Independent. Subscription-supported. Research-driven. Globally focused.

About The Black Executive Journal

The Black Executive Journal (BEJ) is a global business media and intelligence platform serving Black and African executives, founders, investors, professionals, and institutions across the diaspora.

We cover the companies, markets, industries, capital, opportunities, leaders, and ideas shaping the economic future of Africa and the global Black diaspora.

BEJ is building a global network of independent journalists, researchers, analysts, and contributors who bring firsthand knowledge of the markets and communities they cover.

The Opportunity

BEJ is seeking Independent Global Business Journalists to join our international freelance contributor network.

This is an independent freelance opportunity for experienced journalists, business writers, researchers, and subject-matter experts who understand their local markets and can produce original, credible, and insightful reporting for an international executive audience.

Contributors work independently and are responsible for developing and producing their own journalism within the editorial scope and standards established by BEJ.

This is not an employment position. Contributors are independent professionals and may maintain other professional relationships and assignments, subject to confidentiality, conflicts-of-interest, and other applicable contractual requirements.

What You'll Do

As a BEJ contributor, you will independently:

• Research and develop original business and economic stories.
• Produce regular reporting covering companies, industries, markets, executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and economic developments.
• Identify important stories and emerging trends within your market.
• Conduct interviews with executives, founders, investors, policymakers, and other relevant sources.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with credible sources.
• Research corporate announcements, financial information, government documents, public records, reports, filings, and other primary sources.
• Analyze business developments and explain why they matter to an executive audience.
• Report on investment, capital, entrepreneurship, technology, finance, infrastructure, energy, real estate, media, trade, and other significant sectors.
• Develop original analysis and perspectives based on reporting and research.
• Pitch stories and coverage ideas to the BEJ editorial team.
• Meet agreed editorial deadlines.
• Respond to reasonable editorial feedback and fact-checking requests.
• Maintain professional standards for sourcing, attribution, accuracy, and verification.
• Identify companies, executives, investors, opportunities, and emerging markets that warrant BEJ coverage.

Independent Working Relationship

BEJ contributors operate as independent freelance professionals.

Contributors:

• Set their own working hours and work schedule.
• Determine how they conduct their reporting and research.
• Are responsible for their own equipment, workspace, connectivity, and ordinary business expenses.
• May work with other publications, companies, and clients.
• Are not required to work exclusively for BEJ unless separately agreed in writing.
• Are responsible for managing their own professional and tax obligations.
• Work with BEJ according to agreed editorial assignments, deadlines, and publishing standards.

BEJ commissions and publishes journalism; it does not manage contributors as employees.

Monthly Contribution

The standard BEJ contributor relationship is designed around consistent monthly participation.

Contributors are expected to maintain a regular publishing cadence, with a standard minimum contribution of approximately four published pieces per month, subject to editorial planning, story availability, and mutual agreement.

The four-piece expectation is intended to establish consistency and build a meaningful body of work. It is not a requirement to work fixed hours or maintain a fixed daily schedule.

High-value investigative work, major interviews, special reports, and other substantial projects may be handled separately from the standard contributor cadence.

Areas of Coverage

BEJ welcomes contributors with expertise in:

• Finance and banking
• Investment and private capital
• Capital markets
• Entrepreneurship
• Technology and artificial intelligence
• Telecommunications
• Energy
• Infrastructure
• Real estate
• Manufacturing
• Agribusiness
• Healthcare
• Consumer markets
• Trade and logistics
• Government procurement
• Development finance
• Startups and venture capital
• Corporate leadership
• Media and entertainment
• African diaspora business
• Emerging industries and markets

Subject-matter expertise is highly valued.

Geographic Focus

BEJ is particularly interested in independent journalists with firsthand knowledge of markets across:

Africa

Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Ethiopia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Senegal, and other African markets.

Global Diaspora

United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, and other markets with significant Black and African business communities.

Strong candidates from other markets are encouraged to apply.

What We're Looking For

Strong candidates will have:

• Demonstrated experience in journalism, business writing, research, communications, finance, economics, or a related field.
• Deep knowledge of the market or industry they intend to cover.
• Strong written communication skills.
• The ability to independently research and develop stories.
• Strong interviewing and source-development skills.
• The ability to identify credible primary and secondary sources.
• An understanding of business, finance, and economic issues.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong professional judgment.
• The ability to meet agreed deadlines.
• Familiarity with digital publishing and online research tools.

Formal journalism credentials are welcome but are not required.

Demonstrated ability, knowledge, judgment, and published work matter most.

Editorial Standards

BEJ contributors are expected to uphold rigorous editorial standards.

Published work must be:

Accurate. Original. Well-researched. Properly sourced. Clearly written. Fair. Independent.

Contributors are expected to verify material claims, identify sources appropriately, distinguish reporting from opinion, and disclose relevant conflicts of interest.

BEJ values journalism that goes beyond repeating announcements or publicly available headlines.

Our objective is to explain what happened, why it matters, who is affected, where the opportunity or risk lies, and what executives and investors should understand about it.

Compensation & Participation

BEJ's independent contributor model combines editorial compensation, performance participation, and potential ownership opportunities.

Eligible contributors may receive:

• Direct compensation for published editorial work.
• Participation in recurring subscription revenue attributable to their work.
• Opportunities to earn equity participation in BEJ and/or applicable company entities, subject to eligibility, vesting, and applicable agreements.
• Increased opportunities and responsibilities based on demonstrated performance, expertise, audience development, and contribution to BEJ.

The purpose of the model is to allow contributors to participate not only in the immediate value of their journalism, but also in the long-term value they help create.

Specific compensation, revenue participation, and equity terms are established through the applicable contributor agreement.

Building Your Professional Position

BEJ contributors have the opportunity to build more than a portfolio of articles.

Through consistent reporting, contributors can establish themselves as recognized authorities on particular markets, industries, companies, and sectors.

Contributors may develop:

• An international body of published work.
• Direct relationships with executives and business leaders.
• Industry and market expertise.
• A recognizable professional profile within the BEJ network.
• A growing audience for their reporting.
• Participation in the economic value generated by their journalism.
• Potential ownership in the enterprise they help build.

The BEJ Contributor Network

BEJ is building a distributed international editorial network.

We do not expect one journalist to know every market.

We want people who know their market exceptionally well.

A contributor in Accra should understand Accra.

A contributor in Lagos should understand Lagos.

A contributor in Nairobi should understand Nairobi.

A contributor covering financial services should understand financial services.

A contributor covering African technology should understand the companies, founders, investors, and capital shaping that ecosystem.

Our strength comes from combining that specialized local knowledge into a global business intelligence platform.

Who Should Apply

This opportunity is particularly suited for independent professionals who:

• Already write professionally or have demonstrated strong reporting ability.
• Have deep knowledge of a particular African or diaspora market.
• Have established relationships within a business community.
• Want to build an international journalism portfolio.
• Prefer independent freelance work over traditional employment.
• Want their work to reach executives, founders, investors, and decision-makers.
• Are interested in participating in the long-term economic value of the work they create.

Join BEJ

BEJ is building a global business publication and intelligence network for a new generation of Black and African business leaders.

If you know your market, understand business, know how to find a story, and can produce journalism that helps decision-makers understand what is happening around them, we want you in the network.

Apply to become an independent BEJ Global Business Journalist.