Location: Gauteng (within travelling distance to Johannesburg)
Type: Full-time, stipend-based (with growth opportunities)

Are you passionate about what’s happening in your community?
Do you love breaking down complicated issues so they actually make sense?
Are people already listening when you talk?

Then you just might be our next Explainer.

Explain.co.za is looking for grassroots news influencers to become the faces of our social-first news videos. We want people who are curious, confident on camera, and driven to tell the stories that matter to ordinary South Africans — especially stories that are often ignored or misunderstood.

This is not a traditional journalism job. You don’t need a degree or newsroom experience. What you do need is:

  • Charisma
  • Curiosity
  • Confidence
  • …and a strong connection to your community
@explain.co.za We’re so excited about this job opportunity, we made the whole team get in front of the camera 😅 Now it’s your move. 90 seconds. One explainer. Tag @explainza. Let’s go. When you’re done, fill in the form at explain.co.za. #SouthAfrica #NewsTok #SAYouth #CommunityVoices #NewsInfluencer #ContentCreator #Journalism #ExplainZA ♬ original sound – /explain/

What you’ll do

As an Explainer, you’ll:

  • Go out into your community and identify stories that matter
  • Break down trending news and public-interest issues in short, engaging videos
  • Present explainer videos designed for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp
  • Work with Explain’s editorial team to ensure your content is accurate, fair, and fact-checked

You’ll be supported by a professional newsroom, with editors, fact-checkers, and producers, so your work has credibility as well as reach.

Who we’re looking for

We’re especially interested in:

  • People who can present confidently on camera
  • Individuals who can deliver videos in English and at least one other South African official language
  • Creators who already use (or want to grow on) TikTok, Instagram, or similar platforms
  • Applicants based within travelling distance of our Johannesburg offices

You don’t need to be an influencer yet, but you should want to become one.

What you’ll get

  • A R10,000 per month stipend
  • Access to equipment and production support
  • Hands-on training and coaching in:
    • News gathering
    • Writing explainers
    • Presenting
    • Video editing
    • Ethical, responsible journalism
  • The opportunity to grow into a news influencer in your own right, backed by Explain’s newsroom, standards, and audience

How to apply

If you think this sounds like you:

  1. Fill in the application form here.
  2. Create a 90-second explainer video breaking down a trending news story
  3. Upload the video to TikTok
  4. Tag @explainza

Who knows?

You could be the next face lighting up South Africans’ phone screens.

Staff Reporter
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