AFP seeks an economics reporter in London

AFP is looking for a dynamic and enterprising English-language journalist to join the economics team in its bustling London bureau, which covers the UK and Ireland.

Led by the economics coordinator, the team is comprised of four Francophone and two Anglophone reporters who cover the UK economy, government policies, a wide range of companies, financial markets and the Bank of England.

You must be able to break through the jargon to tell readers the story behind the numbers. The job involves writing a daily stock market wrap, quarterly company results, central bank interest rate decisions and macroeconomic data such as GDP and inflation.

You will also be armed with ideas for features and sidebars, with opportunities to get out of the office to report on a country that is still dealing with the fallout from Brexit, adapting to climate change and facing a seismic political shift. You will look for stories that are visually compelling, so that they can be accompanied by video, photos and graphics to illustrate how people in Britain, or beyond, are impacted by business decisions or economic policies.

The economic weight of this G7 country, the global reach of its companies and the influence of its City financial district make the London office one of the most important for AFP’s economic and business coverage. This is even more true since Brexit and the spotlight will shine even brighter after the July 4 general election, which will likely herald a new direction for the country’s economy.

Excellent writing skills, accuracy and attention to detail are required, along with strong news judgment. You must be able to react quickly to breaking developments, synthesize complex economic issues, put them in a broader global context and explain why they are important while making them accessible to a global audience. Premium is placed on concise and snappy articles. You will also have to translate stories from French from time to time.

Grace under pressure is essential, as you will often juggle multiple storylines while responding to breaking news. You must be a team player, flexible and collegial in an office where you will be working closely with your Francophone economic colleagues as well as text, video and photojournalists from the general news side.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• An instinct to react quickly to breaking news.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, able to translate jargon and numbers into elegant prose.
• An eagle eye for inaccuracies or mistakes.
• Familiarity with social media, especially as a news source.
• An ability to generate original story ideas, including compelling focus/analysis pieces and lively features.
• Working language is English, but a good level of French is needed to translate the output of Francophone colleagues.
• Keen eye for the visual and multimedia aspect of coverage and work to coordinate with the photo, video, and graphics departments.

You will ensure that diversity in society is reflected in all our content. You will also link your production to the relevant event.

The role may require long workdays and unsociable hours, dictated by the news agenda, and will include working some weekends and public holidays.

In an ever-changing media environment, the nature of the job could evolve in line with coverage demands and the requirements of an increasingly diverse client base.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants should send a CV and cover letter to AFPLondonjobs@afp.com