Minnesota Timberwolves Reporter

Star Tribune Branding•Minneapolis, MN

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Minnesota Star Tribune is seeking an ambitious, authoritative reporter to own coverage of the Minnesota Timberwolves at their headquarters in Minneapolis, MN. This role requires a journalist who can break news, develop sources, deliver smart analysis, and produce distinctive journalism that fans cannot get anywhere else. The focus will be on exclusive reporting, authoritative analysis, ambitious enterprise, and useful explanatory journalism, going beyond routine game coverage. The reporter will become an authority on the franchise's marquee players and explore how the Wolves and NBA operate, including roster construction, finances, league rules, player influence, and the evolution of the game. Coverage will extend across digital platforms including stories, newsletters, live coverage, video, podcasts, and social media. The schedule will include nights and weekends, adjusted as needed for the sports department's coverage plans.

Requirements

Significant reporting experience in a fast-paced, digital-first newsroom, with strong news judgment and deadline skills.
A demonstrated ability to develop sources, break news and produce original reporting.
Strong writing and analytical skills across breaking news, enterprise and explanatory journalism.
A track record of finding consequential enterprise stories beyond profiles and traditional beat coverage.
An understanding of digital sports audiences and how audience data can inform coverage.
Must be currently legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status, 0-1, TM, CPT, OPT, etc.). We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Nice To Haves

Experience covering the NBA, professional basketball or another major sports beat is preferred, along with knowledge of roster construction, the salary cap, trades, free agency and the draft.

Responsibilities

Own news and enterprise coverage of the Minnesota Timberwolves – both the team and the business – across digital platforms.
Develop deep sources throughout the Wolves organization and NBA to break news and consistently produce original, exclusive reporting.
Be a national authority on the franchise’s most consequential players and the stories surrounding them.
Produce distinctive enterprise journalism on roster construction, coaching, ownership, player influence, the business of basketball and leaguewide change.
Anticipate what both fans and broader audiences want to know about the team and its personalities.
Provide analysis and explanatory journalism that shows why developments matter.
Use audience insights, search trends and performance data to identify coverage opportunities and reach readers across newsletters, live coverage, video, podcasts and social platforms.
Travel to selected games and major events when being there will meaningfully improve our reporting and coverage.
Collaborate with editors, visual journalists, audience specialists and other reporters on ambitious sports journalism.