High School Sports Reporter
Req #26818
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High School Sports Reporter
The Austin American-Statesman/statesman.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is looking for a high school sports reporter dedicated to covering high school athletes in the Central Texas area in a fast-paced, digitally focused environment in Austin.
High school football dominates Texas—coverage of this sport and its passionate fan base are the largest subscription drivers for the Statesman. Coverage includes approximately 80 Central Texas-area high schools with approximately a dozen area state champions crowned over the last 15 years.
The ideal candidate has a keen sense of urgency to own this beat and develop tight relationships with area coaches and players. The candidate will be someone who can produce enterprise, write compelling features, build sources and break news.
This reporter will provide content and coverage of area high school sports as well as research and adapt to write in-depth pieces on a wide array of sports topics.
This position requires someone who thinks digital first. Should be skilled at producing and posting quick-turn videos on social media, engage with athletes on Twitter and Instagram with the Statesman’s posts and connect with parents and fans and the student athletes on audience platforms they are most likely to engage with.
The candidate must be comfortable analyzing and interpreting metrics to help make coverage decisions.
Responsibilities:
- Be a leading voice in high school sports in Central Texas, strengthening an already rich source network of coaches, athletes and other influential people on the beat.
- Organize and plan high school coverage by working with staff as well as with freelance reporters and photographers.
- Create content (articles, videos, photos and social media posts) about local news that accurately informs, entertains and engages key audiences and platforms with metrics.
- Provide thoughtful analysis of complex issues.
- Work with an editor to evaluate what's working and what's not and develop ongoing plans to better satisfy audience needs.
- Collaborate with content team to provide all appropriate elements for stories (i.e., photos, videos, and graphics).
- Promote personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
- Provide great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's or higher in communications, journalism or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience writing or editing at a newspaper or website.
- Strong communication skills, news judgement and headline-writing ability. Able to use best SEO practices to draw eyeballs to content.
- Ability to multitask and excel under deadline pressure.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented with a proven ability to effectively juggle multiple tasks.
- Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills; familiarity with AP style.
- Ability and willingness to work nights and weekends.
- Comfort building a beat and communicating with athletes and coaches.
- This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
- Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer pre-employment background check, motor vehicle record check & drug screen.
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:
1. Your resume – one to two pages.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job and demonstrates your proven experience as a leader in sports journalism.
3. Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
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Other details
- Job Family UNION
- Job Function Consumer
- Pay Type Hourly
- Required Education Equivalent Experience