LSU Sports Reporter

The Daily Advertiser of Lafayette, Louisiana, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking an energetic and passionate reporter to join our sports team to create impactful stories on LSU athletics, chiefly football and baseball but also basketball and other sports. The Daily Advertiser is a primary outlet covering LSU athletics. LSU is a member of the Southeastern Conference and has produced national championship teams and Heisman Trophy winners in recent history.

While the biggest games are still important, we need a reporter who can track down several kinds of stories: breaking news, well-sourced enterprise while also staying on top of trending news and finding offbeat and unusual features. The ideal candidate will be able to write with voice and authority on LSU athletics and be able to produce columns as needed.

We expect the person who lands this job to reside in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the state capitol city and the home of Louisiana State University, to be able to have immediate access to LSU events and media availabilities.

Responsibilities:

Create storytelling that accurately informs, entertains and engages specific audiences and platforms through the use of metrics.
Work toward becoming a leading voice of expertise on LSU football and athletics.
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 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.

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’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.