Overview

ABOUT FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Founded in 1922, Foreign Affairs is the preeminent publication on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. It is published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which is a leading independent, nonprofit membership organization and nonpartisan center dedicated to producing and disseminating foreign policy ideas.

Position Summary

The Assistant Editor, David M. Rubenstein Editorial Fellow has substantial responsibilities and is involved in all aspects of Foreign Affairs’ editorial process. Previous assistant editors have gone on to careers in a variety of fields, including journalism, academia, and government.

The position lasts for one year, beginning in the summer of 2026, and is based in CFR’s New York City office on a hybrid basis. CFR currently defines hybrid status as working at least three days a week onsite, with Tuesdays and Thursdays considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite.

The deadline to apply is January 26, 2026.

The major responsibilities of this position will include (but are not limited to):

Review and assess submissions
Generate article ideas
Fact-check articles
Assist with various tasks throughout the editorial process, including research
Assist with special projects including podcasting, social media, and events
Edit articles under the guidance of senior editors
Perform any other duties or tasks as assigned or required

Qualifications

Education

BA in International Relations, Political Science, Economics, History, English, Journalism, or a related field, with high academic achievement

Related Skills & Other Requirements

Strong writing and editing skills in English
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
The ability to work efficiently and independently
A familiarity with Foreign Affairs content
Demonstrated interest in international relations and global news

Required Application Materials

Résumé.
Cover letter stating your interest in the position.
Submission of two writing samples (compiled in a single PDF and no longer than 20 pages total). As for what to choose for your writing samples, we recommend picking your strongest work, no matter the topic. At least one sample should consist of writing that was NOT edited or published by an outlet.

Compensation and Benefits

The full-time annual compensation range for this position is $55,000 – $58,000, depending on experience.
In addition to competitive salaries, CFR provides employees with an outstanding benefits package.

About CFR

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is committed to fostering a foreign policy community in the United States that is more representative of American society, recognizing that diverse backgrounds and perspectives contribute to broader, more informed participation in the foreign policy debate and lead to an enhanced understanding of the world and the United States’ role therein. To that end, CFR is dedicated to continuing to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout its work and workplace by building a more diverse membership and staff, producing and dispensing thoughtful analysis on a broad range of foreign policy issues, and developing relevant, wide-reaching programming that also serves to expand the foreign policy talent pipeline to underrepresented populations.

Council on Foreign Relations

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Assistant Editor, David M. Rubenstein Editorial Fellow