Sports Reporter, Springfield, Missouri

USA Today Co•Springfield, MO

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Springfield News-Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network, is seeking a sports reporter to join our team and create impactful journalism from southwest Missouri. High school sports are front of mind for much of our audience, and this reporter will be expected to cultivate sources from schools big and small across the Ozark Country to produce written stories and smart social media-driven video. Area schools are annually in contention for state championships in virtually every sport sponsored by the state high school association. It means breaking news, event coverage, feature writing and deeper dives into success are all integral parts of the job. This reporter also will report on the Division I athletic program at Missouri State University, which plays in FBS’ Conference USA. The News-Leader is the hometown newspaper in the third-largest metro area of Missouri. Springfield is a regional hub for business, healthcare and education in a metro area of 500,000. A gateway to the Ozarks, it boasts a bevy of outdoor recreational opportunities within an hour's drive, including Branson and Table Rock. St. Louis, Kansas City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, each are about three hours away.

Requirements

A valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
Bachelor's or master’s degree in communications, journalism or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Previous reporting experience preferred; even better if you've covered sports.
Proficiency on social media platforms; including but not limited to 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 deadline pressure.
Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently.
Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills; familiarity with AP style.
Ability to work 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.