Who we are
In our interconnected world, journalism needs to deliver common facts to divergent audiences. Our biggest stories, and greatest crises, are now global: from climate change to pandemics, rising inequality to supply chain disruption, political instability to the influence of social media. Yet global trust in the media is at an all-time low. This moment requires a new approach.
Enter Semafor. We are a team of deeply-experienced journalists and media professionals laser focused on providing a global audience with an unparalleled level of journalistic transparency; through innovative new forms, cutting through the noise of the news cycle with smart, distilled views, and exploring competing perspectives across borders.
Join us and help build a global news platform you can trust.
About the Role
We’re looking for a talented journalist with deep knowledge of the region, sure feet, and a clear voice to anchor our expansion to the Middle East across digital platforms and events.
The successful candidate will bring a deep understanding of the economic and financial forces transforming, in particular, the Gulf, and of how to do useful, revelatory, and fair journalism in a complex region. The candidate will also combine insight on the dynamics shaping the Middle East with a sophisticated perspective on how the region and its stories affect the wider world. The editor will be well-sourced and able to both break news, as well as adept at connecting the dots of how the region is changing.
Semafor Middle East will concentrate on the business, economics, finance, and energy sectors, centered around the Gulf states. The position would report to the Senior Editor, and would help establish a small team, targeting sophisticated, engaged, and globally aware readers in the Middle East and with deep interest and connections to the region.
The position will likely be based in the Gulf or London. Candidates will be asked to complete a writing and editing exercise as part of the interview process, and must retain the right to work where they live.
Your responsibilities
- Help develop Semafor’s forthcoming Semafor Middle East newsletter.
- Anchor Semafor’s coverage across the Middle East — across all platforms and events.
- Write must-read stories about the region, with a focus on business, finance, economics, and energy for a sophisticated audience within the Middle East and abroad.
- Organize the distillation of key, relevant sources in English and Arabic.
- Help build a small team to cover the region.
- Collaborate closely and constantly with the audience team, and other verticals across Semafor’s global newsroom.
- Think constantly about story distribution and audiences, whether on social media or key partners and platforms.
- Bring speedy insight to big news stories, and flair and personality to the writing.
What makes you qualified
- 5+ years of relevant experience covering the Middle East.
- A grasp of financial and business journalism.
- A strategic, sophisticated approach to identifying themes and focuses of coverage across sectors and borders.
- A flair for elegant and sparkling writing.
- A passion for world events and issues and a broad interest in a wide range of subjects.
- A broad reading list across conventional and unconventional sources.
- Eagerness to be part of a dynamic work environment demanding initiative, flexibility, and a willingness to jump in wherever needed to help the team succeed.
- Experience working with diverse teams with teammates from many different backgrounds.
Additional job details
Comprehensive employee benefits: unlimited PTO, medical, dental, vision, short & long-term disability, flexible spending, health savings accounts, life insurance, 401(k), pre-Tax commuter benefits. (Benefits programs vary by country and are subject to eligibility requirements)
Semafor, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and enthusiastically encourages people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Semafor, Inc. will consider all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law
