Louisville football beat reporter - Louisville Courier-Journal

Job opportunity at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK - Sports Reporter: University of Louisville football

The Courier-Journal is seeking an enterprising and digitally savvy reporter to cover University of Louisville football, taking over one of our most high-profile beats just in time for the 2017 season.

We’re looking for someone with an ability to produce compelling journalism and engaging, original digital content to be part of our two-person team covering U of L’s athletics department.

The job includes coverage of men’s and women’s basketball and baseball as well, though the primary focus will be on a growing Atlantic Coast Conference football program that returns last season’s Heisman Trophy winner and is in the midst of an extensive stadium expansion.

The successful candidate will have:

• A detailed plan for how to shape coverage in order to expand our digital audience on a high-pressure, crowded beat with limited access to interviews and practices.

• An investigative mindset and an unceasing sense of urgency to engage, inform, surprise and delight readers with an innovative approach.

• The ability to prioritize beat duties and be proactive rather than reactive, distinguishing our coverage with originality in storytelling.

• Strong planning skills, mapping out coverage well in advance with a willingness to tell stories through use of various formats, platforms and social avenues depending on the situation.
  
  
• An in-depth, self-driven understanding and interest in metrics, SEO, social platforms with a demonstrated ability to build an individual following on social media.
  
  
• Comfort in front of a camera or a microphone for regular videos and podcasts.
  
  
• A proven track record of building sources and breaking news.
  
  
• Excellent writing and reporting skills.
  
  
• Several years of experience on a major-college or professional football beat, though that’s not a requirement if the other boxes are checked.

The Courier-Journal is a 10-time Pulitzer Prize-winning news organization in a metro area known for its internationally recognized chefs and restaurants; vibrant music scene, including the Forecastle music festival; world-class bourbon distilleries; and Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. The quality of life is sky-high and the cost of living is impressively low.

 

A beat so nice-nice, they had to post it twice-twice.

 

Interesting that writing and reporting aptitude are in the next-to-last item on the list.