High School Sports Reporter (T2)

USA Today • Asheville, NC

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Citizen-Times, part of the USA TODAY Network and the leading news and information source in Asheville, North Carolina, is seeking a dynamic and energetic sports reporter to lead high school sports coverage in Western North Carolina. The ideal candidate will be digitally savvy and committed to leading the conversation in a rich local sports market, showcasing the skills to deliver compelling human-interest stories and identify interesting trends for enterprise stories that go beyond what happened on the court or field or during an athlete's commitment ceremony. This position requires multimedia skills, the ability to produce and edit video and engage audience on social media. The best candidate will have dynamic writing ability and the knowledge to write about football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer and more. We want someone who is ambitious, thinks big, writes with authority and has a passion for storytelling and breaking news before our competitors.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master’s in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Adept at taking photos and video and the ability to file quickly across platforms: mobile, desktop and social media.
• Strong command of grammar and AP Style.
• Strong copy-editing skills and the ability to produce content that is clean, accurate and "publication ready."
• Passionate and enthusiastic about news and content that will work well with audiences on social platforms.
• Comfortable in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations.
• A desire to grow and develop a key beat in our newsrooms.
• Comfortable using social media to enhance reporting and promote stories.
• Understands reporting ethics and sourcing.
• Excels in a fast-paced news environment and understands the digital first mission.
• Collaborates well with others and can work with a team on the biggest stories.
• Able to work occasional late nights or weekends as needed by the news cycle.
• 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 and a motor vehicle record check & drug screen (for driving roles only).

Nice To Haves

• 1-2 years' reporting/newsroom experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Be the area’s leading voice in high school sports.
• Connect with the community through social media, including Instagram.
• Craft coverage based on historical success and adapt approach based on digital metrics and audience needs.
• Capture basic photos and video as needed.
• Promote personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
• Provide great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.

What This Job Offers

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