THE JOB

You will contribute to the coverage of much of West Africa, on a continent where AFP is a leading news agency. The nine countries on your patch (Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Cape Verde) provide constant, varied and often unpredictable news, from the spread of jihadism and instability in the Sahel, to politics and natural disasters. The region also offers a wealth of material on topics of vital interest to AFP and its clients: climate and environment, lifestyle, economy, health and culture.

Working under the direction of the bureau chief and his deputy, you will provide a strong and lively file steeped in rigour, speed, clarity and perspective. Part of your work includes translating the French-language production of your colleagues and concurrently producing English-language copy on breaking news stories. You will also produce your own enterprise stories, which will be translated into French. You will draw on a network of stringers and correspondents, whose contributions may require considerable editing.

Four of the countries in the coverage area are French-speaking, three are English-speaking and two are Portuguese-speaking.

You will work from the Dakar office and you may be sent on reporting assignments in other parts of the region, depending on AFP's needs.

You should have a keen eye for the visual and multimedia aspect of coverage, and closely coordinate with photo and video colleagues. All AFP journalists contribute to the agency’s newsgathering process in all formats, united in producing high-quality multimedia journalism.

You will maintain the accuracy and journalistic integrity of our coverage, respecting the agency's editorial policy and copyright guidelines. You will closely monitor social media and strictly adhere to the Agency's guidelines on social media activity. You will contribute to the fight against misinformation by helping factcheckers in the network and ensure you are trained in the various methods of online verification, now indispensable for all journalism.

You must be ready to work long days and a wide range of hours, including early mornings and late nights, as well as weekends.

In an ever-changing media environment, the nature of the job could evolve in line with coverage demands and the requirements of an increasingly diverse client base.

SKILLS REQUIRED

You will have several years' relevant experience, a high level of journalistic rigour and a wide range of editorial interests.

A high level of French is essential for working with a mainly francophone team.

You have a strong work ethic and can write fast, even under pressure. You must be able to report accurately, clearly and quickly on breaking news.

You like reporting, even in areas with poor security and conflict zones. You will complete a hostile-environment training course organised by AFP, if you have not already done one.

You are a team player and able to deal with the unexpected.

Video and social networking skills are a plus, as is knowledge of Arabic and Portuguese.

LIFE IN DAKAR

Dakar is a safe and relatively pleasant city, apart from heavy traffic, and water and electricity cuts. Built on a peninsula, it is surrounded by ocean and enjoys a pleasant climate most of the year, except in the wet season. It is a young and growing city. It has many relatively affordable restaurants and bars and a cultural life to explore. There are good foreign schools and decent health services. The cost of living is quite high. Senegal prides itself on the hospitality of its people and offers a variety of exotic destinations.

APPLICATIONS

Please send a CV and cover letter to:

Dakar bureau chief: [email protected]

Africa director: [email protected]

Africa editor-in-chief: [email protected]

Head of the English Europe/Africa desk: [email protected]