Assistant Sports Editor

USA TODAY Co., Inc.; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 51,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking an Assistant Sports Editor to join our award‑winning team in Cincinnati. You will work hands‑on with reporters, edit stories to Enquirer standards, and drive audience growth with data‑informed decisions.

The ideal candidate has experience editing on deadline, strong leadership, and a track record using audience insights to guide coverage. A flexible schedule and digital headline SEO skills are a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in communications or journalism.
• Management experience required.
• Experience making coverage decisions based on audience insights.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise and coach a team of reporters.
• Edit content to Cincinnati Enquirer standards.
• Use metrics to inform story choices and shape coverage strategies.
• Work with digital production team to ensure optimal engagement on stories.
• Identify opportunities for enterprise/investigative journalism.
• Ensure coverage plans are developed and executed for daily coverage as well as tentpole events.

Skills

Team management

Audience insights

Deadline editing

SEO writing

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in communications

Job description

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. If you are a California resident, you acknowledge that by applying for a job with us, this California Job Applicant Privacy Notice will apply to our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information. To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com

The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking an Assistant Sports Editor for to join our award-winning team.

The Greater Cincinnati market is home to the Reds (America’s first professional baseball team), the Bengals, an MLS franchise, four NCAA Division 1 universities and some of the nation’s best high school sports programs. We’re looking for an assistant sports editor to work hands-on with our talented reporting team and support our audience growth efforts tied to sports. The ideal candidate will have experience editing on deadline and covering sports at all levels. Experience with audience-insight metrics, mobile engagement and enterprise reporting are a plus.

The position requires a strong self-starter able to work a flexible schedule. While the daily coverage of sports is generally set to a predictable schedule, the ability to swarm around breaking/trending news and deliver worthwhile enterprise to our audience also are main components of a successful candidate. A qualified candidate also will have experience in digital headline writing/SEO, multimedia content optimization and engagement with fanbases in our market.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise and coach a team of reporters.
• Edit content to Cincinnati Enquirer standards.
• Use metrics to inform story choices and shape coverage strategies.
• Work with digital production team to ensure optimal engagement on stories.
• Identify opportunities for enterprise/investigative journalism.
• Ensure coverage plans are developed and executed for daily coverage as well as tentpole events.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master’s degree in communications, journalism or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Management experience.
• Experience making coverage decisions based on audience insights.
• This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

The annualized base salary for this role will range between $50,500 and $78,906. Variable incentive compensation, including commissions, is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, education level, location, and union representation, if applicable

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at [e-mail]. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.