Sports Reporter, Wichita Falls TX

USA Today Co • Wichita Falls, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Wichita Falls Times News Record, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is looking for a multimedia journalist to cover high school athletics in the area along the Texas-Oklahoma state line. We cover high school sports in a competitive market, and the ideal candidate will know how to report quickly for social media and other digital platforms from live events, tell the stories of athletes on and off the field and create enterprise that asks questions and further explains how high school sports in Texas survive and thrive. Wichita Falls has a long and storied high school sports history in more than football, with stories to be told in words and through visuals. While it goes without saying that Friday night lights in Texas are important, our audience is enthusiastic about coverage across the full high school sports spectrum. This position is part of the USA TODAY Network’s coverage of West Texas high school athletics, collaborating with four other newsrooms. Wichita Falls is located along the Texas-Oklahoma state line, 2 hours northwest of the heart of the Metroplex and 2 hours south of Oklahoma City. Anchored by Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls is a city of more than 100,000 people with plenty of outdoor activity opportunities thanks to nearby Lake Wichita and Lake Arrowhead and a 20-mile paved walking and biking path that nearly circles the city.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master’s degree in communications, journalism or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
• Previous reporting experience preferred; even better if you've covered sports.
• Proficiency on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Reddit.
• Experience shooting and editing photos and video on a mobile device.
• Strong communication skills, news judgement and headline-writing ability.
• Ability to multitask and excel under intense deadline pressure.
• Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently.
• Candidates should have AI and automation literacy and experience in using it to enhance their journalism
• Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills; familiarity with AP style.
• Ability to work some nights and weekends.
• Comfort building a beat and communicating with athletes and coaches.

Responsibilities

• Create storytelling that accurately informs, entertains and engages specific audiences and platforms through the use of metrics.
• Work toward becoming the community’s leading voice of expertise in high school sports.
• Connect with the community through storytelling and outreach (social media, on camera, forums, community leadership, etc.).
• Provide thoughtful analysis of complex issues.
• Work with editor and content strategist to evaluate what's working and what's not and develop ongoing plans to satisfy audience needs.
• Collaborate to provide appropriate elements for stories (i.e. photos, videos and graphics).
• Capture basic photos and video as needed.
• Promote personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
• Provide great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.

What This Job Offers

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