AEIDL seeks a driven and creative Web Journalist for the Communications Team of the LIFE programme. LIFE is the EU’s financial instrument for the environment, nature and climate action. AEIDL performs this task as part of the European Economic Interest Group, ‘NEEMO EEIG’.

The successful applicant will be responsible for writing and editing news, producing a monthly e-newsletter and other web-based communication activities to promote the achievements of exceptional LIFE projects and the LIFE programme in general.

Candidates should be fluent in English and be able to turn institutional language into sparkling online copy for a range of audiences, working in close collaboration with our team of technical experts and other journalists. The role would suit a proactive individual who is comfortable producing original reportage, curating content and coordinating newsletter coverage. Previous experience writing about environment, climate or nature issues would be useful but is not essential. The successful candidate should also have a flair for photography and video.

This full-time position is based in our Brussels office.

For more information about the LIFE programme, visit: http://ec.europa.eu/life

To apply for this position, please send: your CV; a cover letter explaining your motivation and how you match the job description; and writing and (if possible) audiovisual samples of your work to LIFE-jobs[at]aeidl.eu (replace [at] with @) with “LIFE Web Journalist” in the subject line. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Closing date: Wednesday 16th August 2017. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted after the closing date. It is expected that interviews will take place on 24-25 August.

Job description

Responsibilities:

Writing and editing news for the website of the LIFE programme, the EU’s financial instrument for the Environment, Nature and Climate Action: http://ec.europa.eu/life
This will involve both producing original reportage and editing and curating leads sent by LIFE projects, project monitors or the European Commission and EASME. The Web Journalist will also be responsible for coordinating the writing of event notices, working with Technical Experts, Website Manager and a team of journalists. The LIFE website is updated on a near daily basis .

• Writing and editing LIFEnews, the e-newsletter of the LIFE programme. The Web Journalist will help implement a relaunched format for LIFEnews, presenting highlights from the LIFE programme, news, events and featured projects in an engaging way to our audience of 30,000 subscribers. This will involve monthly editorial meetings with EASME and the European Commission (DG ENV and DG CLIMA) and active involvement in defining the content and direction of the newsletter. LIFEnews is published 10 times per year (monthly, with double issues in July/August and in January/February).
• Coordinating the production of ‘Best promotional tools’, a series of profiles of award-winning LIFE projects (to be published in September-November 2017 and March-June 2018). This task may involve opportunities for international travel.
• Writing and editing project summaries for the LIFE project database.  
• Other ad hoc communication tasks connected to the promotion of LIFE projects and the LIFE programme.
• The Web Journalist will work closely with Thematic Experts and will report to the Senior Editor and Communication Coordinator.

Requirements:

Applicants must:

• Be educated to degree level, with at least two years’ experience as an online journalist/editor.
• Be native English speakers with excellent writing skills and the ability to work quickly and accurately. Knowledge of other official EU languages is an advantage.
• Be curious, dynamic, energetic and able to research and produce news relevant to the LIFE programme and its stakeholders for both the website and online newsletter.
• Be interested in the environment, nature and climate change.
• Being able to produce and edit great photos/videos for the web and social media is an advantage.