The Sun-News, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is looking for an energetic, enterprising reporter to cover high school and college sports in the passionate sports community of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
This reporter will be tasked with covering the Division I athletic department at New Mexico State University and the best high school sports in the region. Breaking news is important, and enterprise stories are the heart of this beat. Interesting, well-read stories that take place off the field in and around southern New Mexico are essential to success. That means meeting sources inside and outside the NMSU athletic department, as well as talking with parents and getting the pulse of our high school community.
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The ideal candidate will have the ability to produce an entire package - story, photos, video, etc. - and tell the story on whichever platform fits it best. This journalist will use analytics, search engine optimization and other tools to understand our audience.
Las Cruces is the second-largest city in the state with a population of around 110,000. El Paso, Texas, is about an hour's drive south, Albuquerque is about three hours north and Tucson, Arizona, is four hours to the west. The city is a hub for countless hiking trails with incredible views, including two national forests and White Sands National Park.
Responsibilities:
- Create storytelling that accurately informs, entertains and engages specific audiences and platforms through the use of metrics.
- Work toward becoming the community's 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 master's degree in communications, journalism or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Previous reporting experience preferred; 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 driver's license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
- Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer pre-employment background check, motor vehicle record check & drug screen.
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:
- 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 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.
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