HS Sports Reporter

The Fayetteville Observer, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking an energetic and passionate reporter to join our sports team to create impactful stories in an area that is fully invested in high school athletics. The Observer is the Cumberland County area’s leading voice on high school sports, and this reporter will help maintain that position.

While the biggest games are still important, our readers have demanded meaningful coverage of sports on and off the field, and we need a reporter who can hunt down those stories. That includes breaking news, well-sourced enterprise, updates on teams and athletes, and content that digs in, like the rigors of student-athlete life, coach pay and recruiting college athletes from a small area.

Fayetteville, North Carolina, is located in the Sandhills of central North Carolina, with easy access to the state’s major cities. Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are all within 90 minutes' drive, and Charlotte is less than three hours away. Fayetteville is also home to minor-league baseball and hockey teams and is located close to the Pinehurst area, a mecca for golf in the United States.

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.