The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is seeking an enterprising, news-breaking beat reporter to cover one of the premier sports teams in not only North Texas, but the U.S. — the Dallas Cowboys.
The iconic brand has a deep history and goes far beyond owner Jerry Jones, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons.
The Cowboys command as much attention as any professional sports team in our country with fan allegiance rivaled only by the New York Yankees.
Love them or hate them, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys make news. Daily.
The job requires tenacious daily reporting with a keen eye for storytelling. We are not looking for a reporter to focus on the daily grind of small transactions and reporting on injuries to second-string players. In the highly competitive news space around the Cowboys, we want someone who sees the stories others don’t and who understands some of the biggest stories sometimes have nothing to do with what happens on the field. Candidates for this position should also be able to help our readers understand the news, informing them context, analysis and commentary when appropriate.
Ultimately, we care about what our readers care about: Unique stories, particularly those on the team’s stars and also those that take our readers behind the scenes. You will need to be first with scoops and establish relationships that lead to deeper reads that capture the bigger picture, key trends, and insights into the personalities of the team.
The reporter’s goal: Increasing the Star-Telegram’s digital audience through stories that have impact and can’t be found elsewhere.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Be out front in finding and breaking Dallas Cowboys news on a competitive beat.
- Report breaking news as it happens – be fast and first, without sacrificing accuracy and clarity.
- Build a wide range of NFL and Dallas Cowboys sources — from players and coaches locally to agents, league officials and experts — to keep the Star-Telegram competitive against local and national outlets on breaking news and enterprise.
- Write analytically for the sports fans who have watched the game but are looking for a deeper understanding of what they saw.
- Proactively look for opportunities to tap into trending NFL topics as they relate to the Cowboys.
- Work collaboratively as part of a team with other reporters and editors.
- Bring your own story ideas to the table, and be ready to take assignments as well.
- Be a leader in social media – both as a news-gathering tool, and as a way to push the news out quickly and build our audience and engagement, as well as your own brand.
- Understand your audience metrics – which of your stories are resonating with readers, and which are not? Working with your editor, regularly mine this data for takeaways about how we can build and engage our audience.
- Regularly enhance your stories with our weekly podcast, video, embedded tweets and links to related Star-Telegram stories.
- Find enterprise stories that make for a deeper read and use storytelling techniques to engage readers.
- Help with some non-Cowboys coverage, as needed during the non-game season.
Skills:
- Deep knowledge of football and the NFL.
- Strong reporting skills, including asking smart, persistent questions.
- Speed with breaking news. Push out the news quickly and accurately.
- Ability to develop strong sources on a competitive beat.
- Flexibility to juggle multiple stories and priorities.
- Ability to shift priorities in a flash, as the news dictates.
- Ability to work independently, drawing on solid news judgment, while maintaining timely communication with editors.
- Demonstrated mastery of social media – as a reporting tool and as a way to push out news, build and engage our audience and enhance your own brand.
- Exceptional track record with accuracy – built on strong work habits geared toward double-checking facts, names and figures.
- Ability to produce clean, clear, concise copy every time.
- Strong skills as a collaborator, able to work constructively with editors and reporting colleagues in a deadline-driven environment.
Required:
2+ years covering a professional team and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism or related field are preferred.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits.
Interested? Reach out to Star-Telegram sports editor, Dave Ammenheuser, at dammenheuser@star-telegram.com who will give you instructions on how to apply for the position.
