Sports Investigative Reporter
About The Position
We’re seeking a driven, curious, and experienced Investigative Reporter to join our newsroom with a focus on uncovering powerful, previously unreported stories in the world of sports. This reporter will dig beneath the surface of games and transactions to expose wrongdoing, causes of failure, and corruption within the systems, money, power, and people shaping sports from amateur to professional levels. The ideal candidate is passionate about holding institutions accountable, understands the nuances of sports culture, and brings fairness, accuracy, and exceptional storytelling to their work. This position reports directly to the Sports team and maintains a dotted-line relationship with the Spotlight Investigations team, reflecting its collaborative responsibilities across both areas. This role is for a journalist with a proven track record in accountability reporting or sports enterprise journalism and is ready to take the next step in developing ambitious investigations.
Requirements
- 3–7 years of professional journalism experience, with at least some in accountability, investigative, or enterprise reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to uncover and tell impactful stories, with a portfolio that reflects investigative depth and narrative skill.
- Knowledge of legal and ethical issues relevant to investigative reporting.
- Comfort with tools such as FOIA, public databases, and court records.
- Strong understanding of the sports landscape (professional, collegiate, and/or high school/youth sports, particularly in Boston and New England) and the cultural, financial, and political issues that intersect with it.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Excellent communication and time-management skills.
- A commitment to inclusive, rigorous journalism that serves the public interest.
- A willingness to adapt and be audience focused, with a curious mindset and a commitment to creating an inclusive work environment.
Nice To Haves
- Data journalism skills are a plus.
Responsibilities
- Investigate and report on complex stories involving sports institutions, figures, and issues, including but not limited to corruption, harassment, labor, health and safety, equity, and governance.
- Pursue original reporting through public records requests, data analysis, source cultivation, and on-the-ground reporting.
- Collaborate with editors, data journalists, visual and audio teams to shape compelling multi-platform storytelling.
- Generate story ideas that resonate with our audience, while responding to breaking news with depth and context as needed.
- Maintain a strong ethical framework, source confidentiality, and editorial independence throughout all reporting.
- Build and maintain sources within athletic organizations, regulatory bodies, unions, legal communities, and others connected to the world of sports.
- Contribute to team discussions about long-term coverage priorities, accountability goals, and newsroom standards.
- Stay current on trends, developments, and key figures in the sports world.
Benefits
- This position is a union position covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Boston Newspaper Guild.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
