College Sports Reporter

USA Today • Oklahoma City, OK

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Oklahoman, the state's leading news organization, is hiring for a reporter to cover college athletics. This is a unique opportunity to cover top programs in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference at a time when the Oklahoma Sooners are competing for NCAA championships in multiple sports. We are seeking an ambitious, fast, digitally minded reporter who is hungry to be first with the news and produces a substantial output of content. This reporter can go beyond game coverage to offer analysis and compelling journalism that will surprise readers and keep them coming back. While football is a year-round priority, this reporter will also team with columnists and the OU beat writer to lead coverage of other sports — including basketball, baseball, softball and gymnastics as audience interest demand. The successful candidate will be self-motivated and adept at growing an audience through great content, smart use of social media and multimedia and promoting their brand and work on TV, podcasts and live radio. This is a stellar opportunity for someone with three to five years of sports reporting experience. The successful candidate, who will be based in the Oklahoma City metro area, must be able to meet tight deadlines and travel as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Three to five years of professional journalism experience.
• High-level writing, communication and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work well on deadline and use multimedia to supplement their reach.
• Demonstrated track record for keen news judgment, ethical decision-making and fair play.
• This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

Responsibilities

• Research, report and produce compelling content that informs and engages readers.
• Provide thoughtful analysis of complex issues and situations.
• Use video, photos and social media to spotlight breaking news and high-interest events.
• Produce content in alternative forms (listicles, Q&As, narratives, photo galleries, podcasts, video — that are tailored to the right platform (mobile, desktop, social media) to best reach the audience.
• Use real-time metrics to respond to user demand and reader interest.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level