The Church of Scientology has a long, storied tradition of fighting back in the public eye when characterised by the media as a cult, which has been often. Typically, though, the organisation's response has been limited to either suing or pursuing, according to a massive series published last week by The St. Petersburg Times. Today, the 56-year-old embattled institution turns the page.

Apparently, Scientology leadership has decided to adopt a "fight fire with fire" approach in this instance, offering employment to seasoned journalists principally in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, according to Gawker. The investigative reporters would freelance for Freedom Magazine, a publication which bills itself as covering "human rights and social betterment issues" and conducting "investigative reporting in the public interest" since 1968.

The want ad, posted by Journalism Jobs, says the freelance gig includes both "short- and long-range assignments" but can "be conducted by phone and through Internet research."

The Tampa assignment comes even as Freedom expands its distribution to Belgium this month. In 2007, Belgium declared Scientology "a criminal organisation" pursuant to a 10-year investigation into Scientology's employment and membership practises, Times LIVE then reported. This May, the prosecution of 12 European leaders of Scientology was indefinitely postponed following Scientology's announcement it would investigate the prosecutor assigned to the Scientologists case, The Religion News Blog then reported.

The French arm of Scientology was convicted of fraud in Paris on October 27, The New York Times reported at the time.