High School Sports Reporter

The Jackson Sun , part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a hard-working and energetic sports reporter to lead our vast high school sports coverage in Madison County, Tennessee and the surrounding areas. We are seeking a dynamic reporter who is digitally savvy and committed to leading the conversation in a competitive market. The ideal candidate will use reporting skills to find and tell compelling human-interest stories and identify interesting trends for enterprise stories that go beyond what happened in the game. This position requires multimedia skills and the ability to engage audiences on social media. The reporter must be SEO savvy, can spot high-interest topics using engagement tools like Google Trends and can work independently but also thrive in collaborative environments. There is a tremendous opportunity to create a lasting impression in the Jackson, Tennessee, community and its surrounding areas.

The reporter will need to be proficient in shooting vertical video for game highlights and work closely, and collaboratively with the Tennessee high school sports staff across the state. Aggressive pursuit of breaking news in the high school sports world will be a focus, like coaching changes and high school athletes' college commitments/signings. Writing on potential trending news will be an important component. Developing relationships with schools, administrators, and coaches will be crucial in this position.

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.

Requirements:

• 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, X, 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.
• 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.
• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

How to Apply:

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

1. Your resume - one to two pages.

2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.

3. Links to 3-6 online samples of your work.

Show us what you've produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

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