Sports Content Coach

Society of Professional Journalists; Evansville (IN); Remote; USD 51,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic team as a Sports Content Coach, where you will lead and mentor sports writers across the USA. This role involves editing engaging content, coaching journalists to hone their skills, and leveraging analytics to tailor sports coverage to local audiences. You'll be part of a collaborative environment that values impactful journalism and creativity. This position offers flexibility as it can be performed remotely, allowing you to work from anywhere in the US, except Alaska and Hawaii. If you're passionate about sports journalism and ready to make a difference, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in a news organization required.
• Strong news judgment and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach a team of sports writers to enhance their skills.
• Edit copy under tight deadlines and manage multiple stories.

Skills

Editing

Coaching

Communication Skills

Time Management

Analytical Skills

Story Identification

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's in Communications

Bachelor's in Journalism

Bachelor's in Digital Media

Job description

The Center for Community Journalism, part of the USA TODAY Network, is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking candidate to join its operation as a Sports Content Coach. The ideal candidate is an experienced journalist who is capable of editing copy, coaching writers to improve, and managing sports journalists.

The CCJ is a collection of more than 100 medium- and small-sized newspapers and associated websites in the USA TODAY Network, located geographically from Vermont to Washington state, from California to Florida. Its sports reporters cover local sports, including high school and college sports up to the major conference level. CCJ editors and content coaches manage and direct these journalists to help them best serve the audience available to their communities.

This position is remote and can be based anywhere in the US, except for Alaska and Hawaii or based at USA TODAY headquarters in McLean, Va. If you live near one of our local newsrooms, you may have the option to use that as a base of operations.

Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of writers who cover sports local to their properties. Manage these writers and help them grow through coaching and feedback.
• Teach them time management and how to identify winning story ideas.
• Edit copy, often under tight deadlines, from writers across the country, including those who report to other editors and content coaches.
• Be part of the CCJ's high schools or colleges coverage leadership team, learning best practices to share with writers and contribute ideas to help improve coverage.
• Use metrics and analytics to identify what is working in various local audiences and what is not, to best tailor our sports coverage to meet audience needs.
• Coordinate and work with the other CCJ sports editors and content coaches, as well as others inside the company.
• Be willing to work nights, weekends, and sometimes holidays as needed.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's in communications, journalism, digital media, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 3 years of experience working in a news organization.
• Ability to identify stories that sports fans in local markets are talking about and leverage those to differentiate in a competitive marketplace.
• Strong news judgment, great communication skills, and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced news environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to producing and promoting journalism that is impactful and authoritative.
• Experience using analytics to help shape coverage decisions and story execution.
• Ability to manage, coach, and motivate sports journalists to strive for improvement and growth.

Application Instructions:

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:
Your resume - one to two pages. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

The annualized base salary for this role will range between $51,300.00 and $62,500.00. Variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, location, and union representation, if applicable.