Location: Washington, DC
Reports to: Central Newsroom Managing Editor (Prague-based)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) delivers independent, fact-based journalism to audiences living under censorship, disinformation, and pressure on free media. Millions rely on our reporting to understand the events shaping their countries, regions, and the wider world.
We are seeking an experienced editor to strengthen and expand RFE/RL's coverage of U.S. politics, foreign policy, and international affairs from Washington, DC. This is a senior role for a journalist with exceptional news judgment, expertise in U.S. politics, foreign policy, and international affairs, and a passion for international reporting.
The Opportunity
As Senior Washington DC Editor, you will commission, edit, and shape coverage of U.S. politics and foreign policy for audiences across RFE/RL's broadcast regions. Working closely with colleagues across the Central Newsroom and Language Services, you will identify stories that matter, provide editorial leadership, and deliver journalism that is accurate, timely, and relevant.
You will help connect developments in Washington to audiences around the world, ensuring RFE/RL's reporting provides both breaking news and the context needed to understand its significance.
Key Responsibilities
- Shape RFE/RL's coverage of U.S. politics, foreign policy, national security, and international affairs.
- Commission, edit, and develop stories that are accurate, insightful, and relevant to audiences across our broadcast regions.
- Work with Language Services and journalists across the Central Newsroom to identify, elevate, and adapt stories with regional significance for wider audiences across web, mobile, social, and other digital platforms.
- Mentor and support journalists, providing editorial guidance from story development through publication.
- Leverage and expand a network of sources, experts, policymakers, and journalists in Washington, DC.
- Ensure all content meets RFE/RL's standards of accuracy, fairness, balance, and editorial integrity.
- Respond quickly to breaking news and help deliver timely, high-impact journalism across platforms.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of journalism experience, including 8 years in an editorial leadership role.
- Proven experience commissioning, editing, and shaping journalism from idea to publication.
- Strong background in international journalism and global affairs.
- Deep understanding of U.S. government institutions, policymaking processes, and key foreign policy issues.
- Experience overseeing digital journalism across web, mobile, and social platforms.
- Exceptional editorial judgment and news instincts.
- Experience mentoring and guiding journalists.
- Demonstrated ability to make sound editorial decisions in a fast-moving news environment.
- Commitment to the principles of independent, fact-based journalism.
- Ability to work effectively across teams, cultures, and time zones.
- First language proficiency in English.
- Willingness to travel as needed.
- Knowledge of a language spoken in RFE/RL's broadcast regions is a plus.
- Familiarity with CMS platforms and multimedia storytelling tools is desirable.
To apply, please submit your CV, cover letter (both in English), and at least five examples of journalistic work that best demonstrate your qualifications for this role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
The annual compensation range for this position is $115,000 – $140,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.
Should you be interested in this position please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter in English.
Appointment against this post is on a D.C. basis only. Candidates for these positions must reside within commuting distance of Washington D.C., or be willing to relocate. In some cases, if selected for a D.C.-based position from another part of the United States, RFE/RL would cover the costs of interview travel and relocation upon appointment. RFE/RL offers a competitive salary and benefits package.
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.
By replying to this advertisement or sending your CV and/or other personal data to RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, you are agreeing to having your data saved and managed by employees of the HR department of the company for possible future reference in full accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) GDPR and Act No 110/2019 Coll., on personal data processing. This agreement may only be withdrawn by a written revocation and remains valid until that date. However no longer than 5 years.
Odpovědí na tento inzerát či zasláním Vašeho životopisu a případných dalších osobních materiálů do společnosti RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty dáváte souhlas ke zpracování a uchování Vašich osobních údajů dle Nařízení Evropského parlamentu a Rady (EU) 2016/679 ze dne 27. dubna 2016 o ochraně fyzických osob v souvislosti se zpracováním osobních údajů a o volném pohybu těchto údajů a o zrušení směrnice 95/46/ES (obecné nařízení o ochraně osobních údajů), dále jen GDPR a zákona č. 110/2019 Sb., o zpracování osobních údajů. Tento souhlas platí až do jeho odvolání písemnou formou, maximálně však po dobu 5 let.
Privacy Notice for RFE/RL Job Applicants
RFE/RL, Inc. is a private, nonprofit corporation funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress through the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Due to RFE/RL’s special character, the countries in which RFE/RL operates, and the type of work RFE/RL performs, it is RFE/RL's obligation to verify the accuracy of information provided by each applicant in order to ensure the safety and security of our employees and workplace. RFE/RL must ensure that everybody who advances to the final stage of the selection process for a position at RFE/RL and who wishes to enter into an employment relationship with RFE/RL must undergo pre-employment check from public sources.
With respect to the above, all applicants are informed that:
RFE/RL may use information from public sources during its selection process to perform one-time pre-employment checks which are conducted by RFE/RL; personal data (mainly name, surname, address, date of birth, personal identification number, telephone number, e-mail address ) will be collected and processed by RFE/RL for a maximum period of one year.