising promotional material in collaboration with designers and stakeholders where relevant
• Ability to represent the brand in various online and offline settings

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Bachelor’s Degree in Media, Journalism, Communication or related field
• Min 3+ years experience with mid-level copywriting and marketing coordinating.
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills
• Knowledge of traditional and digital marketing, content marketing, and social media marketing
• Analytical skills and strong attention to detail to synthesize and interpret marketing data
• Have experience with, and knowledge of, a wide range of marketing functions including communications, branding, digital marketing and social media
• Strong prioritization and time-management skills
• Commercially-minded making decisions with positive real-world impact
• Solutions orientated, with an ability to approach problems logically and with structured thinking
• Work well independently and across the diverse teams at Daily Maverick
• Enthusiastic team member with the interpersonal skills to build and nurture relationships within the company and with external partners.

REFERENCES
Please include 2-3 references from previous employers

SALARY
Market related and dependent on experience.

Please email your CV and cover letter to [email protected]

Announcement

Daily Maverick DM168 Slow Down to Catch Up Competition

Competition details: 

Share your weekend reading ritual with us and stand a chance to win a 2-night stay* at the One&Only Cape Town. Over the next four weeks, get each new edition of DM168 and snap a photo of how you’re slowing down to catch up. Post to social media each week with the tag #DM168catchup. The reader with the most collective likes for their photos wins!

*Terms and conditions apply.