West Africa Correspondent

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It’s why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It’s why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination. And it’s why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it’s worth paying for.

The New York Times is looking for a talented, experienced and versatile journalist to join our International team as a correspondent with a focus on West Africa. This is a chance to join a committed team of reporters and editors who have a history of award-winning work, an eagerness to experiment with new and developing story forms and a passion for bringing Times journalism to a global audience across digital, print and other media.

In this role, you will have an opportunity to explore a region facing a dynamic transformation driven by technology, demographics, the withdrawal of U.S. foreign aid and new alliances in the Sahel. You should be eager to write about everything from politics and security to art and religion.

We want a self-starter who will show readers the myriad ways in which the region is changing – politically, economically and culturally. We are also seeking someone who embraces a true range of stories and turnaround times and is eager to experiment.

The role requires a tenacious reporter with the ability to juggle breaking news, live coverage, analysis and ambitious enterprise. You will work closely with other correspondents across the continent and beyond and provide guidance to local stringers.

The role will report to the Africa editor, who is based in New York. Please note that in addition to Dakar, we are open to considering candidates who would want to be based within the region, which will be discussed during the interview process.

Main responsibilities:

• Follow news, events and cultural trends in the region to determine, in conjunction with your colleagues and editor, themes worthy of coverage as breaking news, day news or as enterprise.
• Contribute to and sometimes be the lead correspondent on live briefings for the region and for other global events, writing concise stories, joining planning meetings and providing live coverage.
• Build a network of sources in and around the region that will inform rich and original reports, news and features, including analysis on international relations with the United States and other global powers.
• Cover news accurately and efficiently; maintaining and cultivating news sources and contacts; obtaining information through interviews, observations and research.
• Present facts and analysis with clarity and in conformity with Times style, length and other requirements, and develop high-impact stories based on the broader themes that underpin important news developments.
• Write on deadline; receive and react to feedback and edits in a timely manner.
• Familiarity with audience data to help reach new readers across platforms.
• Collaborate with other reporters in the region during major news events.
• Work with colleagues across Photo, Video, Audio and other departments to bring stories to life in a variety of formats across all Times products.
• Demonstrate support and understanding of our values of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.
• Commitment to The New York Times’s strategy, ethics, standards and mission for both yourself, your team, stringers and colleagues.

Ideal candidate:

• Written and verbal fluency in English. Fluency in Arabic is useful but not required.
• Proven international reporting and writing experience, preferably for a global news organization.
• Must be as comfortable and enthusiastic reacting to breaking news as you are writing thoughtfully about global issues.
• Expert understanding of high-level diplomatic and security interests and clarity about the intricacies of regional politics.
• Familiarity with the local media and current knowledge of appropriate sources.
• Experience working with security, legal and other support teams in a high-risk reporting environment.
• Proactive problem solver.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Collegial and collaborative behavior; integrity with assignments.

In order to be considered for this role, please submit your resume and cover letter, including links to your top 5-7clips.

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