Main Purpose of the Role:

The Chief Sports Content Creator leads Daily Sun's comprehensive sports content strategy and production, creating compelling multimedia sports content that engages the publication's audience across all digital and traditional platforms. This role combines deep sports journalism expertise with content innovation to position Daily Sun as a leading voice in South African sports coverage, while building audience engagement through authentic storytelling that resonates with the community's sporting passions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute Daily Sun's comprehensive sports content strategy across all platforms and formats
• Managing a team of sports content creators.
• Lead coverage planning for major sporting events, leagues, and tournaments relevant to Daily Sun's readership
• Identify emerging sports stories, trends, and personalities that align with audience interests and community relevance
• Create editorial calendars for sports content that maximize engagement during key sporting seasons and events
• Establish Daily Sun's unique voice and perspective in the competitive South African sports media landscape
• Produce high-quality sports articles, features, interviews, and multimedia content daily
• Create compelling long-form sports features, investigative pieces, and human-interest stories
• Develop video content, podcasts, and interactive digital content to diversify sports offerings
• Write match reports, analysis, and commentary for major sporting events and local competitions
• Conduct in-depth interviews with athletes, coaches, sports administrators, and community sports figures
• Lead sports photography and video coverage coordination for major events and breaking stories
• Collaborate with multimedia team to create engaging visual sports content for social media platforms
• Develop live coverage strategies for real-time sports reporting and social media engagement
• Create infographics, data visualizations, and interactive content to enhance sports storytelling
• Coordinate live-streaming and real-time reporting during major sporting events
• Build and maintain relationships with local sports clubs, academies, schools, and community organisations
• Cover grassroots sports and community sporting achievements that matter to Daily Sun's readership
• Identify and develop local sports stories that showcase community talent and sporting culture
• Engage with sports fans through social media, events, and community outreach initiatives
• Support Daily Sun's sports-related community events and sponsorship activations
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with sports administrators, agents, and industry stakeholders
• Secure exclusive access to athletes, coaches, and sports personalities for feature content
• Build networks within professional sports organisations, amateur sporting bodies, and educational institutions
• Attend press conferences, media launches, and industry events to maintain Daily Sun's presence
• Negotiate content partnerships and exclusive interviews that differentiate Daily Sun's sports coverage

Required Knowledge & Skills:

• Comprehensive knowledge of South African sports landscape including professional leagues, amateur competitions, and grassroots development
• Deep understanding of international sports trends, major international competitions, and their relevance to local audiences
• Advanced content creation skills including writing, editing, photography, and basic video production
• Proficiency in content management systems, social media platforms, and digital publishing tools
• Strong data analysis skills for measuring content performance and audience engagement
• Knowledge of sports betting, fantasy sports, and sports entertainment trends that engage audiences
• Passionate sports enthusiast with authentic knowledge and credibility across multiple sporting codes
• Exceptional storytelling abilities and creative approach to sports content development
• Strong network-building skills and ability to establish trust with sports personalities and industry figures
• Adaptability to work irregular hours including evenings, weekends, and during major sporting events
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity to community sporting traditions and local sporting heroes

Minimum Requirements:

• Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Sports Communication, Media Studies, or related field
• Formal qualification in Sports Journalism or equivalent professional certification preferred
• Demonstrated expertise in multimedia content creation and digital sports journalism
• Understanding of media law, sports ethics, and journalistic standards
• Minimum 5-7 years' experience in sports journalism, with at least 3 years in senior content creation roles
• Proven track record of exclusive sports content creation and audience engagement across multiple platforms
• Experience covering major sporting events, professional leagues, and community sports
• Demonstrated success in building sports industry relationships and securing exclusive access
• Professional accreditation with sports journalism associations
• Additional language skills relevant to Daily Sun's diverse readership
• Experience with podcast production, live streaming, or sports broadcasting
• Knowledge of sports analytics, performance data, and statistical analysis
• Advanced proficiency in content management systems and digital publishing platforms
• Experience with social media management tools and content scheduling systems
• Basic photography and video editing skills for multimedia content creation
• Understanding of SEO optimization and content analytics tools
• Familiarity with sports databases, statistics platforms, and results systems
• Knowledge of live blogging and real-time content publication tools

Given the employment equity policy of Media24, preference will be given to suitable candidates from the designated groups