Overview

Job Title: Senior Journalist, Investigative

Department: Mandarin Desk

Reports To: Editor in Charge

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Taipei | Hybrid

Schedule: Full-Time

Who We Are

Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with editorial and operational bureaus in Taipei, Bangkok, and Seoul. A congressionally funded grantee of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), RFA operates with full editorial independence.

Our mission is to provide accurate, uncensored news and information to people living in countries where a free press does not exist. We broadcast in nine languages and dialects — Mandarin, Cantonese, Tibetan, Uyghur, Burmese, Vietnamese, Lao, Khmer, and Korean — reaching audiences across China, North Korea, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and beyond via shortwave, satellite, and the internet. Our journalists work in some of the world's most difficult media environments, often at considerable personal risk, filling a critical gap in access to truthful, timely news for millions of people who would otherwise have very little of it. That reality shapes everything about how we work and who we hire to lead this organization.

Job Summary

Radio Free Asia's Mandarin Desk is seeking a Senior Investigative Journalist based in Taipei to produce policy-moving investigations and exclusives. The Senior Investigative Journalist reports directly to the Editor in Charge of the Mandarin Desk in Taipei and works closely with the U.S.-based Investigator Editor and the data and OSINT teams. All investigations carry a dual byline shared by the Mandarin Desk and the Investigations Desk.

The ideal candidate has strong investigative skills, can trace documents and money and build a complete evidence chain, and can incorporate analysis from the data and OSINT teams to produce deeply reported, legally defensible journalism. The candidate must also show strong awareness of source protection and sound judgment on sensitive stories involving state-level adversaries.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Pitch and carry out high-impact investigations in line with the investigative agenda set by the Mandarin Desk Editor in Charge and the Investigative Editor. Coverage may span any area of public interest related to China and the wider Chinese-speaking world, including but not limited to politics and governance, human rights, corruption, transnational repression, supply chains and labor, the environment, technology, and China's overseas influence. Lead investigations from assignment, research, reporting, and verification through writing and publication, ensuring sourcing depth, documentation rigor, and methodological transparency
Build a complete evidence chain, ensuring every allegation is supported by documents or multiple sources, and give subjects an opportunity to respond before publication
Research and analyze primary documents and data, including government documents, court records, corporate and financial filings, procurement records, and leaked materials
Work with the Data Journalist, OSINT Editor, and Data Editor from the assignment stage to incorporate their data, OSINT, and forensic analysis into investigations
Follow the dual-byline policy, producing investigations jointly with the Investigations Desk and ensuring the Mandarin Desk is fully credited
Work with the Standards Editor and Legal on pre-publication review to ensure stories meet legal and editorial standards
Build source protection, identity management, and risk assessment into every investigation from assignment through publication, in close coordination with the Safety Director and editorial leadership
Work with the video and social media teams to present investigative findings across platforms
Build and maintain source networks in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and diaspora communities, including exiles, dissidents, whistleblowers, academics, and NGOs
Contribute to cross-border and cross-outlet collaborative investigations, and to projects with other RFA language services as needed

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or above in journalism, international relations, political science, law, or a related field, or an equivalent minimum of 8 years of professional journalism experience
At least 5 years of experience covering and producing investigative reports
Demonstrated record of leading or contributing to high-impact investigations through publication; a portfolio of published work is required, including at least one investigation that exposed wrongdoing and led to demonstrable impact (e.g., official inquiries, policy changes, or corporate responses)
Strong command of investigative methods, including document and financial research, source cultivation, verification, and evidence documentation
Ability to work with data and OSINT specialists and incorporate their analysis into investigative reporting
Sound editorial, ethical, and legal judgment, including the ability to assess publication risk, source protection, and story defensibility under pressure
Strong awareness of source protection and the physical and digital security risks involved in sensitive reporting
Ability to read and assess primary sources in Chinese, including government documents, court records, corporate filings, and leaked materials
Exceptional written and spoken Mandarin, with a strong command of the political and cultural vocabulary used in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan
Independent and self-directed, able to communicate effectively and meet deadlines when collaborating remotely across time zones

Preferred Qualifications

Extensive Experience working with sources inside mainland China
Extensive Experience working with exiled, diaspora, or at-risk source communities, including the specific trust and protection challenges they present
Familiarity with cross-border collaborative investigation models
Prior experience at a recognized investigative unit
Experience with video, podcast, or interactive storytelling formats
Familiarity with CMS platforms and multi-platform publishing workflows
Professional working proficiency in English, especially for communicating with the U.S.-based team

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

This position is hybrid, with three days in-office and two days telework weekly. Some flexibility in work hours required to accommodate international time zones.

To be considered for this position, please include a cover letter with your application.

This position is ineligible for sponsorship by the company for any work authorization, applicant must possess existing work authorization to be considered for the position.

Qualifications

资深调查记者(Senior Journalist, Investigative)

部门: 自由亚洲电台(RFA)普通话部

地点: 台湾台北

直属上级: 普通话部主编(Editor in Charge, Mandarin Desk,驻台北)

主要协作对象: 调查组编辑(Investigative Editor,驻美国华盛顿)、普通话部数据记者、开源情报编辑(OSINT Editor)、数据编辑(Data Editor)

关于我们

自由亚洲电台(RFA)是总部位于美国华盛顿的非营利媒体机构,在台北、曼谷及首尔设有编辑与运营机构。RFA 以九种语言和方言播出,通过短波、卫星及互联网,为缺乏新闻自由的国家和地区的民众提供准确、未经审查的新闻与信息。我们的记者在全球最艰难的媒体环境中工作,为数以百万计的受众填补真实、及时信息的空白。

职位概述

自由亚洲电台普通话部诚聘一名资深调查记者,常驻台北,专注于具有政策影响力的调查报道与独家新闻。本职位直接向台北的普通话部主编汇报,并与驻美国的调查组编辑及数据、开源情报团队密切合作。所有调查报道均采用普通话部与调查组的双署名制度。

理想人选应具备扎实的调查报道功底,能追查文件与资金流向、建立完整的证据链,并结合数据与开源情报团队的分析,完成经得起法律审查的深度报道;在处理涉及国家层级对手的敏感议题时,具备保护消息来源的意识与稳妥的判断。

主要职责

提出并执行具有影响力的调查选题,配合普通话部主编及调查组编辑制定的调查议程,议题涵盖中国政治、人权、腐败、跨国镇压、供应链与强迫劳动、环境,以及中国的海外影响力(包括对台湾的渗透与影响)
主导调查报道从选题、资料收集、采访、核实、写作到发布的全过程,确保消息来源充分、证据记录严谨、调查方法透明
建立完整的证据链,每项指控都需有文件或多方消息来源佐证,并在发布前给予被指控方回应的机会
追查并分析一手文件与资料,包括政府文件、法院记录、企业登记与财务资料、采购记录及泄露文件
从选题阶段起,与数据记者、开源情报编辑及数据编辑合作,将其数据、开源情报及鉴证分析成果融入调查
落实双署名制度,与调查组协作完成报道,并确保普通话部获得充分署名
发布前与标准编辑(Standards Editor)及法务团队合作进行审查,确保报道经得起法律与编辑标准的检验
从选题到发布,将消息来源保护、身份管理及风险评估纳入调查流程,并与安全主管及编辑主管密切协调
与视频及社交媒体团队合作,将调查成果呈现于各平台
建立并维护台湾、香港及海外华人社区的消息来源网络,包括流亡人士、异见人士、吹哨人、学者及非政府组织
参与跨国、跨媒体的合作调查,并视需要与 RFA 其他语言部门合作
指导普通话部记者的调查技巧与核实方法

任职要求

新闻学、国际关系、政治学、法学或相关专业本科及以上学历,或具备同等的至少 7 年专业新闻工作经验
至少 3 年调查报道的采访写作经验
有主导或参与具影响力的调查报道并成功发布的记录,需提供已发表的作品集,其中至少一件揭露不当行为,并产生后续影响(如官方调查、政策改变或企业回应)
熟练掌握调查方法,包括文件与财务追查、消息来源维护、核实及证据记录
能与数据及开源情报专业人员合作,并将其分析成果融入调查报道
具备稳妥的编辑、伦理与法律判断,能在压力下判断发布风险、消息来源保护及报道的可辩护性
具备保护消息来源的意识,了解处理敏感议题时的人身与数字安全风险
能阅读与评估中文一手资料,包括政府文件、法院记录、企业文件及泄露资料
普通话书面写作与口头表达能力优秀,熟悉中国大陆、香港、台湾不同的政治与文化用语
能独立工作、自我管理,能在跨时区远程协作中有效沟通并按时交付

优先条件

有与中国大陆境内消息来源合作的经验
有与流亡、海外或处境危险群体合作的经验,了解建立信任与保护消息来源的挑战
熟悉跨国合作调查模式
曾任职于知名调查报道团队
有视频、播客或互动式报道的制作经验
熟悉 CMS 内容管理系统与多平台发布流程
具备专业工作水平的英语能力,尤其能与美国团队用英语沟通

工作条件/申请程序

工作地点为台北办公室,采用混合办公制(每周到办公室天数依台北办公室规定)
工作以办公室案头工作为主,视报道需要可能需要国内外出差采访
需配合美国时差,工作时间需保持弹性,偶尔需参加清晨或晚间的会议
请随申请一并提交求职信,未附求职信者将不予考虑
本职位不提供任何公司担保的工作签证,申请人必须已具备有效的台湾工作许可,方可被考虑录用

Senior Journalist, Investigative, Mandarin Desk (Taipei)