The Center for Community Journalism, part of the USA TODAY Network, is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking candidate to join its operation as Deputy Sports Strategist, Colleges. The ideal candidate is an experienced sports journalist with experience in the major college space who is cable of formulating coverage strategy based around audience and SEO as well as editing copy, coaching writers to improve and manage sports journalists.

This position will oversee coverage of more than 15 major-conference programs covered by CCJ properties including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, LSU, Notre Dame and Penn State (among others) and also formulate strategies that will be used in coverage of a number of smaller-conference programs.

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:

  • Set implement and enforce strategies used by editors and on-the-ground sports journalists in coverage of college sports by CCJ properties.
  • Work to maximize audience around major college programs. Target coverage for each college program to cover sports and items of interest to each particular audience.
  • Work with the USA TODAY Sports Network and the Project Touchdown trending team to avoid duplication and make sure important gaps are filled. Coordinate with these entities and others to maximize use of our network’s resources.
  • 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 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.
  • 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 5 years of experience working in a news organization.
  • Ability to identify stories that sports fans in local markets are talking about and able to leverage those to differentiate in competitive marketplace.
  • Strong news judgment, great communication skills and 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:

  1. Your resume – one to two pages.
  2. 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.

Application link: https://jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/gannett/CANDIDATEPORTAL/jobs/73366

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR