Job AnnouncementLead Editor, Emerging ThreatsAbout the RoleWe're creating a new Emerging Threats vertical within MBN to track, analyze and report on the groups, people and forces that could destabilize the region - and present a threat beyond it. The job we're looking to fill would conceive, create and run this exciting new venture.
You'll build and lead a team that crosses many borders and operates on different platforms. We want to uncover and report on - with rigor, deploying new tools of gathering information, always creatively - extremist groups across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. But as much as they will be a focus, we won't limit ourselves to jihadist leaders or movements. Threats to stability can emerge from different and sometimes surprising places
The team will produce major editorial projects and products related to extremism, including multimedia reporting, documentaries, short-form video, social content, newsletters, and podcasts. The position requires strong editorial judgment, regional knowledge, leadership ability, and experience managing sensitive journalism with accuracy, balance, and professionalism. A familiarity with and openness to working with data is a plus .
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:The following tasks are considered essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions:
- Design, build, recruit, and manage a cross-platform editorial team focused on emerging threats from the region.
- Recruit and direct a multi-lingual and multimedia team of journalists, both in Washington and in the Middle East.
- Develop a product pipeline for this new vertical including but not limited to a possible newsletter, podcast and live events.
- Review stories, scripts, podcast outlines, newsletters, and social media content for accuracy, fairness, tone, sensitivity, and compliance with MBN's editorial standards.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Other Duties:Perform additional job-related duties and take on new responsibilities as needed based on organizational requirements and circumstances.
Qualifications and Requirements:Candidates are required to have:
- Bachelor's degree in Journalism, International Relations, Political Science, Middle East Studies, Security Studies, Communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- 7+ years of professional experience in journalism, editorial leadership, investigative reporting, conflict reporting, international news, or related media work.
- Demonstrated knowledge of terrorism, jihadist movements, organized extremism, counterterrorism, political violence, or regional security issues.
- Proven ability to lead editorial teams and manage cross-platform journalism projects.
- Experience working across digital, video, audio, newsletter, podcast, and social media formats.
- Excellent editorial judgment, writing, editing, story-framing, and project-management skills.
- Ability to handle sensitive topics with accuracy, balance, cultural awareness, and professionalism.
- Strong understanding of journalistic ethics, source verification, fact-checking, legal risk, and editorial standards.
- Ability to work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced, digital-first newsroom environment.
- Professional fluency in English is required.
- Arabic language skills are strongly preferred.
- Experience covering Middle East affairs, international security, terrorism, counterterrorism, or conflict is highly desirable.
