Overview:
Job Title: Senior Multiplatform Journalist, Korean Desk
Department: Editorial, Korean Language Service
Reports To: Senior Editor, News
Location: Seoul, Korea
Schedule: Full-Time
Who We Are
Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with editorial and operational bureaus in Taipei, Bangkok, and Seoul. A congressionally funded grantee of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), RFA operates with full editorial independence.
Our mission is to provide accurate, uncensored news and information to people living in countries where a free press does not exist. We broadcast in nine languages and dialects — Mandarin, Cantonese, Tibetan, Uyghur, Burmese, Vietnamese, Lao, Khmer, and Korean — reaching audiences across China, North Korea, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and beyond via shortwave, satellite, and the internet. Our journalists work in some of the world’s most difficult media environments, often at considerable personal risk, filling a critical gap in access to truthful, timely news for millions of people who would otherwise have very little of it. That reality shapes everything about how we work and who we hire to lead this organization.
Job Summary
The Senior Multiplatform Journalist has the ability to report from information-restricted regions and countries, securing major news leads while planning in-depth projects, investigative series, and developing original reporting agendas. The role covers an assigned beat on a daily basis while taking on more complex and in-depth features and investigative reporting. All complex, high-risk, or legally sensitive stories require review and sign-off by the Senior Editor, News before publication.
RFA is a multiplatform news organization. Journalists are expected to be proficient across radio, web news, and social media reporting formats. Journalists are encouraged to progressively build video production skills as part of their professional development; the Senior Multiplatform Journalist is expected to actively contribute to video content strategy within their area of capability.
Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities
Beat Coverage & In-Depth Reporting
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Cover the assigned beat on a daily basis, ensuring the continuity and depth of beat reporting.
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Report from information-restricted regions and countries, developing and breaking major news leads and exclusive stories.
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Plan and execute in-depth features and investigative series, developing original reporting agendas; major projects must be co-planned with the Senior Editor, News with regular progress updates.
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Collaborate with the Senior Editor, News and management to pitch and develop high-priority features and special reports.
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All complex, high-risk, or legally sensitive stories must be reviewed and signed off by the Senior Editor, News before publication.
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Serve as an internal subject resource for colleagues, helping to elevate the team's overall reporting depth in the area of expertise.
Multiplatform Content Production (Core)
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Produce RFA's most impactful web news articles, features, and investigative reports.
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Adapt complex investigative and analytical content into broadcast scripts, podcast scripts, and social media copy; record broadcast-quality audio narration.
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Edit audio to broadcast-ready standard, including multi-element packages with interview recordings, narration, and natural sound.
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Contribute to the content planning and scripting of flagship podcasts or in-depth interview programs; journalists with hosting capability may serve as host.
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Source, curate, and provide editorial direction for news imagery from licensed platforms, maintaining the highest standards of journalistic image integrity; or obtain legally authorized audiovisual material from interview subjects.
Multiplatform Content Production (Extended, assigned based on operational needs)
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Contribute to the planning and guidance of video news content strategy, helping to establish the organization's video journalism standards and direction.
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Produce or guide the production of video versions of investigative reports or features, based on skills and operational needs.
Mentorship & Institutional Representation
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Actively mentor junior=level Multiplatform Journalists: provide regular editorial guidance, review drafts, and help develop their editorial judgment, source cultivation skills, and multiplatform production capabilities.
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Represent RFA at major press events, high-level briefings, and long-term source engagements.
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Build and maintain a deep network of institutional source relationships; recognized externally in the relevant subject domain.
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Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
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Minimum of 7 years of progressive professional journalism experience, with a significant portion in a senior reporting capacity covering government, diplomacy, human rights, or similarly high-stakes beats. A portfolio demonstrating impact, depth, and multiplatform versatility is required when submitting your application.
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Demonstrated track record of breaking major news stories, exclusives, and leading investigative or long-form reporting projects from inception to publication.
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Extensive knowledge of and on-the-ground reporting experience on Korean Peninsula, with expert-level understanding of its political, economic, and social conditions.
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A deep, established network of institutional-level sources, experts, and contacts in the relevant subject domain and coverage region.
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Recognized internally — and preferably externally — as a subject authority in the relevant coverage domain, with a demonstrated ability to elevate the overall reporting depth and editorial quality of the broader team.
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Expert written and analytical fluency in Korean, with the ability to distill complex, multi-source information into compelling narratives across multiple formats.
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Mastery of broadcast script writing and audio narration; ability to independently produce professional-standard multi-element audio packages.
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Proven ability to produce content across all required multiplatform formats, including web articles, broadcast audio, podcast, and licensed image sourcing and curation.
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Expert editorial judgment in sourcing, curating, and directing the use of licensed news imagery, maintaining the highest standards of journalistic image integrity.
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Content planning capability for audio programs or podcasts, with the ability to contribute to scripting, structure, and editorial direction.
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Demonstrated ability to mentor junior and mid-level journalists, providing structured editorial guidance, draft review, and developmental feedback.
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Experience representing a news organization at major press events, high-level government or diplomatic briefings, and long-term institutional source engagements.
Preferred Qualifications
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Hands-on experience hosting audio programs or podcasts.
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Ability to produce or guide the production of video versions of investigative reports or features, based on skills and operational needs.
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Familiarity with video editing workflows, software, and short-form broadcast-quality video production.
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On-camera reporting or hosting experience for video news.
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Familiarity with data journalism tools, digital graphics production, or interactive storytelling formats.
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Familiarity with shortwave and digital radio broadcast standards and workflows.
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Experience working in international, public, or diaspora media
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Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
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Awards, recognitions, or notable publications demonstrating editorial impact and journalistic distinction.
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Possession of valid work authorization for South Korea is highly advantageous for this role.
Physical Requirements / Working Conditions
This position is hybrid, with three days in-office and two days remote weekly. Work is sedentary, performed at a desk using standard office equipment, with occasional lifting up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.
To be considered for this position, please include a cover letter with your application.
