Reporter I/Sports - Athens

The Athens Banner-Herald,part of the USA TODAY NETWORK,is looking for an energetic, enterprising reporter to cover high school sports in the sports-oriented community of Athens, Ga.

The Banner-Herald covers 17 high schools which routinely compete for state championships in football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, soccer, softball and other sports. There are also dozens of high-level college recruits spanning multiple sports annually, but notably a high number of top-notch, nationally relevant prospects in football and baseball.

With those things in mind, we dont seek run-of-the mill coverage. Our readers want something more meaningful, and we need a reporter who can hunt down those stories.

Friday nights in the fall are a huge part of the community, and breaking news is important -- but enterprise stories are the heart of this beat. Interesting stories that take place off the field in and around Athens are essential to success. That means meeting sources, talking with parents and getting the pulse of our community.

Recruiting, student-athlete life, coach pay and team travel, among many, are opportunities for this reporter to put into perspective for readers.

Athens, Georgia, is a college town with a vibrant culture. Known for its music and of course football, Athens has a wide range of activities, festivals, dining, breweries and more for its residents. Athens is located in North Georgia, about 1.5 hours northeast of Atlanta.

Responsibilities:

• Create storytelling that accurately informs, entertains and engages specific audiences and platforms through the use of metrics.
• Work toward becoming the communitys leading voice of expertise in high school sports.
• Connect with the community through storytelling and outreach (social media, on camera, forums, community leadership, etc.). Provide thoughtful analysis of complex issues.
• Work with editor and content strategist to evaluate what's working and what's not and develop ongoing plans to satisfy audience needs.

• Collaborate to provide appropriate elements for stories (i.e. photos, videos and graphics). Capture basic photos and video as needed.
• Promote personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
• Provide great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or masters degree in communications, journalism or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Previous reporting experiencepreferred; even better if you've covered sports.
• Proficiency on social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Reddit.
• Experience shooting and editing photos and video on a mobile device.
• Strong communication skills, news judgement and headline-writing ability.
• Ability to multitask and excel under intense deadline pressure.

• Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently.
• Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills; familiarity with AP style.
• Ability to work some nights and weekends.
• Comfort building a beat and communicating with athletes and coaches.

This role requires a valid drivers license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, dont limit your upload to a resume; show us what youve 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.

• Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what youve 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.

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