Sports Reporter - High Schools and Recruiting

HNP CT Media Group•Norwalk, CT

55d•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re expanding our award-winning GametimeCT high school sports team at Hearst Connecticut Media Group. A new reporting role will cover news and analysis of high school athletes around the state, with a key focus on the recruiting of top athletes and their plans post-graduation. If you love local sports news, keeping tabs on what comes next for athletes after high school and telling stories about those standout performers, this could be the role for you. HCMG is the state’s largest newsroom, with more than 130 journalists covering breaking news, high school and UConn sports, politics and government, business, real estate and development, education, food and trending topics. Our GametimeCT vertical is the premier brand for high school sports coverage across Connecticut. We have an immediate opening for an ambitious, multimedia-savvy journalist who thrives on finding stories in the high school sports scene. We want someone who is excited about diving into the world where high school and college sports meet, telling inspiring stories and bringing out the excitement around college signing celebrations. The ideal candidate will not only track athletes and document their next steps, but also guide parents and students in navigating that world through our coverage. We’re seeking a self-starter with high standards who can collaborate well, has excellent communication skills, is comfortable providing and taking feedback. We want a teammate who aspires to be a key player in an exciting, modern news operation that values a smart, local readership and aims to elevate how we report and present journalism online.

Requirements

Experience in a modern newsroom or a related work environment.
Strong news judgment and deep curiosity.
Attention to detail.
Ability to report stories and write and build quickly while keeping the strictest commitment to fairness and accuracy.
Proven skill connecting with athletes, coaches and athletic directors.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Willingness and drive to learn new technical and newsroom skills.
Capturing and editing video, in addition to strong social media skills.
This position is full-time.
Includes some night, weekend and holiday work.
The successful candidate must be based in Connecticut or New York or willing to move to the region, and agree to a hybrid work schedule with a few days a week in the Norwalk, Connecticut office. Management reserves the right to revisit the hybrid arrangement at any point during your employment.

Nice To Haves

Ability to speak a second language like Spanish.
Proven track record of telling stories that go beyond what is happening on the field.
Strong experience telling stories in innovative and creative ways, including with video, podcasting, etc. going beyond the traditional game stories.

Responsibilities

Report and write — both alone and with other reporters – compelling stories on athletes and teams.
Track college commitments of high school athletes.
Publish a mix of quick-turn and enterprise reporting.
Conceive ideas and work with reporters, photographers, and editors to enhance our storytelling and reach new audiences in new ways.
Build relationships with coaches, athletes, and schools to develop sources and uncover unique stories.
Shoot and edit video highlights and short clips for GametimeCT and social media.
Contribute to live coverage, including stories, real-time updates, social media posts, and podcast/livestream appearances.