Investigative Editor, Farda
Farda, the Persian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), is seeking an experienced and driven Investigative Editor to lead a dedicated team of journalists producing original, high-impact reporting on Iran and issues affecting Iranian audiences.
In this role you will serve as a leading investigative journalist while providing editorial direction, assignments, mentoring, and support to the team. The position focuses on complex investigations, exclusive reporting, and special projects that go beyond the daily news agenda. Investigative priorities include government accountability, corruption, misuse of public funds, transnational repression, disinformation, sanctions evasion, human rights, and the activities of Iranian state institutions and affiliated networks inside and outside Iran. The Investigative Editor is expected to demonstrate strong investigative reporting skills, particularly in open-source intelligence (OSINT), digital verification, document analysis, and the identification and examination of disinformation campaigns. Working under the direction of Radio Farda's Managing Editor, the incumbent coordinates with Radio Farda's editorial teams, RFE/RL's Central Newsroom, Multimedia and Digital teams, and other services to produce compelling investigations for Persian-speaking audiences. The incumbent is responsible for setting investigative priorities, directing a small team, developing longer-term projects, and ensuring the highest standards of accuracy, independence, and editorial integrity.
Responsibilities:
- Leads and provides editorial direction to a small team of investigative journalists.
- Initiates, develops, reports, produces, and edits original investigations and special reports.
- Sets investigative priorities in consultation with Radio Farda's Managing Editor.
- Leads major investigations while assigning and overseeing reporting undertaken by team members.
- Develops investigations into corruption, misuse of public funds, transnational repression, sanctions evasion, disinformation, human rights abuses, and other matters of significant public interest.
- Uses OSINT techniques, digital verification, document analysis, databases, and other investigative tools to uncover and verify original information.
- Investigates disinformation campaigns, coordinated influence operations, and networks engaged in information manipulation.
- Develops and maintains networks of original sources, including sources inside Iran and across the Iranian diaspora.
- Ensures appropriate protection of confidential sources and careful management of sensitive information.
- Supervises reporting for accuracy, fairness, thoroughness, and compliance with RFE/RL's editorial standards.
- Assigns journalists and multimedia production staff to investigative projects and monitors progress toward publication.
- Provides immediate, constructive editorial feedback and mentors less experienced journalists.
- Identifies opportunities for cross-border and collaborative investigations.
- Works closely with Radio Farda's news, television, digital, and social media teams to maximize the reach and impact of investigations.
- Coordinates with RFE/RL's Central Newsroom and other language services on relevant investigative projects.
- Develops innovative investigative storytelling across video, digital, and social media platforms.
- Presents original coverage ideas and identifies opportunities for medium- and long-term investigative reporting.
- Helps recruit, develop, and evaluate investigative journalists as required.
- Contributes to Radio Farda's editorial strategy and the effective use of journalistic resources.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in journalism, international relations, political science, or a related field preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and professional investigative journalism experience.
Work Experience
- At least 5 years of professional journalism experience, with substantial experience conducting original investigations or in-depth reporting.
- Demonstrated track record of significant investigative journalism, exclusive reporting, or special projects.
- Experience using OSINT, digital research, verification tools, and documentary evidence in reporting.
- Experience investigating complex political, financial, or institutional subjects.
- Strong understanding of Iran's political, economic, and social environment and its regional and international relationships.
- Knowledge of transnational repression, corruption, financial misconduct, disinformation, and related investigative subjects.
- Experience producing journalism under deadline pressure.
- Experience directing investigative projects, coordinating journalists, or mentoring colleagues.
- Experience producing multimedia or cross-platform investigations is desirable.
Competencies
- Excellent investigative reporting skills and sound editorial judgment.
- Advanced practical knowledge of open-source intelligence (OSINT), including the verification of images and video, geolocation, social media analysis, and examination of publicly available records.
- Ability to identify, investigate, and explain disinformation campaigns and coordinated influence operations.
- Strong understanding of Iran's governing institutions, political structures, security organizations, economy, and international activities.
- Familiarity with the methods and networks associated with transnational repression and illicit financial activities.
- Ability to follow complex financial transactions, examine public expenditure, and identify possible misuse of public resources.
- Proven ability to develop confidential sources and corroborate sensitive information.
- Strong understanding of digital security, source protection, and the risks associated with investigative reporting on Iran.
- Ability to lead a small team, assign work effectively, establish priorities, and provide constructive feedback.
- Creativity and persistence in developing original investigative leads.
- Ability to produce clear, engaging investigative journalism across digital, video, and other platforms.
- Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple complex projects.
- Commitment to impartiality, accuracy, independence, and RFE/RL's editorial standards.
- Ability to work collaboratively with journalists and editors across departments and language services.
Languages
- Persian (Farsi): Native or near-native proficiency required.
- English: Working proficiency required.
Please submit 3-5 examples of your published investigative journalism, including links to articles, reports, multimedia projects, or other relevant work.
Should you be interested in this position please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter in English.
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.
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