The USA Today Network-Florida is seeking a dynamic digital-first reporter to become the expert on college sports recruiting in one of the nation's most fertile recruiting grounds. The right candidate will build sources, break news, create top-shelf enterprise and tell compelling stories while using strong SEO techniques and social media strategies to deliver content when and where the audience wants it. Transforming the high school prospects beat, most specifically football and boys and girls basketball, into a mandatory experience for local and statewide fans is a must, both on and off platform. This writer will play a leading role in strategy development and identifying innovative techniques on the beat.
Multimedia skills, including the ability to produce and edit video, take photos, create photo galleries, and engage our audience on social media, especially Instagram, Facebook, and X, and through podcasts is a must. The candidate should be comfortable analyzing and interpreting metrics and have knowledge of Google Trends to help make coverage decisions and chase story topics relevant for area schools and athletes.
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We need someone raring to make our coverage better with impactful content and who wants to be part of a winning team. There is no ambition too big for this role.
Responsibilities
- Create storytelling that accurately informs, entertains and engages the Florida high school audience through print, digital and social media platforms.
- Work toward becoming the community's leading voice in high school sports.
- Connect with our audience through storytelling and outreach (social media, video, podcasts, 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 covering sports preferred
- Proficiency on social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
- Experience shooting and editing photos and video on a mobile device.
- Strong communication skills, news judgement and SEO 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.
- Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer pre-employment background check, motor vehicle record check & drug screen.
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.
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