Reporting to: Health Editor
Hours: Regular (09:00–18:00). Work outside of these hours may be required depending on the news agenda, for which time off in lieu will be granted in agreement with the editor.
Purpose: Euractiv is looking for a reporter who can focus on European health policy and politics.
The role includes covering EU legislative initiatives and the debates surrounding them, as well as examining national health systems and the work of institutions such as the OECD and the WHO.
Our coverage also extends to the pharmaceutical and tobacco sectors, and the health advocacy groups active in these fields.
As the ideal candidate you will deliver breaking news stories, exclusives and in-depth feature articles as well as interviews. You will be comfortable covering the EU and confident in talking to politicians, business leaders and activists, with an ability to elevate technical stories for a wide audience.
As a good team player, you will jump on news events as the need arises, for example during health minister meetings. You will work in an international environment and coordinate closely with our reporters from all over Europe. Together we will critically follow European policymaking and deliver insightful cross-border stories.
Main tasks and responsibilities will include:
- Writing breaking news stories, interviews, as well as in-depth articles and analytical pieces, with the format being shaped by the news agenda and with input from the health editor.
- Contribute to the newsletters produced by the health team and other Euractiv newsletters when relevant.
- Generate ideas and potential angles for feature stories.
- Monitor developments in healthcare across EU member states, and where relevant, other countries.
- Forecast and anticipate developments in the areas you cover.
- Build an unparalleled network of contacts within the health sector, and including MEPs, EU officials and industry lobbyists. To become the ‘go to’ contact of all actors involved in the decision-making process on health. and stakeholder groups (patient groups, NGOs, associations, pharmaceutical business, academic institutions, think tanks).
Job requirements / profile:
We know this is a wish list and you are unlikely to fulfil all of these criteria perfectly. What you lack in journalistic experience, you might compensate through your in-depth knowledge of (EU) health policy, or vice versa. As long as you can write well and are excited to do this job, we want to hear from you. That being said, this is our wish list:
- At least 2 years of relevant work experience in policy journalism and/or the health sector.
- Ability to communicate complex developments in a concise, clear and jargon-free way.
- Team player who can work collaboratively with colleagues in the team and the wider Euractiv community.
- A good understanding of the European Union, its institutional architecture, and policy making processes.
- Technical knowledge relative to health policy.
- Digital literacy, with experience of publishing content online, working in collaborative environments, and ideally prior experience of sending newsletters.
- An excellent level of written and spoken English.
- Other European languages are always an asset.
What we offer: This is a full-time employment contract under Belgian law (“contrat à durée indéterminée”), with salary and responsibilities commensurate to the candidate’s level of experience. Additionally, we’re offering the following benefits:
- meal vouchers amounting to €8/worked day;
- reimbursement of public transport in Belgium;
- €250/year eco-vouchers;
- hospitalisation insurance coverage;
- group pension insurance;
- a broad range of training and development (as part of the HR Academy of Mediahuis group and external training opportunities).
What are the benefits of working at Euractiv? You will work in a vibrant international media office with a multicultural team of talented colleagues you can learn from. You will be in the middle of EU affairs, both physically (our office is in the EU quarter) and through your work. You will be contributing to one of the most respected EU affairs Media in Europe.
How to apply: Please mention in the subject line “Health Reporter – First and last name”, attach your CV and a short cover letter and email to selection@euractiv.com
Candidates should be available as soon as possible.
Applications are welcome immediately!
Background: Euractiv is an independent pan-European media network specialising in EU policies.
Our primary goal is to foster policy debates among EU stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and civil society groups. We provide comprehensive coverage of policy processes leading up to decisions, neutrally presenting the issues without taking sides. Euractiv is part of Mediahuis, a publishing company with assets in Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg and Germany.
Equality and diversity We are committed to promoting equality and diversity within the organisation and Equal Opportunities in recruitment. We believe in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment and gender identity, marriage
and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and paternity. This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment. All hiring decisions are made entirely on merit. We encourage everyone to apply, even if you do not fit all the criteria.