The Chillicothe Gazette , part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a full-time sports reporter to cover high school sports in and around Chillicothe, Ohio.
Our readers have responded well to meaningful coverage of high school sports on and off the field. This reporter will tell those stories, in addition to game coverage of the biggest rivalries and most important matchups for the area's eight high schools. That includes breaking news, deep enterprise, updates on teams and athletes, and content that digs into topics such as the rigors of student-athlete life in today's era, coach pay, team travel and recruiting college athletes from a small area.
The Gazette works in collaboration with a dozen newsrooms as part of Gannett's Center for Community Journalism, giving your best work an opportunity to be seen beyond your own newsroom.
Chillicothe is located one hour south of Columbus, and 100 miles from Cincinnati. It is home to the latest UNESCO World Heritage site in our Earthworks, is Ohio's first capital and has a revitalized and thriving downtown.
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 expertisein 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'sworking and what'snot and develop ongoing plans to satisfy audience needs.
Collaborate to provide appropriate elementsfor stories (i.e.photos, videosand graphics). Capture basic photos and videoas 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.
Previousreporting experience preferred; even better if you'vecovered sports.
Proficiency on social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Reddit.
Experience shooting and editing photos and video on a mobile device.
Strong communicationskills, news judgement and headline-writing ability.
Ability to multitask and excel under intense deadline pressure.
Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently.
Strong writing, spellingand grammar skills; familiarity with AP style.
Ability to work some 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.
Application Instructions
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:
Your resume - one to two pages.
A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you'veproduced 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.