Journalism Work Experience in Cape Town

Observe experts in Journalism and learn how they work in South Africa. These work experience programs aim to give you maximum benefit and experience that will be invaluable to you in the future and totally different to what you're used to in your home country.

The paper has a small, compact News Room (10 full time news reporters) with a friendly, comradely atmosphere. The more seasoned journalists and photographers are always willing to share contacts and background information with visiting students, interns and journalists. At various times of the year, they host visiting journalists from Germany and the Netherlands, journalism masters' students from the University of Southern California, graduate students from North Western University (Medill) and undergraduates from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

The first edition goes off screen at about 9pm, and the second edition off screen at midnight (or later if a big story is breaking.) The night shift reporter(s) work from 3.30pm through until the paper goes to bed.

An international driver’s license would be a big advantage as The Times has pool cars that are used by interns to go out on assignments and to get stories. They will not have people to drive you around. If you go on the placement with out a license it will mean that most of your work will be deskbound, unless you go out with someone else on a story. Taxis may be used but this will be at your own expense, as public transport in Cape Town and South Africa generally does not cover all areas.

You'll usually work the hours to suit you within the placement, but your typical working day could look like this:

• 09:00 – 10:00 - Morning coffee, read morning newspapers and wires and set up interviews
• 10:00 – 11:00 - Attend the news room planning conference where you have to sell your own story ideas to the news editor and all other ideas will be discussed.
• 11.00 – 18:00 - Early page deadlines from 3:30pm. Then you’ll spend the rest of the day working on your stories for the next day.
• You may have to work till about 18:30 or later if an exceptional case/story occurs.

There could be variations of this schedule as the Times may want you to start earlier to finish later. As an approximate outline you will generally be working Sunday to Thursday so your weekend will be Friday and Saturday.

Neither we, nor the organisation you will be working for, can guarantee the amount of work that will be available for you during your placement. You should understand that, as with any business organisation, the quantity of work available will vary according to external factors (e.g. number of stories, breaking news, or other factors relevant to the type of organisation, etc.)

You should preferably have a Journalism degree. However, if you're in your last year of study or you have a fair amount of journalism experience, we will submit your application and you may be accepted. For some placements, a drivers licence would be useful.

Price From £1,795 / US$2,695 for 4 weeks, ranging to £3,795 / US$5,695 for 12 weeks. This will include:

• Accommodation
• Food
• Meeting you at the Airport
• Transfer to your accommodation
• Transport to and from your project
• Full pre-departure support
• Local in-country team support and backup
• 24-hr emergency support

The Main Lodge is the centre of all the lodges and is a meeting point for everyone. You can discuss your day in the living room, have a nice chat out on the terrace, go for a swim, watch a movie, etc. Included in the placement cost is a bed in one of the large 8-bed dormitories, so you will be sharing. However, there is an option of choosing a single or double room if you are happy to pay the difference, but we do find that volunteers staying in the larger dormitories tend to make friends easier and be a bit more social. Remember, safety by numbers is always the most responsible way to do things!

Talk to us - We're there to help you. Most of our team are ex Travellers volunteers and are ideally qualified to offer advice and guidance because they know what you're looking for. They'll help you find your perfect project - and then make it all happen!

If you’d like to apply for this project. Visit our website and complete the application form. As soon as we receive it, we’ll liaise with you and then start making your travel adventure happen.

It’s as easy as that.