Seattle Sports Writer

The Associated Press•Seattle, WA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associated Press is seeking a sports reporter based in Seattle who will cover major professional and college sports in a thriving market. This staff position is covered by AP’s agreement with the News Media Guild. In this role, you will seek to consistently break news and produce distinct, deeply reported enterprise in Seattle about the major pro teams, with an emphasis on the NFL champion Seahawks. You should be a self-starter who is comfortable juggling a mix of coverage that also includes the Mariners, Kraken, Storm, Sounders and college football. You must also possess proficiency in digitally focused storytelling and video for AP and social media platforms.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, such as at least two years of full-time journalism experience and a proven track record of identifying smart, innovative stories that people respond to.
An experienced journalist with a record of breaking news and producing deeply reported enterprise coverage, preferably in sports.
A strong source builder who can develop relationships with athletes, coaches, team executives, agents and others across the sports community.
Skilled at covering both on-field competition and off-the-field developments, including legal matters, business decisions and front-office changes.
A compelling, accurate writer who can explain complex subjects clearly and produce people-centered stories for broad audiences.
Proficient in digital-first reporting and comfortable contributing to video and social media coverage.
Able to identify distinctive story ideas, pursue multiple reporting threads and manage competing assignments in a fast-paced news environment.
A collaborative colleague who can work effectively with journalists across formats, locations and areas of expertise.
Knowledgeable about major professional and college sports, with a strong interest in Seattle’s sports landscape.
Committed to AP’s standards for accuracy, integrity, objectivity and inclusive coverage.
Able and willing to work nights, weekends and holidays as coverage requires and to travel for assignments.
Authorization to work in the U.S. or the ability to obtain permission to do so.

Nice To Haves

An established network of sources within the NFL or Seattle sports community.
Demonstrated success breaking news about a major professional sports franchise, particularly an NFL team.
Experience using court records, public records and other documents to report on legal, financial or organizational developments.
Experience creating or contributing to visual, audio, interactive or social-first storytelling.
Familiarity with audience data and emerging platforms and an ability to use those insights to strengthen coverage and reach.

Responsibilities

Consistently deliver scoops on the major sports teams, especially the Seahawks.
Handle breaking news about off-the-field developments, whether they are in the courts or front office.
Works collaboratively with colleagues across the AP on big stories.
Be an idea machine, taking a thread of a story and following it to where it leads.
Be willing to work nights and weekends.
Put people at the center of the storytelling.
Write about complex topics in a manner that can be easily understood by broad audiences.
Be interested in and excited about telling stories in alternative ways.
Enjoy working across all formats – text, photo, video, audio, digital/social, interactive and graphics – collaborating from a story’s inception to its publication.
Have a great news sense, with the ability to communicate and drive stories that people will want to share on social media and other platforms.
Pursue innovative and inclusive coverage that maintains AP’s standards for integrity and objectivity.