Orioles/general assignment sports reporter - Baltimore Sun

[JoshLand11]

The Baltimore Sun is seeking an innovative, digitally minded news hound to join its coverage team, primarily as a member of the Orioles beat. The right reporter knows how to unearth – and tell – the stories you can’t find anywhere else. The Sun is seeking someone who knows how to develop sourcing and use all tools available to connect with its audience; someone who can write the long-form story and the conversational quick hit; someone with strong knowledge of all sports, especially Major League Baseball, and can deliver insightful content; and someone who is comfortable with all forms of storytelling — from writing to shooting video to appearing on camera. He or she should be ahead of the news, be an active participant in online communities, be comfortable breaking out of traditional story forms and be able to engage with audiences directly online and on camera.

Responsibilities

- Create digitally engaging Orioles and MLB content daily, as well as other general assignments, including but not limited to: enterprise/feature reporting, hirings/firings/signings/roster moves, game coverage, off-field issues and thoughtful, well-sourced analysis

- Break news, and react quickly to breaking news, getting information out on social media and on baltimoresun.com

- Cultivate key figures as sources

- Use social media to build a dedicated audience and drive that audience to The Baltimore Sun

- Work as part of a team to coordinate coverage and ensure we have all compelling angles covered

- Outhustle, outthink and outreport the competition

- Take cellphone video and work with video team to produce compelling video/audio content

- Communicate regularly with an editor to ensure stories are scheduled at the optimal times


Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in journalism or related subject

- Advanced writing and storytelling chops

- 1-3 years covering a high-level sports beat (can be a combination of experience at collegiate and professional outlets)

- Resourcefulness to find valuable sources when availability of key subjects is limited

- Understanding of what makes a topic newsworthy and/or buzzworthy

- Ability to shoot video and photos


The Baltimore Sun is committed to building a diverse newsroom that reflects the people it covers and the audience it serves. Candidates are encouraged to highlight new perspectives they can bring to our team.


To apply

Email sports editor Josh Land ([email protected]) with a cover letter, resume (as a PDF), references and a list of five clips that demonstrate a combination of breaking news, enterprise, feature writing and audience engagement, as well as any other links that demonstrate how you’d fit in this role. No phone calls, please.

 

[HanSenSE]

Less than a month until pitchers and catchers. I'd think they'd want someone quickly.

And, obligatory "who's joining The Athletic" post.

 

[cake in the rain]

Eduardo Encina left for the Tampa Bay Times several months ago. I assume they are just now getting authorization to fill the spot. Jon Meoli is the other beat writer for the Sun.

Encina did a great job and Meoli is doing a great job.

 

[Cosmo]

I don't get this: They want "advanced writing and storytelling chops" and "1-3 years covering a high-level sports beat (can be a combination of experience at collegiate and professional outlets)." How can you be advanced after one or two years on a prep beat?

High-level. Not high-school level.

 

[Fran Curci]

High-level. Not high-school level.

Good catch, Cosmo. My bad.

 

[TGO157]

Eduardo Encina left for the Tampa Bay Times several months ago. I assume they are just now getting authorization to fill the spot. Jon Meoli is the other beat writer for the Sun.

Encina did a great job and Meoli is doing a great job.

Considering the state of the Orioles franchise and the time of the year -- bad team won't be involved in major FA signings, and it's the offseason -- I'm not surprised corporate held off on this to save a few pennies.

 

[HanSenSE]

Appears this one has been filled.