CITY EDITOR: KZN

**Time Out South Africa |**Durban and surrounding metros (Durban, eThekwini Metro, KwaZulu – Natal)

Contract Type: Fixed-Term Contract (6 months)

Location: Umhlanga

We’re looking for a City Editor for Durban with a sharp eye for culture, food, events, nightlife, neighbourhoods and the stories people are talking about before they hit the mainstream.

You will help shape Time Out Durban’s editorial voice, spotlighting the broader places, people, neighbourhoods and experiences that make the eThekwini Metro worth exploring. From new restaurant openings and weekend plans to cultural moments, nightlife, hidden gems and local stories, you’ll bring the city to life in a way that feels current, useful and distinctly local.

You will lead the eThekwini Metro-focused editorial content, manage a network of freelance contributors, and work closely with the editorial, social, marketing, and commercial teams to grow Time Out’s authority, audience, and cultural relevance in the region.

Your key responsibilities

Own the city

The role requires someone who stays close to what’s happening across Durban- food, drinks, nightlife, events, art, music, entertainment, lifestyle, travel, wellness, and neighbourhood culture.

You will know the difference between a place that is simply popular and one that genuinely deserves attention. You’ll have a sharp eye for what’s new, what’s next, what’s overhyped, and what is worth discovering early.

Lead editorial direction

You will plan, write, commission, edit, and publish high-quality Durban-focused content that is useful, engaging, credible, and unmistakably Time Out.

This includes best-of guides, restaurant and venue write-ups, interviews, event roundups, cultural deep-dives, neighbourhood guides, lifestyle features, and timely city-led stories.

Build the content calendar

Create and maintain an editorial calendar that reflects the rhythm of the city: launches, festivals, cultural moments, school holidays, long weekends, seasonal trends, major events, and what people are actually searching for and talking about.

Manage contributors

Brief, guide, edit, and support freelance writers and contributors, making sure all content is accurate, original, on-brand, and delivered on time.

Think digital-first

You will work with editorial, social, marketing, and commercial teams to package stories for search, newsletters, social platforms, audience growth, and engagement.

Use SEO insights, audience data, social listening, and trend awareness to help shape what we cover and how we cover it.

Grow Time Out’s local relevance

Build relationships with local tastemakers, creators, chefs, artists, promoters, venue owners, PR teams, and cultural communities to make sure Time Out remains close to the city and trusted by its audience.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who is culturally curious, digitally fluent, socially connected, and excited by city life.

You should have:

• 3–5 years’ experience in editorial, digital publishing, lifestyle journalism, content creation, culture writing, food/travel writing, or social-first storytelling.
• A strong portfolio showing excellent writing, editing, taste, judgement, and city knowledge.
• Deep personal knowledge of durban and its broader eThekwini Metros’ food, drink, events, culture, entertainment, and lifestyle scene.
• A strong understanding of what resonates with digitally savvy audiences.
• The ability to write with personality while still being accurate, useful, and editorially credible.
• Strong editing, proofreading, commissioning, planning, and deadline-management skills.
• Confidence working with freelancers, contributors, creatives, marketing teams, and commercial stakeholders.
• An eye for trends, hidden gems, cultural shifts, and local stories with audience appeal.
• Comfort working across office, remote, and in-city environments.

Bonus points if you

• Have experience with newsletters, SEO, CMS platforms, social media packaging, analytics, or short-form video content.
• Already have strong relationships in the Durban food, culture, events, lifestyle, or entertainment space.
• Have built or contributed to a digital audience through published work, social platforms, creator content, blogs, podcasts, newsletters, or similar.