The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is accepting applications for an editor to lead coverage of sports and the sporting life in a market with exceptional and high-profile competition at all levels. This is a linchpin role at The Republic. The right candidate will be as passionate about reader stats as they are about player and team performances.
The Director of Sports leads a department of reporters, editors and columnists, upholding high standards and assigning and editing coverage and analysis that is urgent, exclusive and in-depth. Cultural and economic influences are changing how we think about amateur and professional athletics; this is an ideal opportunity to connect fans to the action and the action to larger national narratives.
Greater Phoenix provides the ideal setting for notable sports journalism – a diverse, international metropolitan area that’s one of 13 in the nation with all four legacy pro sports leagues, plus high-impact events ranging from spring training to the world’s best-attended golf tournament to major national pro and college championships. We are Arizona’s No. 1 source for sports news and commentary.
Some of the greatest joy in our communities comes from high school sports, so we take it seriously. The right candidate for this position knows that high school sports coverage is a year-round endeavor, and it’s not about writing game stories. It’s about coaching our team to continue to grow and engage the audience. It’s generating stories about athletes reaching for D-I college scholarships, and those finding their path back from adversity.
That’s true of everything we do. The sports team provides insight and analysis on major trends and personalities impacting Arizona and the sports world. The team is a watchdog for our local sports community and is adept at longform and short-form investigative stories and narrative storytelling on every platform.
Responsibilities:
- Help the staff hone skills in a wide range of storytelling: from real time digital updates to narrative writing, employing alternative story forms and multimedia.
- Use metrics and analytics to determine how to best reach and grow the audience.
- Display creativity in everything from developing fresh content to writing SEO-friendly headlines to sharing content socially to having an eye for images and video.
- Be a teacher, not just an editor, because everyone needs a coach.
- Be courageous about experimentation.
- Be a team player who likes to collaborate with coworkers.
- Coordinate budgeting for digital and print workflows, meeting standards and deadlines.
- Oversee the team’s travel budget and other expenses.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, journalism or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- More than five years of media management experience.
- Proven proficiency in applying analytics to content strategy.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Experience in a deadline-driven environment.
- Exceptional planning and organizational skills.
- Social-media and SEO expertise.
- Strong grasp of journalism skills (reporting and editing) and advanced knowledge of writing, spelling, grammar, AP and local style.
Application link: https://us232.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePortal/en-US/gannett/Posting/View/70402
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 why you are interested in the role and how you would approach this role at USA TODAY.
3. Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.
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.
