Soccer/Breaking News Writer
About The Position
USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com USA TODAY Sports is looking for a versatile and energetic soccer writer to play a crucial role on our breaking news team. The ideal candidate should have a firm understanding of how to anticipate and deliver on audience needs at the speed of news, using on- and off-platform strategies and strong reporting instincts to maximize reach. This candidate should have advanced knowledge of global soccer scene and general knowledge of all sports. Experience using Google Trends to identify and prioritize stories to pursue for our audience is a must. The ability to work evenings and weekends is expected. USA TODAY Co. is the nation’s largest news media organization, consisting of more than 230 properties, including USA TODAY. The candidate will work collaboratively with fast-moving teams across the enterprise to help achieve the company’s goal of becoming the dominant sports news source in the country. This role is remote and can be based anywhere in the US, except for Alaska and Hawaii. Strong online communication skills are mandatory.
Requirements
- College degree in communications, journalism or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3+ years’ experience as a sports journalist, with focus on fast-paced digital content production and multimedia expertise.
- Strong reporting instincts and proven ability to break news.
- Strong ability to self-start, survey sports landscape and react.
- A history of collaboration, innovation and goal achievement.
- Proven ability to maximize readership by anticipating news, researching trends and delivering in a variety of story formats.
- Excellent communication and time-management skills.
- Understanding of various news and information content management systems.
- Approachability, personal charisma and a commitment to staff.
- Knowledge of the changing sports media landscape and ability to adapt strategies that address continually changing market and consumer needs and desires.
- Strong competitive instincts and intellectual curiosity.
Responsibilities
- Publishing stories at the speed of news and quickly reporting them forward to serve reader needs.
- Complete and relentless surveillance of news in the sports world, including how to use Google Trends to identify existing stories and/or missed opportunities.
- Build a rolodex of sources and contacts to strengthen news delivery and quality.
- Master best practices for maximum reach on search and commit to getting content to top of Google carousels.
- Contribute to strategies on- and off-platform, including podcasts, vodcasts and vertical video.
- Pristine communication to keep the workflow rolling and counter the difficulties of working remotely.
- Tracking story performance and being comfortable in an environment of constant adjustment to reach performance goals.
- Contribute to any evolving USA TODAY Sports strategy, vertical or initiative as needed.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
