Freelance Soccer Writer - Commercial Partnerships

Sporting News is seeking a creative and driven freelance soccer writer to join its new affiliate and commercial content team. This is a high-volume writing position welcoming candidates looking for flexible, supplemental part-time work or aspiring sports marketers or journalists.

We are looking for a part-time U.S.-based writer (approx. 15 hr/wk) to help scale our soccer content supporting North American commercial partnerships. Although this role will primarily focus on MLS, Liga MX, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, the ideal candidate can write captivating, authoritative copy around any major European club or national team.

The three main areas of focus are SEO-friendly how-to-watch articles, betting previews and the occasional live blog, driving audience and engagement around our commercial streaming and gaming partners. You don’t need to be a diehard betting sharp but should be able to confidently frame matches through a nuanced, data-driven lens of odds, props and picks geared toward the casual fan. Candidates should expect to write 12-15 articles per week and the expected pay range is on par with $20-25 per hour, commensurate with experience. This is a 7-month position starting in February and extending through the end of the Olympics in August.

This remote role reports to the Senior Editor, Commercial Partnerships.

HERE’S A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT YOU’LL (PRIMARILY) DO

Curate and write 10-15 assigned how to watch or betting stories per week, as determined by agreed upon hours
Write up to two live blogs per week as dictated by the fixture schedule
File stories on time to editors directly in SN’s CMS
Apply SN’s SEO best practices by following established protocols
Execute link strategy with specific call-to-action copy and placement
Implement product enhancements to deliver best-in-class affiliate content

DO YOU HAVE THESE ESSENTIALS?

1-3 years of sports writing experience covering soccer in North America
Demonstrated ability to write quickly with clean, concise copy
Deep knowledge, understanding and passion for sports betting and daily fantasy
Basic knowledge of SEO tools and best practices, including writing headlines, URLs and copy for a search audience, and how to farm Google Trends for content ideas
An eye for smart data and compelling entry points to enhance storytelling
Ability to work occasional nights and weekends, as required

NOT ESSENTIAL BUT GREAT IF YOU ALSO HAD

Basic knowledge of sports beyond soccer
Experience writing about sports betting odds and trends
Understanding of how to use audience data and tools to shape content strategy
Sharp business acumen with demonstrated capacity to understand how SN’s editorial strategy aligns with commercial goals
Ability to learn new roles and adapt in a constantly evolving industry
Bi-lingual English and Spanish