B2 Brussels2 The Blog

Political and defence Europe (by Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

B2 is recruiting: a journalist

To strengthen its team in the face of intense current events, B2, the daily newspaper on European defense and geopolitics, is expanding its editorial team in the coming months. You can apply now.

You will be placed at the heart of a whirlwind, exciting news cycle, where European defense has become a top priority.

B2 in a nutshell

Approved as online media "political and general information" in France and accredited to the European institutions, B2 today has a team three permanent journalists and three freelancers.

Two to three articles are produced on average per day. With readers ranging from students or interns to ministers, including diplomats, officers, senior officials and other key players in European life.

Un readership demanding but loyal, responsive and pleasant. You have to be a researcher of information, verify it, but also know how to explain it, contextualize it, analyze it. This requires rigor, passion and knowledge.

Created in 2012, B2 is organized in the format of journalists' cooperative (non-profit association under the 1901 law - French). Each journalist participates, brings their suggestions to the editorial staff and has a large degree of autonomy in their work (within the limits of respecting the editorial slant). The various subjects are discussed and approved jointly.

Its revenues come almost entirely from subscriptions or royalties generated. All revenues generated are reinvested into the editorial team (journalists, reports, website). Administrative costs are kept to a minimum.

Required profile

The exact profile (job description) as well as the conditions (timing, salary) depend on the profile of the candidates.

Required expertise

  • (mandatory) First journalistic experiences 5-6 years preferable (minimum 2-3 years)

  • (required) Knowledge of how the European Union works, with possibly another string to their bow (economics, tech, cyber, security, diplomacy, law). Knowledge of the defense sector or diplomatic mysteries is not mandatory. But it is a real plus.

  • More specifically responsible for working on issues of defense economics (companies, industry, market) and economic sovereignty (energy, cyber, security of supply, etc.) + European powers (budget, EEAS).

  • Depending on profile and current events, coverage of other themes (foreign affairs, diplomacy, security, civil and military CSDP operations, etc.) and reports.

  • Good knowledge of a "sensitive" geopolitical area (Russia, Africa, Middle East, Asia, USA etc.) and an area of ​​EU Member States (North, East, South, etc.) is a "Plus".

  • (required) Initiated into web writing or the structure of a web "paper". A necessity. B2 is a "pure player", writing is done directly on the site, according to a structure specific to B2 (specific to speed reading).

  • Ability to work in multiple styles: current affairs, in-depth, investigative, confidential. Alternating between rapid processing and longer-term processing.

  • (mandatory) Join the Editorial charter

Knowledge

  • Master's degree - mainly in political science and international relations - and already established journalistic experience.
  • French speaking - spelling - grammar impeccable.
  • Written or oral English required.
  • Knowledge of another EU language (Central European, Italian) is a plus.
  • Comfortable with "computer" tools (WordPress), social networks and even illustration (graphics, etc.).

Qualities

  • Sense of discretion required (the field requires it).
  • Sense of organization and self-organization
  • Attraction to geopolitics (defense, foreign affairs, political science)
  • Comfort in an international environment

Terms of contract

  • Status: salaried for journalists with FR employee status (+ authors' rights) or independent BE status
  • Presence in Brussels mandatory, regular update, trips to consider (reporting, ministerial meetings, etc.).
  • Work organization (free): weekdays (Sunday or public holiday if event or official meeting)
  • 3/4 time (possibility of progression to full time).
  • Salary: based on experience and internal scale (SPIIL)
  • Benefits: FR complementary mutual insurance + benefit of the internal Employment Agreement + Hadopi copyright agreement (FR)
  • Hours: flexible hours depending on current events.
  • Possibility of maintaining journalistic (freelance) or educational activities, subject to the usual ethical reservations.
  • Holidays: seven weeks during holiday periods (Easter, August, Christmas) + 1 week of your choice.
  • NB: security screening can be carried out by EU, BE or FR authorities.

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