Sportswriter, Associated Press -- Pittsburgh

https://careers.ap.org/viewjob.html?optlink-view=view-20243&ERFormID=newjoblist&ERFormCode=any

The Associated Press seeks a Newsperson - Sports writer for its Pittsburgh office.

This position reports to the East regional sports editor, based in Philadelphia.

The position leads the coverage of three professional teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, as well as the city’s Division I college programs, including the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. This position also covers other sporting events of national interest in a competitive news environment. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to approach the assignment as a beat and show a track record of source development that will enable the AP to compete aggressively in the marketplace.

In addition to crisp and insightful game coverage on deadline, the successful candidate must regularly generate enterprise that extends beyond player profiles and game previews. The successful candidate must participate in long-range planning and coordinate coverage with the East regional sports editor in Philadelphia and the sports desk in New York. Must also coordinate freelancers when necessary to provide coverage when staff is not available.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Candidate must have demonstrated superior news judgment, with experience reporting and writing news for global audiences on multiple platforms. Superior writing ability, beat reporting skills and source development experience required. Candidate must understand the growing importance of multimedia news and be able to coordinate with AP staffers from other formats. Candidate must be a creative problem-solver who can work as a member of a local and geographically dispersed team. Qualifications for the successful candidate include:

* Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

* Proven ability to recognize and develop newsworthy stories of global interest and work accurately under deadline pressure.

* Strong organizational skills with experience juggling multiple projects across formats and meeting deadlines.

* Well-developed communications skills to work constructively with staff, member editors and other AP departments.

* At least two years of full-time sports writing and reporting experience at a daily newspaper, broadcast station or AP or

similar bureau.

* Be able to travel and work a variety of hours to meet the needs of a 24/7 news organization.

* Experience with computer-assisted reporting, FOI and investigative techniques is a plus.

* A proficiency in multiple platforms, especially video, is a plus.

* Ability to demonstrate a high level of fluency in written and spoken English.

* Authorization to work in the United States is mandatory.