The Knoxville News Sentinel/knoxnews.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is looking for a hard-working and energetic sports reporter to lead high school sports coverage in East Tennessee. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, Knox News seeks 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, Jackson, 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.
Want more jobs like this?
Get Writing and Editing jobs in Knoxville, TN delivered to your inbox every week.
Responsibilities:
- Be the area's leading voice in high school sports.
- Connect with the community through social media, including Instagram.
- Craft coverage based on historical success and adapt approach based on digital metrics and audience needs.
- 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 in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- This can be an entry-level position, but 1-2 years' reporting/newsroom experience is preferred.
- Adept at taking photos and video and the ability to file quickly across platforms: mobile, desktop and social media.
- Strong command of grammar and AP Style.
- Strong copy-editing skills and the ability to produce content that is clean, accurate and "publication ready."
- Passionate and enthusiastic about news and content that will work well with audiences on social platforms.
- Comfortable in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations.
- A desire to grow and develop a key beat in our newsrooms.
- Comfortable using social media such as X, Facebook and Instagram to enhance reporting and promote stories.
- Understands reporting ethics and sourcing.
- Excels in a fast-paced news environment and understands the digital first mission.
- Collaborates well with others and can work with a team on the biggest stories.
- Able to work occasional late nights or weekends as needed by the news cycle.
- This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
- Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer pre-employment background check and a motor vehicle record check & drug screen (for driving roles only).
Life in Knoxville
Knoxville combines the best of urban and outdoors life in one of the most beautiful settings in America, on the banks of the Tennessee River and in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains. The city is home to the University of Tennessee, which adds even more energy to a dynamic city hat hosts internationally recognized chefs, a thriving independent retail scene, world-class outdoors venues, including the renowned urban wilderness, and the elite athletics of the Southeastern Conference.
It's also home to the critically acclaimed Big Ears music festival created by Bonnaroo founder Ashley Capps, who lives here and helps nurture a thriving original music scene that draws artists from across the globe. And the cost of living will blow you away - it's one of the country's more affordable urban areas in a state with no income tax.
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.
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.
#Newsgnt
#LI-CB1