High School Sports Reporter

This job is part of the USA TODAY Network's South Region, which has established itself as a trendsetter for high-level collaboration within the nation's largest media company.

The Jackson Sun , part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is looking for a hard-working and energetic
sports reporter to lead high school sports coverage in
Jackson, Tennessee. We are seeking a dynamic reporter who is digitally savvy and committed to leading the conversation in a highly competitive market. You will be part of a statewide team in the USA South Region with reporters based in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Clarksville, Murfreesboro and Columbia.

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 on the court or field or during an athlete's commitment ceremony. This position requires multimedia skills, the ability to produce and edit video and engage audience on social media.

The best candidate will have dynamic writing ability and the knowledge to write about football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer and more. We want someone who is ambitious, thinks big, writes with authority and has a passion for storytelling and breaking news before our competitors.

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 or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous reporting experience; 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:

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

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

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