NY Times seeks a reporter to cover the FDA

The New York Times is looking for an enterprising reporter to take on one of the biggest, juiciest, most consequential beats at the intersection of health, science and big business: covering the Food and Drug Administration.

The agency regulates the safety of products that make up a quarter of consumer spending — everything from drugs to cosmetics, cannabis to stem cell therapies, tobacco to baby food. Its regulatory failings contributed to the catastrophic national crisis of opioid addiction.

It’s flawed oversight of e-cigarettes made possible the explosion of teen vaping. Now, it’s at the heart of approving Covid vaccines that are going into the arms of hundreds of millions of Americans. We need a dogged reporter who has a passion for public health, the skills to dig beneath the surface of the news, comfort with medical science and a fascination with telling the stories of the people whose lives are affected by the agency.

This job involves writing breaking news on FDA decisions, enterprise and features, so strong writing skills are required.

The FDA reporter will join journalists on the health and science desk, and in the Washington bureau and Bizday, who report on related topics, so a collegial spirit will be essential. The job will be based in Washington D.C.

To apply, go here.