The Buffalo News is seeking an aggressive reporter with an ability to tell great stories to serve as Trending Sports Enterprise writer.
The ideal candidate will be able to go behind the news and newsmakers of the day by identifying smart, informative and innovative stories and quickly executing them. The writer needs to be passionate about the news and storytelling and demonstrate strong news judgment and initiative.
The writer needs to be skilled in building and working sources as well as developing and reporting context-filled new angles on trending topics. Being versatile enough to write a news analysis or a lengthy takeout or an opinion piece backed by reporting is key. One day, you could be working on a Bills story, a Sabres story the next, or colleges or high school or anything within the sporting world.
Among the key responsibilities and traits:
- Identify stories with high audience potential and reach.
- Report stories using interviews, documents and data, social media and original research.
- Collaborate with beat writers and other colleagues in photo, social media, digital production and excel when working as a team.
- Have a sense of curiosity that informs your reporting in new and unique ways beyond the usual institutional voices.
- Manage your time well and be able juggle responsibilities.
- Be comfortable using social media and engaging with readers.
- Write clean, clear and accurate copy.
Despite its Rust Belt reputation, Buffalo is one of the best places in the United States. The city is in the midst of a revitalization, young people are arriving to take new economy jobs and warehouses are being rehabbed into great apartments. (More than 100,000 students attend the region’s 23 colleges and universities.) The city has two professional sports teams, a philharmonic, a growing waterfront, 27 theater companies, a burgeoning medical campus and plenty of attitude. Buffalo also has some of the best summer weather in the world and great summer recreation on our two Great Lakes – Erie and Ontario. Not to mention Niagara Falls, Toronto and ski slopes all within a short drive.
Interested candidates should email a resume, a letter outlining how you will manage your duties and writing samples that show the diversity of your work to Executive Sports Editor Josh Barnett at jbarnett@buffnews.com.
