Jenkins got his first position as a reporter in 1964 with the Daily Item. After leaving the newspaper in 1965, he worked for United Press International as an overseas correspondent in New York, London, Rome, and Madrid. In 1969–1979, Jenkins served in Newsweek to cover Black September, the Suez Crisis, and the Vietnam war. Correspondent's articles for Newsweek was honored with the Overseas Press Club Award in 1976.