Are you a versatile journalist with a track record of delivering exclusive stories and cultivating a strong source network? Do you relish the chance to write about everything from breaking news to in-depth features? Do you like to dig deep into a beat and become the first to report on new developments? Are you full of ideas and the motivation to see those ideas come to fruition? Are you excited to be part of a news organization that has a social impact focus and an open, teamwork-focused culture? Read on.
You’re an experienced reporter with a strong interest in or knowledge of global development and how it relates to the U.S. government, including agencies such as USAID, State Department, Congress, and the White House, as well as multilateral development banks such as the World Bank. You’re detail-oriented and have a collaborative attitude. You thrive in an environment where you’re responsible for your own work (but you get the support you need). You know how to manage competing priorities and smoothly juggle work and communicate across time zones.
Does this sound like you? If you just said “yes,” keep reading…
What you’ll do here:
We are looking for a general reporter to cover U.S.-related development news, including international finance institutions, foreign assistance, food and health policy, and humanitarian news. You will be responsible for publishing exclusive stories, including a mixture of breaking news, interviews and long-form features on U.S. government policy. You’ll be able to come to weekly editorial meetings with a selection of pitches to offer. You’ll also report on broader trends in global development.
Your first year will look a little bit like this…
In your first 90 days, you’ll get up to speed on key global development issues and will work on cultivating sources within the U.S. government and D.C.-based NGOs, foundations, think tanks and other organizations. You’ll be on top of breaking news and begin to identify trends that could become bigger picture features and paywalled stories.
You will also develop a good understanding of your role within the wider Devex news team and work on stories collaboratively with other reporters, the production and multimedia team, and the social media engagement team.
After your first year, you’ll have a strong grasp of U.S. agencies and development organizations, tapping sources you’ve made inside the institutions as well as former officials, civil society groups and think tanks that cover them. You’ll be digging into the politics, policy and internal debates that shape the institutions you cover. You’ll have become a respected voice in the sector, having cultivated sources in order to write exclusive stories, based on data, tips and information gleaned from your past coverage.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Here are the basic requirements we’re looking for in the role…
- At least 5 years reporting experience and ideally 10-15+ years of experience
- Proven source building skills and a significant network of sources
- Worked at well-respected media organizations
- Excellent writing skills and news judgment
- Experience as a beat reporter
- A bachelor’s degree
Nice-to-have:
Besides the basics, here’s what we’d love to see…
- Passion for global development
- You haven’t just heard of USAID, IFC, and MCC; you know what they do and how they work
- Comfortable moderating panels and webinars
- Experience working with data and financial documents
For more information click here.
