JOB SUMMARY
The incumbent is an integral part of the investigative team in the local bureau and the Language Service. The Investigative Editor initiates, prepares, produces and delivers complex original stories in and about the Language Service on multiple platforms. S/he leads and oversees all investigative reports and investigative projects produced and run by the Language Service, ensuring that they meet editorial and industry standards and are legally safe.
The stories covered by the Investigative Editor go beyond regular reporting of events and come both in the short and long form, dealing with everything from investigative pieces to special reports or unearthing breaking news. Along with other investigative editors in the team, the incumbent works on complex investigations staying true to RFE/RL mission, adhering to and striving to exceed RFE/RL content quality standards. The Investigative Editor works closely with other teams in the company (the central newsroom, multimedia, digital teams, other language services and various departments) as needed to create and deliver standout investigations and special reports, that are having the biggest impact, using social media to further expand RFE/RL’s reach.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Initiates, develops, produces, and edits long-form investigations and special reports, as well as other products covering news and current affairs, to the highest editorial standards.
- Leads the investigative efforts by other members of the Language Service team, including freelancers, acts as a point of contact for freelancers offering tips, scoops and ensures accurate and engaging content.
- Helps to forge relationships with other investigative local or international organizations.
- Explores innovative angles for investigations coverage, ensuring relevance for the language service audience and to serve as an example for best practice journalism.
- Works both in the newsroom and in the field on investigative reporting assignments.
- Conducts interviews in the studio, by telephone, or in the field. When able to draw on specialist knowledge, be ready to be interviewed or provide expertise as required.
- Moderates, delivers live, blogs, records, contributes, inputs online, shoots photos and video as required, coordinates other staff, sound and camera crews as necessary.
- Researches material and, exercising editorial judgment, selects reliable information from a varied range of reputable sources.
- Exercises excellent news judgment.
- Keeps deadlines and strives to meet or exceed RFE/RL standards for the quality of the output.
- Adheres to RFE/RL editorial standards at all times and takes editorial responsibility for all own material.
- Actively participates in program feedback sessions.
- Is expected to regularly suggest viable coverage ideas and to contribute to program planning.
- Coordinates planning with other teams, striving for efficiency in the use of newsroom’s resources and capacity.
- Liaises with other Language Service teams, other departments and field bureaus to plan and execute investigations and special reports.
- Expected to explore innovative angles for coverage, ensuring relevance for the audience and to serve as an example for best practice journalism.
- Takes part, as required, in programs by local media and develops contacts for both journalistic work and RFE/RL reputation.
- Liaises with other teams in the service to plan and execute investigations and special reports.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
- Combination of education and investigative journalism experience
- Journalism or related field university degree
Work Experience:
- 8+ experience as an investigative editor in a major news organization, and a track record of own investigations.
- History of successful projects under deadline pressure.
- Broad, thorough, and detailed knowledge of political, economic, and social situations in Georgia as well as international affairs
Competencies:
- Excellent investigative journalism skills and a history of multimedia investigative projects
- Proven ability to produce innovative, creative, cross-platform investigative journalism and storytelling that can be held up as examples of best-practice journalism.
- Ability to produce, report and write from a network of original sources, including short and long-form pieces.
- Consistently pitches original ideas resulting in viable suggestions for coverage and delivery.
- Familiarity with political, economic and social issues in Georgia and neighboring countries as well as regional and international news events.
- Contributing to maintaining a positive, collegial working environment.
Languages:
- Broadcast language, native level - mandatory
- English language, desirable
Should you be interested in this position please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter in English.
Salaries for employees in RFE/RL's broadcast regions are competitive, based on prevailing local conditions. Employee benefits in RFE/RL's broadcast regions are in accordance with the local labor law specific to the country.
Note: In response to changing operational requirements, RFE/RL retains the discretion not to make an appointment, or to modify the job specifications for a particular vacancy.
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