OverviewJob Title: Visual Editor
Department: Editorial
Reports To: Managing Editor
FLSA Status: Exempt
Job Band: 6
Location: Washington, DC | Hybrid
Schedule: Full-Time
Job SummaryThe Visual Editor makes the visual layer of that work strong and consistent across desks — photography, video, graphics, maps, and forensic visuals — so that complex, closed-country stories land with audiences across web, social, and video.
The role spans both daily coverage and longer investigative and explanatory projects, working closely with the visuals capacity that sits within Production & Assets.
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
- Follow and uphold RFA’s visual standards across all desks: accuracy, sourcing, captioning, and ethical use of imagery, including AI-disclosure where relevant.
- Evaluate incoming photo and video for authenticity, quality, and relevance — a critical function in an environment of deepfakes, recycled footage, and state-aligned manipulation.
- Commission, assign, and edit visual coverage for daily news and for projects, partnering with desks and freelancers.
- Collaborate with OSINT and Data journalists to produce forensic visuals, satellite-imagery analysis, maps, and data graphics.
- Shape visual storytelling for distribution across platforms, optimizing format for each channel.
- Coordinate with Production & Assets on DAM workflows, rights management, and production training.
- Coach desk staff and contributors on visual storytelling and verification.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Photojournalism, Visual Communication,Graphic Design , Film, or a related field required; equivalent demonstrated professional experience considered in lieu of degree
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience in visual journalism : photo editing, video editing, or visual production in a newsroom or equivalent editorial environment, with a portfolio of published work required.
- Experience working across multiple visual formats and platforms : still photography, video, graphics, and social-native formats ,in a multi-platform publishing environment
- Strong visual news judgment , the ability to evaluate imagery for accuracy, sourcing integrity, newsworthiness, and ethical appropriateness.
- Excellent proficiency with industry-standard visual editing tools including Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for still imagery; Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro for video
- Working proficiency in visual verification techniques: reverse image search, geolocation, chronolocation.
- Working knowledge of digital asset management systems and multi-platform publishing workflows,
- Understanding of visual ethics in sensitive coverage contexts, including imagery of victims, at-risk subjects, and events in closed or conflict environments
- Experience managing freelance visual contributors, including, editing, and rights negotiation
Preferred Qualifications
- 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 in coverage of politically sensitive, conflict, or human rights subjects strongly preferred
- Demonstrated ability to work across multilingual, multicultural desk teams, providing visual editorial guidance without direct line authority over desk staff
- Fluency in one of RFA languages
Application Instruction: Please submit your portfolio along with your application.
Physical Requirements / Working Conditions
This is a full-time, exempt position based in Washington, DC. Some flexibility in work hours required to accommodate international time zones. The role follows a hybrid schedule, with 3 days in office and 2 days in remote.
Salary Range: $87,500-118,500/Year. Final salary is commensurate with experiences and skills that are compatible with the requirements of the role.
This position is ineligible for sponsorship by the company for any work authorization, applicant must possess existing work authorization to be considered for the position.
