Senior Editor, News and Feature, Korean Desk, DC

Radio Free Asia•Washington DC, WA

2d•$87,000 - $118,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Radio Free Asia (RFA) is seeking a Senior Editor, News and Feature for its Korean Desk in Washington, DC. The role leads story generation and reporter development during the Washington, DC shift, managing the front end of the editorial cycle: identifying news, assigning work, developing reporting, and delivering well-sourced, camera-ready stories to the Senior Editor, Output, DC for final editing and publication. The position directly manages Multiplatform Journalists, Senior Multiplatform Journalists, and Investigative journalists, providing editorial direction, coaching, and day-to-day news and feature management. Together with the Senior Editor, Output, the role forms the editorial core of the desk under the Editor in Charge. The editor develops and executes plans for special reports, series, and in-depth features on political, human rights, security, and economic developments affecting the Korean Peninsula. The position works with staff reporters, freelancers, and contributors on long-lead investigative projects, and edits Korean-language long-form texts and multimedia features for narrative structure, clarity, fairness, and compliance with RFA standards. The role also coordinates story development and handoffs with editorial colleagues, maintains the desk's story log, supports newsroom training, and ensures appropriate attention to accuracy, verification, journalist safety, and editorial standards. This is a hybrid position based in Washington, DC, with three days in the office and two days remote each week. The salary range is $87,000–$118,500 per year, with final salary based on compatible experience and skills. Applicants must already have work authorization; the company does not sponsor work authorization for this position. Applications must include a cover letter and a portfolio highlighting long-form, feature-type work.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or above in journalism, political science, economics, or a related field, or at least 7 years of professional journalism experience.
Significant experience in a news editing, assignment editing, or senior reporting role in a digital, broadcast, or multimedia newsroom, using the language of the served desk.
At least 4 years of experience directly supervising and mentoring journalists, including day-to-day editorial direction and performance feedback.
Deep knowledge of and political sensitivity toward the Korean Peninsula, including its political, social, and media landscape.
Demonstrated experience leading coverage of significant political events and developments in the desk's coverage area.
Ability to run a news and feature cycle by assigning stories, developing reporters, managing a shift, and delivering consistent, high-quality output on deadline.
Strong news and feature judgment, including identifying significant stories, evaluating sourcing, and guiding reporters toward well-supported journalism.
Fluency in multi-platform publishing, including web, social media, video, shortwave, and audio formats.
Strong written communication skills for editorial guidance, reporter briefings, and shift handoffs.
A strong portfolio or track record of investigative, feature-type, or in-depth reporting in writing or multimedia formats.
Strong command of journalistic Korean and the political and cultural vocabulary used on the Korean Peninsula, including awareness of how official terminology shapes framing.
Existing work authorization; the company does not sponsor work authorization for this position.
Submit a cover letter and a portfolio highlighting long-form, feature-type work with the application.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a follow-the-sun or distributed newsroom with cross-time-zone coordination.
Familiarity with safety and security protocols for journalists working on sensitive stories or in restrictive environments.
Experience reporting on or about the Korean Peninsula, with an established source network in the region.
Professional working proficiency in English.
Familiarity with audience analytics tools and data-driven story selection.

Responsibilities

Identify, prioritize, and assign stories for the Washington, DC shift by monitoring breaking news, source feeds, peer outlets, and social channels.
Review and supervise reporters' pitches, providing editorial direction on angles, sourcing, formats, and platform requirements.
Develop stories with reporters throughout the shift by reviewing drafts, strengthening sourcing, refining angles, and ensuring RFA standards are met before handoff to output.
Surface stories with cross-desk significance to the Coverage Editor for coordinated responses or content sharing.
Immediately flag breaking news or high-risk stories to the Editor in Charge and route pre-publication standards, safety, or legal concerns to the appropriate authority.
Maintain an accurate, up-to-date desk story log of assigned and in-progress stories.
Develop and execute editorial plans and calendars for special reports, series, and in-depth features on developments affecting the Korean Peninsula.
Identify story ideas, commission piece-work, and collaborate with staff reporters, freelancers, and contributors on long-lead investigative projects.
Edit Korean-language long-form texts and multimedia features for narrative structure, clarity, fairness, and compliance with RFA standards.
Directly manage Multiplatform Journalists, Senior Multiplatform Journalists, and Investigative journalists during the Washington, DC shift, including day-to-day direction, assignments, and real-time feedback.
Coach reporters on news development, sourcing, interviewing, writing, and multi-platform storytelling, and contribute to their professional development.
Provide the Senior Editor, Output and Editor in Charge with input on reporter performance, strengths, development areas, and workload planning.
Raise journalist safety concerns with the Senior Editor, Output and Editor in Charge, and incorporate staff and source protection into editorial decisions from the assignment stage.
Coordinate with the Senior Editor, Output so stories are developed, filed, and sequenced for a smooth publishing workflow.
Prepare end-of-shift handoff notes covering open assignments, in-progress stories, sources needing follow-up, and outstanding editorial guidance.
Coordinate with the Coverage Editor on cross-desk opportunities and multi-language story development during the Asia shift.
Uphold RFA editorial standards for sourcing, accuracy, verification, and format.
Contribute to on-desk training that strengthens reporters' sourcing habits, news judgment, and multi-platform production skills.