Visual Editor, Washington D.C

Radio Free Asia • Washington, DC

1d • $87,500 - $118,500 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Visual Editor strengthens and maintains consistent visual journalism across Radio Free Asia’s desks, including photography, video, graphics, maps, and forensic visuals. The role supports daily coverage as well as longer investigative and explanatory projects, helping complex stories from closed countries reach audiences across web, social, and video platforms. The Visual Editor works closely with the visuals capacity within Production & Assets.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Photojournalism, Visual Communication, Graphic Design, Film, or a related field; equivalent demonstrated professional experience may substitute.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in visual journalism, such as photo editing, video editing, or visual production in a newsroom or equivalent editorial environment.
• Portfolio of published work.
• Experience working across still photography, video, graphics, and social-native formats in a multi-platform publishing environment.
• Strong visual news judgment and ability to assess imagery for accuracy, sourcing integrity, newsworthiness, and ethical appropriateness.
• Proficiency with industry-standard visual editing tools, including Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for still imagery and Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro for video.
• Working proficiency in visual verification techniques, including reverse image search, geolocation, and chronolocation.
• Working knowledge of digital asset management systems and multi-platform publishing workflows.
• Understanding of visual ethics in sensitive coverage, including imagery of victims, at-risk subjects, and events in closed or conflict environments.
• Experience managing freelance visual contributors, including editing and rights negotiation.
• Ability to accommodate some flexibility in work hours for international time zones.
• Existing work authorization; the company does not sponsor work authorization for this position.
• Submission of a portfolio with the application.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with data visualization, motion graphics, or interactive storytelling.
• Familiarity with RFA’s coverage regions and one or more broadcast languages.
• Prior experience in international news or coverage of politically sensitive, conflict, or human rights subjects.
• Ability to work across multilingual, multicultural desk teams and provide visual editorial guidance without direct line authority over desk staff.
• Fluency in one of RFA’s languages.

Responsibilities

• Uphold RFA’s visual standards across desks, including accuracy, sourcing, captioning, ethical image use, and AI disclosure where relevant.
• Evaluate incoming photo and video for authenticity, quality, and relevance.
• Commission, assign, and edit visual coverage for daily news and projects in partnership with desks and freelancers.
• Collaborate with OSINT and Data journalists on forensic visuals, satellite-imagery analysis, maps, and data graphics.
• Shape visual storytelling for distribution across platforms and optimize formats for each channel.
• Coordinate with Production & Assets on digital asset management workflows, rights management, and production training.
• Coach desk staff and contributors on visual storytelling and verification.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior