Writer and Researcher - International Multimedia Journalist V

Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads major editorial beats, coverage areas, or specialized reporting initiatives as assigned

• Produces and delivers high-impact breaking news, enterprise reporting, interviews, feature stories, and special coverage

• Develops original reporting angles, investigative content, and long-form storytelling projects

• Provides editorial guidance and subject matter expertise within assigned beat or specialty area without exercising supervisory authority

• Writes, copy edits, adapts, translates, versions, and produces content for broadcast, web, streaming, and social media platforms

• Contributes to editorial planning, story selection, coverage strategy, and programming direction for assigned beats or coverage areas

• Maintains extensive knowledge of assigned subject matter, region, audience, or policy area

• Maintains extensive knowledge of assigned subject matter, region, audience, or policy area

• Provides mentorship, professional guidance, and editorial support to less experienced journalists and producers without supervisory responsibilities

• Collaborates across language services and divisions on major global and U.S. policy coverage initiatives

• Makes recommendations regarding newsroom workflow improvements, editorial innovation, and content strategy

• Works independently with minimal supervision in highly complex and fast-paced newsroom environments

• Meets VOA standards for productivity, editorial quality, accuracy, and deadlines

• Logs and conducts data entry and related functions connected with VOA’s digital asset management systems

• Other related duties as assigned

Knowledge Required

• Fluency in English (written and spoken)
• Fluency in target language (written and spoken), if applicable
• Extensive knowledge of assigned beat, target region, policy area, or subject matter specialty
• Advanced understanding of journalism ethics, editorial standards, multimedia storytelling, and newsroom operations
• Demonstrated expertise in live reporting, anchoring, production, and enterprise journalism
• Ability to produce complex editorial content independently under significant deadline pressure
• Advanced interview, writing, editing, presentation, and storytelling skills
• Deep understanding of digital, broadcast, and social media production workflows
• Specialized expertise or formal education in a field relevant to VOA’s mission and coverage priorities

Complexity

• Exceptional complexity
• Performs multiple senior-level editorial and production functions across platforms and coverage areas
• Handles highly sensitive, fast-moving, and high-visibility news coverage independently
• Leads editorial execution for major coverage initiatives, breaking news events, and special programming
• Develops innovative reporting approaches, storytelling methods, and editorial products
• Frequently resolves highly unusual and complex editorial, production, and operational challenges
• Expected to manage multiple major assignments concurrently under tight deadlines
• Provides senior editorial leadership and newsroom expertise without supervisory authority
• Exercises extensive independent editorial judgment

Supervisory Controls

• PSC operates with a very high degree of independence
• Assignments are generally broad in scope and outcome-focused
• PSC independently identifies reporting priorities, develops coverage plans, and executes assignments with minimal oversight
• Work products typically require only limited editorial review
• PSC is relied upon as a senior newsroom resource and subject matter expert
• Position carries no supervisory or managerial authority