Researcher, Levant Region

Job Title: Researcher, Levant Region

Department: MENA Programs

Job Band: Researchers &Associates I

Compensation: Compensation will be commensurate with experience and includes consideration of the cost of living in the candidate’s individual location.

Term of Contract (Dates/Duration): Approximately August 24, 2026 - December 31, 2026

Location: Middle East/North Africa or Europe, remote, with a preference for Jordan or Lebanon

Workspace Designation: Remote

Reports to: Program Coordinator, Levant Region

Closing Date: August 21, 2026 (Candidates reviewed on a rolling basis)

About CPJ:

Founded in 1981, the Committee to Protect Journalists (“CPJ”) is an independent, non-profit organization defending journalists worldwide without regard to their political ideology. Through its work to safeguard journalists, CPJ protects the rights of all people to have access to diverse and independent sources of information. For over four decades, CPJ has helped win the early release of imprisoned journalists, secure convictions in journalist murders, and enable legal reform in countries where free expression has deteriorated. CPJ’s widely cited database and reports have raised global awareness of attacks on press freedom. Learn more about CPJ’s fight to defend freedom of the press here http://cpj.org

At CPJ, we are dedicated to upholding values of equity and free expression in both our internal operations and external endeavors. As a global organization headquartered in the United States, we aspire to build a diverse workplace and foster an inclusive and welcoming environment. We strive for our people to be representative of the global community on which we report and to equip them with the opportunities and resources they need to learn and succeed.

CPJ is headquartered in New York City, but our team is truly global, with staff members and contributors based worldwide. This structure allows us to monitor and respond to press freedom threats in real-time, ensuring that journalists everywhere have the support they need.

Scope of Work:

The Levant Researcher will document, investigate, and report on press freedom violations and threats to journalists in the Levant with a focus on Lebanon, Israel and Palestine, and Jordan The role includes research and writing for CPJ’s editorial and advocacy output, maintaining up-to-date data on press freedom violations, and translating reports between Arabic and English.

This role requires a background in media, press freedom, and human rights in the MENA region, excellent research and English and Arabic writing skills, a solid understanding of journalistic standards, and the ability to work independently and proactively. You will collaborate with colleagues across different time zones, requiring strong interpersonal and project management skills. The Researcher must be available for at least one weekly team meeting and one all-staff meeting (typically 9am New York) to coordinate with colleagues in different regions. Additionally, this position may require occasional after-hours support in urgent cases. Candidates should ensure they can accommodate this schedule before applying.

This is a short-term, remote, full time contract position through December 31, 2026, with the potential for extension.

Key Responsibilities:

• Monitor press freedom violations in Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Jordan, including arrests, censorship, attacks, and legal harassment of journalists and media outlets.
• Write daily news alerts, statements, and in-depth features on emerging press freedom issues.
• Translate materials to and from Arabic, including interviews, reports, and official documents, to support CPJ's reporting and advocacy.
• Write timely news alerts, public statements, and in-depth features on emerging press freedom issues across the Levant, with a particular focus on escalation zones such as Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.
• Coordinate investigative research efforts, including case mapping, open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis, and cross-verification with civil society partners.
• Regularly update CPJ’s press freedom violations databases.
• Liaise with journalists, media workers, and press freedom and human rights organizations on the ground for interviews and case updates.
• Flag urgent press freedom developments and news events to the Levant Program Coordinator in a timely manner.
• Contribute to advocacy efforts and documentation used for international engagement and awareness campaigns.
• Provide research support for Journalist Assistance requests.
• Dispatch related editorial output on CPJ MENA’s social media pages and MailChimp.
• Collaborate closely with CPJ’s Levant team and the MENA Program.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years of professional experience in researching, reporting, and writing on press freedom and broader freedom of speech issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong understanding of MENA issues, including media and human rights.
• Strong commitment to press freedom.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English (reading, writing, and speaking) is required.
• Proficiency in an additional regional language is a plus.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace applications is essential.
• Experience with Salesforce is a plus.
• Prior experience covering the region with existing contacts is preferred.
• Self-starter, team player, and comfortable to work in a multicultural environment. Ready to work on flexible hours when needed.
• Experience working across time zones and collaborating with international teams.
• Applicants must have the legal right to work in the location to which they apply.

Compensation:

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and includes consideration of the cost of living in the candidate’s individual location. If hired in Jordan, as an example, the monthly rate range is $2500 - $3,000 at a 100% level of effort.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

CPJ provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.