Minnesota Timberwolves Reporter

Star Tribune Media Company LLC; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 88,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Hybrid work arrangements

Tuition reimbursement

Employee assistance program

Pet insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Health savings accounts

Job summary

The Minnesota Star Tribune in Minneapolis is seeking an ambitious reporter to own the Minnesota Timberwolves beat, delivering exclusive reporting and authoritative analysis across digital platforms.

You will develop deep sources, break news and produce enterprise journalism on roster construction, league dynamics and player influence, with strong audience and data integration. Nights/weekends required.

Qualifications

• Significant reporting experience in a fast-paced, digital-first newsroom.
• Ability to develop sources, break news and produce original reporting.
• Strong writing and analytical skills across breaking news, enterprise and explanatory journalism.
• Experience covering NBA or major sports beat preferred, with knowledge of roster construction, salary cap, trades, free agency and the draft.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Own news and enterprise coverage of the Minnesota Timberwolves – both the team and the business – across digital platforms.
• Develop deep sources throughout the Wolves organization and NBA to break news and consistently produce original, exclusive reporting.
• Be a national authority on the franchise’s most consequential players and the stories surrounding them.
• Produce distinctive enterprise journalism on roster construction, coaching, ownership, player influence, the business of basketball and leaguewide change.
• Anticipate what both fans and broader audiences want to know about the team and its personalities. Provide analysis and explanatory journalism that shows why developments matter.
• Use audience insights, search trends and performance data to identify coverage opportunities and reach readers across newsletters, live coverage, video, podcasts and social platforms.
• Travel to selected games and major events when being there will meaningfully improve our reporting and coverage.
• Collaborate with editors, visual journalists, audience specialists and other reporters on ambitious sports journalism.

Skills

News judgment

Deadline skills

Develop sources

Break news

Original reporting

Strong writing

Analytical skills

Digital-first

NBA knowledge

Work authorization

Job description

Headquarters
650 3rd Avenue S
Suite 1300
Minneapolis, MN 55488, USA

Description

The Minnesota Star Tribune is an innovative modern media organization building on an extraordinary 159-year legacy. With seven Pulitzer Prizes and numerous other accolades, we stand as a beacon of journalistic excellence in Minnesota. We are the heart and voice of the North.

Our mission is to build a better Minnesota by connecting us with the people, ideas, and stories that strengthen our communities. We’re seeking dynamic leaders who are passionate about journalism and democracy to help shape this future. If you are excited about reinventing one of our state’s most trusted institutions and leading us into a new era of growth and excellence, we want to hear from you.

We are looking for an ambitious, authoritative reporter to own coverage of the Minnesota Timberwolves at our headquarters in Minneapolis MN.

The Wolves are one of Minnesota’s biggest sports stories, with championship expectations, a passionate fan base and personalities that resonate far beyond the court. We want a reporter who can break news, develop sources, deliver smart analysis and produce distinctive journalism that fans can’t get anywhere else.

Games matter, but routine previews, recaps and traditional game coverage won’t be the center of this beat. Our priority is exclusive reporting, authoritative analysis, ambitious enterprise and useful explanatory journalism. We want our reporter to own the conversation around the Wolves by anticipating what fans want to know, uncovering what they don’t and providing context and expertise they can’t find elsewhere.

That means becoming an authority on the franchise’s marquee players while going beyond player profiles to find consequential stories about how the Wolves and NBA operate — how championship rosters are built and sustained, how money and league rules shape decisions, how players wield influence and how the game is changing. The reporter will use strong reporting and audience insights to deliver coverage across stories, newsletters, live coverage, video, podcasts and social platforms.

The schedule will include nights and weekends and will be adjusted as needed to accommodate the coverage plans of the sports department.

Responsibilities

• Own news and enterprise coverage of the Minnesota Timberwolves – both the team and the business – across digital platforms.
• Develop deep sources throughout the Wolves organization and NBA to break news and consistently produce original, exclusive reporting.
• Be a national authority on the franchise’s most consequential players and the stories surrounding them.
• Produce distinctive enterprise journalism on roster construction, coaching, ownership, player influence, the business of basketball and leaguewide change.
• Anticipate what both fans and broader audiences want to know about the team and its personalities. Provide analysis and explanatory journalism that shows why developments matter.
• Use audience insights, search trends and performance data to identify coverage opportunities and reach readers across newsletters, live coverage, video, podcasts and social platforms.
• Travel to selected games and major events when being there will meaningfully improve our reporting and coverage.
• Collaborate with editors, visual journalists, audience specialists and other reporters on ambitious sports journalism.

Qualifications

• Significant reporting experience in a fast-paced, digital-first newsroom, with strong news judgment and deadline skills.
• A demonstrated ability to develop sources, break news and produce original reporting.
• Strong writing and analytical skills across breaking news, enterprise and explanatory journalism.
• A track record of finding consequential enterprise stories beyond profiles and traditional beat coverage.
• An understanding of digital sports audiences and how audience data can inform coverage.
• Experience covering the NBA, professional basketball or another major sports beat is preferred, along with knowledge of roster construction, the salary cap, trades, free agency and the draft.
• Must be currently legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status, 0-1, TM, CPT, OPT, etc.). We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Annual pay, established by the contract of the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild, is between $87,638 and $97,000.

Compensation will depend on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience and may fall outside the range shown.

The Minnesota Star Tribune offers a competitive benefits package including a 401(k) match, medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, paid time off and other benefits. Learn more at benefits.startribunecompany.com.

• Modern Downtown Office: Enjoy a state-of-the-art workspace with a free fitness center, collaborative center, golf simulator, and a rooftop patio.
• Wellness & Work-Life Balance: Participate in our wellness program with financial incentives, generous paid time off, flexible holidays, one volunteer day, and two wellness days.
• Financial & Family Support: Benefit from a 401(k) with company match, paid parental and caregiving leave, hybrid work arrangements, and tuition reimbursement.
• Additional Perks: Access to an employee assistance program, pet insurance, flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts.

Even if you don't meet every single requirement for this role, we encourage you to apply. At The Minnesota Star Tribune, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.