Content Creator, Sports

Gannett Co; McLean (VA); Remote; USD 53,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

USA TODAY seeks a dynamic Content Creator to amplify our Sports journalism across our website, app, social platforms and newsletters, expanding reach and audience engagement. The ideal candidate is a personality-driven creator with deep sports content experience, comfortable on camera, and skilled at platform-native storytelling—video, social posts and newsletters.

You will work across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit and emerging platforms to reach younger audiences and deepen engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years in a digitally-focused news organization; journalism and sports experience mandatory.
• Experience creating content optimized for social media, newsletters, or search; SEO knowledge; platforms include Instagram, YouTube, TikTok.
• Commitment to detail, accuracy and ethics in journalism.
• Ability to multitask and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Familiarity with analytics tools (Parse.ly, Google Analytics, Trends).

Responsibilities

• Curate and program USA TODAY Sports homepage and craft app alerts.
• Create engaging social content reflecting USA TODAY's voice, including video.
• Curate/write USA TODAY Sports newsletters to deepen audience connection.
• Collaborate with reporters, editors and audience development teams to amplify coverage.
• Manage user-generated content and influencer partnerships as needed.
• Assist with on-site content optimization for discoverability.
• Experiment with emerging platforms to accelerate audience growth.
• Support live coverage for breaking news and tentpole events.

Skills

Social media content creation

Video storytelling

Audience engagement

Editorial integrity

Deadline pressure

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism or related field

Tools

Video editing apps

Canva

Premiere

Hootsuite

Echobox

Job description

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

The ideal candidate is a dynamic, personality-driven creator with deep experience in sports content creation and a strong understanding of how sports fans discover and engage with content. 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 Sports 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 Sports audiences, including video.
• Curate and/or write our USA TODAY Sports 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 sports 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.
• Familiarity with news products and journalism and understanding of media analytics and ethics.

The hourly rate for this role will range between $25.48 and $39.42. 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.