High School Sports Reporter - NJ Big 6

Job Description

Strengthening and empowering all of the communities we serve.

NJ.com is seeking a dynamic and versatile reporter to join our award-winning high school sports staff as a High School Sports reporter covering the NJ Big 6 beat.

In this first-of-its-kind role, you will become the go-to voice for news, features and in-depth reporting on the six major private schools in Bergen County — Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco Prep, St. Joseph (Mont.), St. Peter’s Prep, DePaul and Paramus Catholic. You’ll be the go-to reporter for the top recruits out of those schools, news on coaching moves and player movement. You’ll cover those schools, and their top teams, on a daily basis. When there’s news out of one of these schools, this reporter will be on top of it.

We're looking for someone with experience working in a fast-paced newsroom who is self-motivated but also open to collaboration. The ideal candidate will be well-versed in leveraging contacts and sources to break news but can also spot trends and news and react quickly and effectively.

The base salary range for this role is $65,000-$75,000 annually.

This role will require reliable transportation meet with sources and cover games and events across the state, and will include night and weekend hours.

What you'll be doing:

• Serve as the go-to voice for the biggest news involving some of New Jersey’s most prolific schools

• Break news regularly on player, coach and school movement — transfers, hirings, firings and controversies.

• Build and maintain a dedicated social presence

• Develop sources and contacts at those schools to help break news regularly

• Produce both quick-hit news items and longer, detailed feature and enterprise stories.

• Work collaboratively with our award-winning high school sports staff.

• Engage with our audiences, as needed, on social media platforms.

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience

• A persistent self-starter with experience working in a fast-paced newsroom.

• Strong reporting and writing skills and a proven ability to break news.

• Deep familiarity with the New Jersey high school sports landscape.

• An ability to leverage relationships with sources to deliver high-quality, high-impact journalism.

• An ability to work remotely and independently under tight deadlines.

• A team player with a proven track record in uncovering news.

Additional Information

Advance Local Media offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package with affordable options for your healthcare including medical, dental and vision plans, mental health support options, flexible spending accounts, fertility assistance, a competitive 401(k) plan to help plan for your future, generous paid time off, paid parental and caregiver leave and an employee assistance program to support your work/life balance, optional legal assistance, life insurance options, as well as flexible holidays to honor cultural diversity.

NJ Advance Media is a part of Advance Local Media, one of the largest media groups in the United States, which operates the leading news and information companies in more than 20 cities, reaching 52+ million people monthly with our quality, real-time journalism and community engagement. Our company is built upon the values of Integrity, Customer-first, Inclusiveness, Collaboration and Forward-looking. For more information about Advance Local, please visit www.advancelocal.com .

NJ Advance Media is a company positioned for the future. We embrace the rapidly evolving digital landscape and are committed to developing new solutions across current and emerging media to help advertisers grow their businesses. In addition to flexible advertising opportunities with powerful media vehicles that we represent, we offer custom digital solutions from web and mobile site development, to a sophisticated array of search and social media optimization and targeted display solutions to reach audiences on all platforms.

Our focus is on developing a real-time approach to reporting news, sports and entertainment content for consumption across all platforms and devices throughout New Jersey and Easton, PA. On nj.com and lehighvalleylive.com, we ensure the communities we serve have 24/7 access to the news and information that's most relevant locally, regionally and beyond. Our quality journalism and in-depth coverage is provided locally in The Star-Ledger, The Times of Trenton, South Jersey Times and The Express-Times.

Advance Local Media is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Advance Local Media does not provide sponsorship for work visas or employment authorization in the United States. Only candidates who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. will be considered for this position.