Editor, News Job at Council on Foreign Relations in New York

Overview

Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a leading nonprofit membership organization, research center, and publisher, with headquarters in New York, an office in Washington, DC, and programs nationwide. It is dedicated to increasing America's understanding of the world and contributing ideas to U.S. foreign policy. CFR's 5,000+ members are leaders in international affairs and foreign policy. CFR also publishes Foreign Affairs, the preeminent magazine on global issues, and provides up-to-date information about the world and U.S. foreign policy on its award-winning website, CFR.org.

Position Summary

The Editor of News leads CFR's daily coverage of international affairs, working closely with CFR fellows to provide timely analysis and context on global events. This role transforms complex foreign policy expertise into accessible content for general audiences, implementing CFR's strategy to deliver immediate understanding of global events through various formats. The position serves as a bridge between CFR's experts and our audiences seeking authoritative analysis of breaking news.

This role reports to the Managing Editor, Digital Content, and must be based in our Washington, D.C., or New York City offices.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead CFR's daily news coverage, working with the news team and fellows to ensure rapid response to breaking international events.
• Manage and mentor a team of writers.
• Make quick, decisive judgment calls on what CFR should and is well-equipped to cover.
• Commission and edit quick-turn content including articles, Q&As, and expert commentary from CFR fellows.
• Be an active participant in our editorial leadership group.
• Develop innovative formats for presenting complex foreign policy issues to general audiences.
• Collaborate with the content strategy lead and audience team to optimize content for different platforms and ensure impact and reach.
• Monitor global news developments across platforms to identify opportunities for CFR analysis and commentary.
• Track content performance metrics and adjust strategy based on audience data.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with CFR fellows and research staff.
• Ensure editorial excellence while maintaining rapid response capabilities.
• Perform any other duties or tasks as assigned or required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, International Relations, or equivalent experience.
• 5-7+ years editing experience in a fast-paced or real-time newsroom environment, with significant coverage of international affairs or foreign policy.
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple priorities under tight deadlines while maintaining high editorial standards.
• Strong experience managing breaking news coverage and rapid response content.
• Demonstrated success working with subject matter experts to produce timely analysis.
• Track record of translating complex topics for general audiences.
• Experience with digital content optimization and multi-format storytelling.

Required Application Materials

• Please submit a résumé and cover letter stating your interest in the position.

Compensation and Benefits

• The full-time annual compensation range for this position is $80,000 – $115,000 depending on experience.
• In addition to competitive salaries, the Council on Foreign Relations offers a benefits package that is among the best offered by nonprofit institutions today, including an award-winning health and wellness program, an on-site fitness center, and generous leave policies and health insurance programs.

About CFR

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is committed to fostering a foreign policy community in the United States that is more representative of American society, recognizing that diverse backgrounds and perspectives contribute to broader, more informed participation in the foreign policy debate and lead to an enhanced understanding of the world and the United States’ role therein. To that end, CFR is dedicated to continuing to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout its work and workplace by building a more diverse membership and staff, producing and dispensing thoughtful analysis on a broad range of foreign policy issues, and developing relevant, wide-reaching programming that also serves to expand the foreign policy talent pipeline to underrepresented populations.

The Council on Foreign Relations is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks candidates from a diverse background.