Sports Reporter

The Seattle Times, a family-owned news organization and one of the nation’s premier regional news sources, is seeking a trending/breaking news Sports Reporter. This person will cover a variety of topics as needed, including trending news and breaking news on all beats, in one of the nation’s most competitive sports markets. This reporter will be a proven digital and print journalist who is a self-starter and equally adept at quick-turn trending stories, breaking news, storytelling and enterprise while building reader loyalty through thorough reporting and lively, authoritative writing. This position reports to an Assistant Sports Editor.

Schedule: This position will require some evening and weekend work, and the daily schedule varies. The position is hybrid – some work at sports venues and some work in the office. This reporter must live in the Seattle metro area.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborating with editors and beat writers, identify trends surrounding Seattle-area sports and prepare accurate, fair, balanced and carefully researched daily stories to meet assigned deadlines.
• Write clear, focused and well-organized stories. Write with authority based on a clear understanding of topics.
• Be eager to experiment, try new story topics and formats, and evaluate and learn from the outcomes of those experiments, always with an eye toward reaching audiences and driving subscriptions.
• Use digital tools to identify trending topics, monitor audience interest in stories and boost readership.
• Be a self-starting, versatile reporter who can react quickly to breaking news, work on daily stories as well as long-range enterprise stories.
• Find stories that are relevant and engaging to our audience.
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion in story choice, sourcing and framing.
• Develop and maintain a strong network of sources.

Qualifications:

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom, and we encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile doesn’t match this job description exactly, you may still be a candidate for this position. Please let us know how your skills and experience relate to the role and its objectives in your cover letter.

• Experience: 2+ years of sports writing experience at a daily newspaper or website preferred.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or a combination of education and experience. 
• Must have a track record of producing digital journalism that reaches audiences and drives subscriptions.
• Must have thorough sports knowledge, and broad knowledge of Seattle sports is a plus.
• Must have the ability to analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness, fairness, etc., on deadline.
• Must have the ability to write clearly, accurately and creatively. 
• Must be a proactive communicator who is organized and adept at planning.
• Must understand and use audience analytics to help inform and determine coverage.

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $62,425 to $102,600. We typically pay between $62,425 to $90,000, depending on experience and qualifications.     

Benefits: 

• Medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Optional life and AD&D insurance and long-term care insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 10 days of annual vacation accrual, increasing with tenure up to 20 days
• 10 days of annual sick accrual; unused sick pay accrues to an extended illness bank
• 9 paid holidays
• Monthly internet stipend for predominately remote employees
• Subsidized transit cards and parking costs
• Complimentary Seattle Times subscription
• Wellness program
• Fertility coverage (with lifetime limits) for eligible employees
• Parental leave options

Please Note: Please note that this position requires the successful completion of pre-employment assessments including a criminal background check, a drug screen (excluding cannabis), and a motor vehicle report once an offer has been made. This position requires that you have access to a reliable personal vehicle to respond to work assignments. In addition, you must be able to provide proof of a valid driver’s license and auto insurance meeting the company's liability limits prior to hire. Finally, please note that this is a union-represented position.

Founded in 1896, The Seattle Times continues its tradition as a family-owned, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper that cuts through the clutter and provides readers with timely, relevant news. We serve the Pacific Northwest with thoughtful, independent journalism that makes a real difference in our community. And as a media solutions company, we combine cutting-edge digital capabilities and service with the values and integrity of respected traditional media… with an established audience of 1.9 million. At The Seattle Times, you'll find work that matters.

If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, please contact Human Resources at careers@seattletimes.com and provide a description of the reasonable accommodation(s) needed.