Beijing Correspondent

About us

The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide.

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Build a newsworthy career at the FT.

The role

The Financial Times is seeking a correspondent to join its bureau in the Chinese capital. From the machinations of the Chinese Communist Party and its geopolitical stand-off with the United States to the sudden regulatory shifts that affect some of the world’s biggest companies, and from the social problems of a society more than 1bn strong to incoming data on the world’s second largest economy, Beijing produces a torrent of news.

A substantial bureau with a team of correspondents and reporters, Beijing concentrates on the political, economic, diplomatic, regulatory, environmental and social side of China, while bureaus in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong cover corporate and financial news. We envisage that a correspondent would initially work on the daily news file, in close cooperation with the bureau chief, before expanding over time to an independent beat of their own.

News is at the heart of the job, but there are also opportunities at the FT to write across a range of formats, from sharp analysis to magazine features. 

You will be working with a team of China experts; mutual support and teamwork is part of the role. There are many opportunities for travel across the varied landscapes of China. You may also be asked to represent the FT at events and work on podcasts or video. For an ambitious and talented journalist, keen to make their mark, few jobs could be better.

Your skills

• This is a job for a writer and a reporter. The core of the role is to find and tell stories about China.
• We would like the correspondent to focus initially on day-to-day news, so the ability to spot developments that are of interest and execute a story is crucial.
• While not suitable for a complete newcomer to journalism, this role offers the opportunity for candidates with relatively limited reporting experience to develop into a fully-fledged foreign correspondent.
• A level of resilience and tenacity is essential, both to deal with the challenges of access to information, and pushback from the system.
• An awareness of the norms in Beijing, including restricted internet and email access when VPNs are blocked. Air pollution and traffic can be issues although the quality of life in Beijing is improving.
• Good communication skills are vital. You will regularly pitch ideas to editors in Hong Kong and deliver copy when promised. 
• You are also collegiate: working closely with colleagues is one of the pleasures of FT life. 
• Good working knowledge of Mandarin would be extremely beneficial.

Please submit your application by the end of the day, Sunday February 15 2026. 

The use of AI

Original reporting, great writing and intelligent commentary lie at the heart of FT journalism. Our readers trust us to produce quality journalism that is accurate, fair and insightful. This is why FT editorial staff do not by default use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write articles or create other reader-facing content. For specific and pre-approved cases, AI can be harnessed for certain tasks, such as assisting data research for investigations.  

We expect applicants to the FT newsroom to refrain from using AI in their test submissions, and any written materials should be a genuine reflection of their own knowledge, skills and experiences. We encourage candidates only to employ AI as a tool to help with research and interview readiness for a role. 

Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process is monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all.

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion 

We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.

What’s in it for you? Our benefits

Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here.

FT Newsroom staff are expected to work onsite a minimum of three days per week, subject to role requirements and regular review. While flexible working requests will be considered, not all patterns are suitable for Editorial roles.

Accessibility

We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory.

Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments/personalisation as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be happy to help.

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