Sport Reporter

USA TODAY Co. • Louisville, KY

1d

About The Position

The Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, is seeking a trending sports reporter who can identify and report on the news that people are talking about now – no matter what beat it falls on.
This reporter will primarily cover trending topics in college sports, with an emphasis on the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky. Keeping an eye on trending topics related to the Kentucky Derby will also be a big part of this reporter’s role, in addition to helping provide coverage of high school sports when needed.
UofL and UK are home to two of the highest grossing programs in men’s college basketball, a pair of football programs led by Louisville natives, women’s basketball programs positioned to contend for Final Four berths, two of the top volleyball programs in the sport, and baseball programs that have each made recent runs to the College World Series.
The Courier Journal is an 11-time Pulitzer Prize-winning news organization. It earned Associated Press Sports Editors Grand Slam honors, one of sports journalism’s top national awards, for its work in 2023.
Sports are baked into the fabric of Louisville, and we need a journalist who has proven they understand what readers care about and can quickly deliver breaking news and stories tied to trending topics.
This reporter has the urgency to get news out while people are still talking about it, but also the skill to bring strong reporting and context. They should have strong digital skills, including using social media, Google Trends, and other tools to find out what fans are talking about.
In addition to digital prowess, the right candidate will have a strong set of reporting skills and a willingness to quickly learn as they tackle several topics. They must be deeply curious and should excel at breaking down complex subjects into scannable stories that are easily read by busy people.
This reporter will be expected to consistently produce stories that increase our reach and will work closely with reporters across our sports department.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least two years of professional journalism experience, with experience as a reporter.
• An entrepreneurial approach to story ideas that resonate with our readers and growing audience.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent news judgment that’s guided by experience and accounts for audience metrics.
• Strong sense of journalism ethics and grounding in basics of media law.
• Commitment to reporting with fairness, compassion and sensitivity.
• Command of AP style and dedication to accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Assist with college and high school beat coverage as needed and our coverage of major events, including the Kentucky Derby.
• Be a curious, assertive, and self-starting journalist who jumps to report on breaking news and trending topics with urgency.
• Harness social media and messaging platforms as newsgathering tools.
• Has a deep understanding of college sports audiences and knows how to use metrics and tools available to aid in story planning and strategy.

What This Job Offers

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