China Correspondent
Position description
The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It’s why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It’s why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination. And it’s why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it’s worth paying for.
The New York Times is looking for an experienced journalist to cover China.
China’s transformation to geopolitical and economic colossus over the past several decades has bolstered its confidence at home and its influence abroad. Beijing has leveraged its might, both commercially and militarily, to redraw the terms of trade, security and diplomacy. Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, China has sought to offer a model of governance that challenges the liberal democratic order and the dominance of the United States.
China is one of the biggest stories we cover, and one of the most challenging. It’s also one of the most exciting, a constantly changing and diverse country with few parallels on the planet. It touches nearly every major issue. Geopolitics. Demographics. Inequality. Climate Change. Trade. Technology.
The role requires a strong writer with the ability to juggle breaking news, smart analysis and ambitious enterprise. We want someone eager to react quickly to news as necessary, but who is also able to write thoughtfully and deeply about important issues and events. We are looking for an entrepreneurial correspondent who can embrace the multitudes, to cover the news and the nuance.
This position will be based in Beijing, China, or elsewhere in Asia.
Main responsibilities:
- Demonstrate support and understanding of our values of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.
- Deliver timely coverage of major breaking news events about China and its influence in the region, providing clarity, accuracy, and sharp analytical context for a global audience.
- Conceive, pitch, and execute ambitious enterprise stories and deeply reported features that reveal the nuances of political, societal and demographic shifts, economic inequality, and cultural trends.
- Track and analyze China’s expanding global footprint, reporting on how Beijing leverages its commercial, technological, and military might to reshape international trade, climate policy, and global diplomacy.
- Cultivate and maintain a diverse and robust network of sources— including policymakers, businesspeople, scholars, commentators and ordinary citizens—while navigating a highly restrictive and complex reporting environment with resilience and integrity.
- Collaborate across formats, partnering closely with Photo, Video, Audio and Graphics teams to produce visually rich, immersive journalism that elevates our storytelling.
- Work collegially with the broader China bureau and regional editors in Asia, as well as the broader international desk.
Qualifications:
- Deep international reporting experience, preferably for a global news organization.
- Experience working in China and/or fluency in Mandarin.
- A keen eye for news and other great stories, borne of experience reporting and writing.
- Eagerness to collaborate with colleagues across Photo, Video, Audio and other departments to bring stories to life in a variety of formats.
- A constant drive to develop and maintain new sources, and a commitment to fairness and independence in reporting and presentation.
- Commitment to The New York Times’s standards and mission.
In order to be considered for this role, please submit your resume, a PDF/link of your top 5-7 clips, and a coverage memo laying out the themes and some specific stories you would want to take on.
Application instructions
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