Content Creator, Entertainment

Gannett Co; McLean (VA); Remote; USD 35,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

USA TODAY is seeking a dynamic Content Creator to amplify our Entertainment journalism across our website, app, social platforms and newsletters, expanding its reach and deepening audience engagement.

You will craft platform-native storytelling, especially video, social content and newsletters, and collaborate with reporters, editors and audience development teams to extend coverage across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit and emerging platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in communications/journalism/pr. or related field.
• 3+ years in a digitally-focused news environment; entertainment experience preferred.
• Experience creating content optimized for social media, newsletters or search; SEO familiarity with Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
• Commitment to accuracy, fairness, and journalistic ethics.
• Ability to multitask and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Familiarity with analytics tools (Parse.ly, Google Analytics, Trends) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Curate and program the Entertainment homepage and app alerts for timely, high-performing content.
• Create engaging social content reflecting USA TODAY's voice, including video.
• Curate and write newsletters, deepening 1:1 audience connection.
• Collaborate with reporters, editors and audience teams to amplify coverage and explore promotional opportunities.
• Execute user-generated content strategies and manage influencer partnerships as needed.
• Support on-site content optimization for discoverability and growth.
• Experiment with emerging platforms to accelerate audience growth and contribute to live coverage.
• Be flexible with hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays when needed.

Skills

Social media content creation

Video storytelling

SEO

Analytics

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Newsletter creation

Data-informed decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field

Tools

Hootsuite

Canva

Premiere

Echobox

True Anthem

Job description

USA TODAY is seeking a dynamic Content Creator to amplify our Entertainment journalism across our website, app, social platforms and newsletters, expanding its reach and deepening audience engagement.

This role is right for you if you're passionate about entertainment, from books, movies and music to television and celebrity news.

The ideal candidate is a dynamic, personality-driven creator with deep experience in entertainment content creation and a strong understanding of how entertainment audiences discover and engage with news. You are comfortable on camera and know how to build a personal connection with audiences through compelling, platform-native storytelling, particularly video, social media and newsletters.

This is not a traditional producer, social media or newsletter management role. Your primary focus will be creating distinctive content and designing a cohesive off-platform audience experience. You will work strategically across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit and emerging platforms to reach younger and traditionally underserved audiences, deepen engagement and turn successful ideas into repeatable growth strategies.

This role may require working extended hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays, sometimes unexpectedly, when news requires it.

This role is remote and can be based anywhere in the US, except for Alaska, Hawaii and Wyoming. If you live near one of our local newsrooms, you may have the option to use that as a base of operations.

Responsibilities:

• Curate and program the USA TODAY Entertainment homepage and craft app alerts to showcase timely, relevant, and high-performing content.
• Create engaging social content that reflects USA TODAY's voice and resonates with USA TODAY Entertainment audiences, including video.
• Curate and/or write our USA TODAY Entertainment newsletters, deepening 1:1 connection with our audience.
• Partner with reporters, editors, and audience development teams to amplify coverage and identify promotional opportunities, including live events, comments and AMAs.
• Execute on our user-generated content strategy, packaging this content for use on site and off-platform, in addition to managing influencer outreach and partnerships as needed.
• Assist with optimization of on-site content for discoverability .
• Experiment with emerging platforms and tools to further accelerate our audience growth.
• Help with live coverage for breaking news and tentpole events.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of experience, preferably in a digitally-focused news organization. Journalism experience or education is mandatory, as is entertainment-specific experience.
• Experience creating content optimized for social media, newsletters or search and experience with SEO, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok at a minimum.
• Commitment to detail, accuracy and fairness and an understanding of journalistic ethics and best practices.
• Ability to multitask and excel under deadline pressure, using time efficiently.
• Comfort using analytics tools such as Parse.ly, Google Analytics, Google Trends, and social and newsletter engagement insights to make data-informed decisions is also a plus.

Technical Specifications:

• Comfort using analytics tools such as Parse.ly, Google Analytics, Google Trends, and social and newsletter engagement insights to make data-informed decisions is also a plus.
• Expertise creating content on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram is required at a minimum.
• Experience with video editing tools in-app, and third-party tools like Canva, Premiere and more.
• Experience with third-party distribution tools like Hootsuite, True Anthem and Echobox is preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to collaborate across teams.

The hourly rate for this role will range between $25.48 and $33.65. Base compensation is reflective of many factors, including, but not limited to, the market in which one lives/works, individual education level, skills, certifications and experience. Note: variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable.