Sports Editor/Assistant Managing Editor, Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune

The Columbia Daily Tribune/columbiatribune.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, seeks a versatile sports editor/assistant managing editor to lead the newsroom's daily athletics coverage, including the University of Missouri and Boone County high schools.

The sports editor will be responsible for supervising a full-time beat reporter and team of freelancers while directing high-quality sports content for columbiatribune.com and the seven-day-a-week Columbia Tribune newspaper.

He or she will coach reporters/photographers and organize assignments. This role will entail being a dual threat for sports coverage — editing copy and writing. The individual will also be called upon to help with news editing as needed.

The editor will use metrics and audience research to guide decisions about covering topics and issues that will drive audience growth, engagement, and digital subscriptions.

Excellent news judgment and strong editing skills are a must. A successful candidate will embrace the latest developments in video, digital technology and social media and will experiment with innovative approaches to build audience. He or she will effectively collaborate with other USA TODAY Network editors in Missouri; the regional Digital Optimization Team; and print-focused Design Studio.

Columbia, a growing city of 124,000, is Missouri's fourth-largest city. It is home to MU and a hub of college sports, arts and culture, and medical research.

Responsibilities:

• Plan and direct sports content for website and daily print edition.
• Assist with reporting on Mizzou and high school sports.
• Help with news coverage as member of editing team.
• Use metrics and analytics to determine how to best reach and grow audience.
• Increase digital audience and engagement and grow digital subscriptions.
• Be a teacher, not just an editor. After all, everyone needs a coach.
• Be courageous about experimentation.
• Be a team player who likes to collaborate with coworkers.
• Serve as an ambassador to the community on the Tribune’s behalf.
• Apply innovative, creative thinking to support the company’s goals.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master’s in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 4-5 years of experience in journalism writing, editing or management roles and demonstration of strong editing skills.
• Strong writing and editing skills are required; management experience preferred.
• Solid news judgment.
• Top-notch planning, organizational and time management skills.
• Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct.
• Experience with advanced storytelling techniques on multiple platforms.
• Understanding of metrics, social media, and SEO.
• Self-motivation and self-direction.
• Ability to multi-task and excel under intense deadline pressure in a rapidly changing environment.
• Employment is contingent on passing a pre-employment, post-offer background check

Apply here: Sports Editor/Assistant Managing Editor - Career Portal (dayforcehcm.com)


I'm the Tribune's Mizzou athletics beat reporter. Feel free to reach out to me at eblum@columbiatribune.com with any questions you may have!

 

You can say this about almost any other place, but the sports department here had around five full-time reporters. And they were genuinely overworked.

 

Is it still a Big Boy job?