News Editor, Political Economy

South China Morning Post SCMP; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 900,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

South China Morning Post (SCMP) seeks a versatile News Editor for the Political Economy desk. Based in Hong Kong, Beijing, or Shanghai, you will provide strategic editorial direction, drive exclusive enterprise stories, and steer coverage of China's economic landscape for a global readership.

You will lead a team of reporters, shape coverage, mentor junior staff, and coordinate with SCMP bureaus across China, Hong Kong, the US, and Europe to deliver authoritative, enterprise journalism.

Qualifications

• Degree holder with 10–15 years of journalistic experience, management or senior editorial roles in a major newsroom is a plus.
• Deep knowledge and a keen interest in current economic issues, specifically Chinese economic policies, national/local government dynamics, and international macroeconomics.
• An analytical mindset with a proven track record of delivering exclusives, analyzing complex economic data, and editing high-level policy deep-dives.
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English is required; proficiency in Mandarin or Cantonese is highly preferred for sourcing, document review, and understanding local nuances.
• A versatile, communicative team player capable of maintaining accuracy in a fast-paced environment while mentoring junior staff to achieve journalistic excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance on coverage of the Chinese economy, focusing on macroeconomic data, government policy shifts, and geopolitical ramifications.
• Work with reporters to generate high-quality ideas, ensuring content meets top editorial standards.

Skills

Leadership

Economic policy knowledge

Editorial judgment

English fluency

Mandarin/Cantonese (preferred)

Mentoring juniors

Education

Degree in journalism or related field

Job description

The SCMP Political Economy desk covers the critical policies and macroeconomic shifts shaping China and its global impact. From breaking national economic data and policy statements to deep-dive enterprise stories on regional and international economic trends, we provide authoritative, nuanced insights to a global readership. Working closely with teams across Hong Kong, Mainland China, and international bureaus, we decipher the complexities of the world's second-largest economy.

Purpose of the Position:

We are seeking a versatile, authoritative News Editor for a high-performing team of reporters and correspondents on the Political Economy desk. Based in Hong Kong, Beijing, or Shanghai, the successful candidate will provide strategic editorial direction, drive exclusive enterprise stories, and ensure our coverage of China's economic landscape remains the definitive voice in the region. You will blend deep subject-matter expertise in Chinese macroeconomics and policy with the leadership skills necessary to manage and mentor a driven, ambitious newsroom.

In this role, you will:

• Provide guidance on the coverage of the Chinese economy, focusing on macroeconomic data, government policy shifts, and their broader geopolitical ramifications.
• Work closely with a team of reporters, instilling a high-performance culture, guiding them in generating unique story ideas, and ensuring content meets the highest standards of objective journalism.
• Assign and edit high-impact news and deep-dive enterprise stories, encouraging reporters to mine Chinese economic data for new information and secure interviews with key officials.
• Drive newsroom initiatives and manage daily operations.
• Work closely with other desks and SCMP bureaus across China, Hong Kong, the US, and Europe to ensure comprehensive and cohesive global coverage.

Skills and Experience that will lead to success:

• Degree holder with 10–15 years of journalistic experience, management or senior editorial roles in a major newsroom is a plus.
• Deep knowledge and a keen interest in current economic issues, specifically Chinese economic policies, national/local government dynamics, and international macroeconomics.
• An analytical mindset with a proven track record of delivering exclusives, analyzing complex economic data, and editing high-level policy deep-dives.
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English is required; proficiency in Mandarin or Cantonese is highly preferred for sourcing, document review, and understanding local nuances.
• A versatile, communicative team player capable of maintaining accuracy in a fast-paced environment while mentoring junior staff to achieve journalistic excellence.

Work location can be Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong

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