Auburn beat writer — Montgomery Advertiser

The Montgomery (Alabama) Advertiser, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is looking for an energetic, enterprising reporter who can cover Auburn University athletics.


We want a passionate, driven and creative person who has proven experience on a competitive beat. We don’t care about every canned press conference quote or minor injury. The person we hire must be able to break out from the pack and write the stories no one else is writing. You will live in Auburn with the primary focus being football and men’s basketball while realizing many stories exist off the beaten path.


This candidate must be flexible, mobile, open-minded and eager while embracing many ideas with a curiosity to learn more. We are looking for reporters who are
S.W.A.N.s – Smart, Works Hard, Ambitious and Nice. That is non-negotiable.


Typical job duties:


• Create storytelling that accurately informs, entertains and engages specific audiences through various platforms.


• Connect with the community through storytelling and outreach (social media, on camera, etc.)


• Provide thoughtful analysis of complex issues.


• Promote personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.


Skills you need:


• Bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications.


• Deep understanding of and curiosity about competition for our customers’ time and money.


• Self-motivation and self-direction.


• Advanced knowledge of social media and how to engage fan base on digital platforms.


• Shoots photos and videos with nearly every story and handles basic editing of both.


• Effective communicator who can work with diverse personalities.


• Able to multi-task and excel under intense deadline pressure in a rapidly changing
environment.


• Applies innovative, creative thinking to support the company’s goals.


• Standard writing, spelling, grammar, AP and local style knowledge of a professional
journalist.


• Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct.




Interested applicants should apply online AND send your resume, five
reporting examples and cover letter expressing why you’re the best candidate
for the job to: Brad Zimanek, Montgomery Advertiser Sports Editor/Consumer
Experience at bzimanek@gannett.com

Job opportunity at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK - News - Reporter II

 

FYI — the previous person in this job, Matthew Stevens, took a job with the Purdue Rivals.com site:

 

The infamous Matthew Stevens from the Mississippi State/Shreveport radip debacle?

If so, that's proof that you can rebound from anything.

 

Yes.

But it was Lafayette, not Shreveport.

 

https://deadspin.com/sportswriter-fired-for-calling-louisiana-city-worst-pl-1588188454

 

JFC, that was brutal. Total fuckin' redneck yahoos.

 

So he said all that about Lafayette just to wind up in West Lafayette? I mean I guess...

 

Hasn't this Auburn gig been open several times on here? Seems like either the Montgomery or the Auburn paper is always scrambling to fill this job.

 

It's not this one. Matthew replaced James Crepea, who went to AL.com (and is still there). James replaced Jay Tate, who held that beat for about 10-12 years before leaving for the Auburn Rivals.com site.