Content Creator, Sports
USA TODAY is seeking a dynamic Content Creator to amplify our Sports journalism across our website, app, social platforms and newsletters, expanding its reach and deepening audience engagement.
The ideal candidate is a dynamic, personality-driven creator with deep experience in sports content creation and a strong understanding of how sports fans discover and engage with content. You are comfortable on camera and know how to build a personal connection with audiences through compelling, platform-native storytelling, particularly video, social media and newsletters.
This is not a traditional producer, social media or newsletter management role. Your primary focus will be creating distinctive content and designing a cohesive off-platform audience experience. You will work strategically across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit and emerging platforms to reach younger and traditionally underserved audiences, deepen engagement and turn successful ideas into repeatable growth strategies.
This role may require working extended hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays, sometimes unexpectedly, when news requires it.
This role is remote and can be based anywhere in the US, except for Alaska, Hawaii and Wyoming. If you live near one of our local newsrooms, you may have the option to use that as a base of operations.
Responsibilities:
- Curate and program the USA TODAY Sports homepage and craft app alerts to showcase timely, relevant, and high-performing content.
- Create engaging social content that reflects USA TODAY's voice and resonates with USA TODAY Sports audiences, including video.
- Curate and/or write our USA TODAY Sports newsletters, deepening 1:1 connection with our audience.
- Partner with reporters, editors, and audience development teams to amplify coverage and identify promotional opportunities, including live events, comments and AMAs.
- Execute on our user-generated content strategy, packaging this content for use on site and off-platform, in addition to managing influencer outreach and partnerships as needed.
- Assist with optimization of on-site content for discoverability.
- Experiment with emerging platforms and tools to further accelerate our audience growth.
- Help with live coverage for breaking news and tentpole events.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3+ years of experience, preferably in a digitally-focused news organization. Journalism experience or education is mandatory, as is sports specific experience.
- Experience creating content optimized for social media, newsletters or search and experience with SEO, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok at a minimum.
- Commitment to detail, accuracy and fairness and an understanding of journalistic ethics and best practices.
- Ability to multitask and excel under deadline pressure, using time efficiently.
- Comfort using analytics tools such as Parse.ly, Google Analytics, Google Trends, and social and newsletter engagement insights to make data-informed decisions is also a plus.
Technical Specifications:
- Comfort using analytics tools such as Parse.ly, Google Analytics, Google Trends, and social and newsletter engagement insights to make data-informed decisions is also a plus.
- Expertise creating content on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram is required at a minimum.
- Experience with video editing tools in-app, and third-party tools like Canva, Premiere and more.
- Experience with third-party distribution tools like Hootsuite, True Anthem and Echobox is preferred.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to collaborate across teams.
- Familiarity with news products and journalism and understanding of media analytics and ethics.
Application Instructions
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, please submit:
- Your resume - one to two pages.
- A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
- At least three examples of work that you're proud of in the area of content creation (These could be social media posts or videos, newsletters, or stories you've written with search in mind). At least one video is required.
Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
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The hourly rate for this role will range between $25.48 and $39.42. Base compensation is reflective of many factors, including, but not limited to, the market in which one lives/works, individual education level, skills, certifications and experience. Note: variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable.