Sports Reporter, Poughkeepsie NY Job at Statesman Journal / Gannett in City of P

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a scalable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company.

The Poughkeepsie Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, is seeking a reporter to join our team and tell the best sports stories of the area’s high schools and Division I university.

The Journal is the leader for sports coverage in New York’s mid-Hudson Valley (Dutchess County and neighboring Ulster County) and collaborates with our reporters in Middletown and Westchester to provide comprehensive reporting on Sections 1 and 9 of New York state high school athletics. This reporter also will report on Marist University and its NCAA Division I athletic department.

Big games are important, but so is concentrated coverage outside the lines. We need a reporter who can hunt down those stories. That includes breaking news, well-sourced enterprise, and interesting features on the key teams and athletes during each sports season.

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

• A valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law
• Bachelor's or master’s degree in communications, journalism or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1-3 years' reporting/newsroom experience is preferred, but we will consider entry-level candidates.
• 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 face to face with athletes and coaches.

Gannett Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where Gannett employs employees.