Sports Investigative Reporter

Job Description

The sports investigative reporter reports on the culture of high school sports in Lancaster County and the region – the increasing professionalization and money involved in youth sports, the politics and pressure on coaching staff and students to perform, the risk of injury and long-term health of those who participate in contact sports.  

Job Requirements

Essential job functions 

• Producing and curating quality local journalism that is responsive to community interests and needs. 

• Pitching ideas for topical coverage on a regular basis. 

• Breaking news on the beat. 

• Works closely with the Director of Journalism and team members using expertise and good judgment in selecting the most appropriate content for print and digital products. 

• Use metrics/analytics to inform decisions on content assignments and placement across platforms. 

• Attend regular brainstorming meeting about newsroom projects. 

• Foster a newsroom work environment that champions excellent journalism, creativity, collaboration, teamwork and a sense of fulfillment. 

• Create and/or contribute to content as needed. 

In addition to the essential functions listed above, the employee is expected to exercise honesty, integrity and respect with all clients and co-workers, maintain a professional appearance and demeanor, demonstrate a positive attitude, communicate effectively with co-workers and clients, work with accuracy, efficiency, and attention to detail, respect the work environment and keep it as neat and clean as possible, and exercise initiative to learn new skills and tasks and to help co-workers when possible.   

Qualifications:   

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, related field or equivalent experience.  

• Excellent writing, editing and interpersonal communication skills. Knowledge of newsroom-specific editing, photography and wire handling is preferred. 

• Experience using wire services and publishing systems for all platforms. 

• Fluency in Web and social media technology as well as advanced knowledge of digital metrics and SEO. 

• Ability to work and collaborate in a mixed-media team environment, to multitask in a deadline-driven newsroom and to adapt constructively and creatively to change. 

• A firm grasp of current events particularly as they relate to LNP's Lancaster County area audience. 

• A keen interest in and knowledge of LNP competitors and partners. 

• Thorough familiarity with journalism and libel law. 

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