HS Sports Reporter

The Panama City News Herald, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seekingan energetic and passionate reporter to join our sports teamtocreateimpactful stories in an area that is fully invested in high school athletics. The News Heraldretainsa strong presence in Bay County, and this position will give a full-time local presence to sports reporting.

While the biggest games are still important, this is also an area heavily recruited by Division I college athletic programs, and we need a reporter who can track down several kinds of stories: breaking news, well-sourced enterprise, and updates on teams and athletes. There’s also opportunity for enterprise writing on issues and people beyond the field of play.

Panama City is located inthe middle of the Florida Panhandle, along the Gulf of Mexico. Located two hours east of Pensacola and two hours southwest of Tallahassee, it’sknown for its beaches and outdoor activities.

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, Twitter, 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 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.