Istanbul Correspondent

Intro to Position

NPR is seeking a dynamic and enterprising correspondent to report on Turkey and the wider region for our trailblazing and highly awarded International Desk. The correspondent will report on the politics, culture, history, and social dynamics of Turkey and the region at a moment of profound change. Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Turkey offers a unique vantage point for reporting on developments that shape the wider Middle East and beyond.

From Istanbul, the correspondent will closely monitor and report on regional flashpoints, including Iran and Syria. The correspondent also will work collaboratively with our Middle East team to cover the regional implications of the Israel-Hamas war and deliver clear, authoritative, and on-the-ground journalism for a global audience. The job will require frequent travel across the region, as well as potential assignments elsewhere to buttress coverage, particularly during periods of crisis.

The correspondent will explain the politics and trends, arts and culture, religion, migration, media and civil society -- and render the struggles and experiences of the region’s diverse people in their own voices. This is a job that requires nimble thinking, creativity, flexibility, good judgement, exceptional reporting skills and the ability to tell stories in a way that resonates with our audiences on all platforms.

The correspondent also will contribute to NPR’s ongoing coverage of climate change, collaborating with our expert colleagues on the Science and Health Desk. You’ll explore the state of democracy, the spread of nationalism and its impact on the US with our Washington-based staff.

As NPR’s correspondent, you will report for the most-listened to news magazine shows in America and digital platforms with millions of readers – including our growing Instagram video offerings. You’ll report for NPR’s collection of podcasts – contributing regularly to our interpretations of daily news on Up First and Consider This as well as helping shape our long-form storytelling.

The Istanbul position is one of NPR’s 16 International bureaus. You’ll be joining a team of committed, professional journalists and storytellers who bring the world to NPR’s audience on air and online. 

This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff are defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR's content, including events.

Application Deadline: Thursday, January 29th at 5pm ET

Responsibilities

Regional coverage.

• Develop original, in-depth reporting on Turkey’s internal politics, society, culture, and history, highlighting their importance in a regional and global context.
• Track and report on events in Iran, especially amid escalating tensions with the US.
• Report on Syria as the newly established government under former rebel leader al-Sharaa works to assert authority over a deeply divided nation.
• Provide periodic support for coverage of Israel and Gaza, contributing to breaking news, enterprise stories, and analytical reporting in collaboration with regional teams.

Develops ideas/proposals for reports and programs.

• Conceives, proposes, plans, and researches ideas for stories and program segments for all NPR news platforms: on-air, online, and social media meeting NPR’s emphasis on curated, thoughtful reporting.  
• Contributes original reporting and writing online, with a sophisticated understanding of how to tailor reporting and news to online audiences.
• Develops news sources consistent with NPR’s standards for attribution and reliability.  
• Participates in departmental planning of coverage.
• Communicates daily with international desk editors about news developments and story ideas.
• Strives to represent diverse views and voices.
• Maintains the highest standards of accuracy, impartiality and inclusion.
• Covers stories as assigned by international desk editors. Will involve frequent travel at times, sometimes under difficult conditions.
• Gathers material on tape and otherwise, through interviews, press conferences, direct coverage of events.  Advises editors of technical support required when and where necessary.

Performs other duties as assigned.

• Prepares and presents special reports, series, documentaries, and program segments examining important subjects in depth.
• Under the supervision of a producer or assigned editor, anchors or assists in presenting live coverage of hearings, major news conferences, and other broadcasting or news events.
• Does original, investigative reporting, including the generation of ideas, and concepts and the development of plans for such reporting.
• Must make regular and frequent trips through the region, as news dictates, to other nations and beyond that produce a variety of major stories, features, and program segments for various NPR programs.
• Fulfills administrative obligations arising from assignments, such as filing prompt and accurate expense records and program information/summaries; maintaining contact with editors and appropriate producers; keeping editors and appropriate producers informed about assignments.
• Develops regional editorial support, including freelancers and fixers.

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

Minimum Qualifications

• 6+ years international reporting experience.
• Proven understanding of complex foreign policy issues, especially those involving Turkey and the Middle East. 
• Demonstrated, in-depth knowledge of regional history, politics, and economics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Radio reporting and broadcast experience: Demonstrated expertise in all aspects of broadcast journalism – reporting, voicing, editing, producing full radio pieces, use of microphones, recorders, computers and telecommunication transmissions via phone ISDN lines, satellite phones and/or Internet. Skill and experience in execution of sophisticated broadcast and online journalism, such as long-form features and documentaries. 
• Experience with video story telling on social media platforms.
• Experience working overseas, especially in the Middle East, strongly preferred.
• Experience in living and/or working in difficult international situations is highly valuable.
• Fluency in Turkish, Arabic or Farsi would be valuable.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

Work Location & Requirements

• Remote-Required: This position requires remote work. This role includes duties that are better performed or are required to be performed in a designated location OUTSIDE of an NPR facility. The employee is required to work at a designated remote work location. 

Job Type

• This is a full-time, exempt position.

Compensation

Salary Range: The U.S. based anticipated salary range for this opportunity is $135,000-$145,000 plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees. 

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