Levant Editor (Contractor)

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Levant Editor (Contractor) About MBN Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) is the premier Arabic-first media organization that connects the Middle East and the United States. The company is in the midst of an exciting digital transformation and looking for energetic and talented people who care about journalism and the Middle East to join us on this journey.

We provide original and indispensable reporting, perspectives and commentary on the Middle East and how America’s engagement impacts the region. MBN delivers content in both Arabic and English across multiple platforms, in formats including written articles, short-form video, newsletters, podcasts, data trackers and social media.

Our target audience is decision-makers, influencers, and residents of key capitals across the Middle East, as well as the next generation of globally engaged, digitally connected youth.

About the Role

MBN is seeking an experienced Levant Editor based in Beirut to direct daily coverage, lead forward editorial planning, and manage all digital journalism across Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. The Levant Editor is the primary editorial gatekeeper for the Levant file—monitoring breaking news across the region, commissioning stories, line-editing, copy editing, and delivering publish-ready text, video scripts, newsletters, and audio content in both Arabic and English.

The role requires an editor who can balance fast-moving daily news with long-range enterprise planning. You will track the political, financial, and security developments in Lebanon; navigate the security, humanitarian, and regional diplomacy dynamics in Syria; and follow political and economic developments in Jordan.

You will also manage local stringers and freelance networks across these countries, coordinate digital packaging with the central newsroom, and oversee daily editorial operations in Beirut.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following tasks are considered essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions:

• Direct daily and long-term editorial planning for the Levant beat, maintaining an active coverage calendar of political milestones, court cases, economic releases, security developments, and elections across Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
• Monitor regional news outlets, local channels, wire feeds, official government and factional statements, and social channels in real time to spot breaking stories and emerging trends.
• Coordinate with the Editor-in-Chief, Executive Editor, and Washington news desks to align Levant coverage with organizational priorities and digital deadlines.
• Commission analytical pieces, explainers, and enterprise features from regional staff and freelance contributors.
• Line-edit, fact-check, and copy-edit all Levant-related articles, analyses, and multimedia scripts, ensuring all material is accurate, fair, well-structured, and immediately publish-ready.
• Enforce strict adherence to the MBN Stylebook, MBN editorial guidelines, Code of Conduct, and legal standards (libel, sourcing verification, and objective terminology on sectarian, political, and armed factions).
• Write and refine clear, search-optimized (SEO) headlines, subheads (deks), captions, social copy, and metadata for digital distribution.
• Verify local names, regional dialect spellings, geographical references, and institutional titles in both Arabic and English.
• Write, curate, and edit regular digital newsletters focused on the Levant, delivering concise analysis, curated links, and insider context on Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
• Transform raw field reporting and breaking files into structured digital formats: explainers, live blogs, timelines, and Q&As.
• Work with digital video editors to package Levant stories for YouTube, vertical video platforms, and social feeds.
• Manage, assign, and review reporting from per-piece freelance writers, stringers, fixers, and local contributors across Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
• Coordinate reporting logistics, verify freelance submissions, enforce deadlines, and manage freelance administrative workflows.
• Provide operational and editorial support to visiting correspondents and digital production teams working out of the Beirut bureau or traveling in the region.
• Edit and oversee copy in both Arabic and English, ensuring stories maintain their editorial integrity and context across both languages.
• Adapt Arabic-origin reporting from the Levant for English-language digital platforms, adding necessary geopolitical context for international readers.
• Contribute occasional desk-based analytical pieces, explainers, and podcast discussions on major Levant developments. Other Duties: Perform additional job-related duties and take on new responsibilities as needed based on organizational requirements and circumstances.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Political Science, International Relations, Arabic, or related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• 7–10+ years of professional journalism experience, including at least 3–5 years as a desk editor, line editor, or copy editor in a digital newsroom, wire service, or major publication.
• Deep knowledge of the political, economic, security, and social landscape of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, as well as broader regional dynamics and U.S. policy in the Levant.
• Expert Arabic line-editing and copy-editing skills, with an eye for clear structure, pacing, grammar, and newsroom accuracy.
• Strong professional working proficiency in English (capable of reviewing copy, writing headlines, and coordinating across English-language desks).
• Practical experience writing and managing digital newsletters, using CMS platforms, and editing scripts for digital video and audio products.
• Proven ability to manage forward-planning calendars, coordinate freelance contributor networks, and handle fast-breaking news cycles under tight deadlines. Preferred:
• Prior experience on the Levant or regional desk of an international news agency (e.g., Reuters, AFP, AP) or top-tier regional digital newsroom.
• Established network of freelance journalists and analysts across Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
• Full bilingual capability to edit publish-ready copy independently in both Arabic and English. MBN is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.