Sports Reporter

The Seattle Times, a family-owned news organization and one of the nation’s premier regional news sources, is seeking a general-assignment Sports Reporter. This person will cover a variety of topics as needed, including NBA expansion and the Kraken, in one of the nation’s most competitive sports markets. This reporter will be a proven digital and print journalist who is a self-starter and equally adept at breaking news, analysis, storytelling and enterprise while building reader loyalty through thorough reporting and lively, authoritative writing. This position reports to an Assistant Sports Editor.

Schedule: This position requires a large amount of evening and weekend work, and the daily schedule varies. The position is remote, often at sports venues, and working in the office is an option. This reporter must live in the Seattle metro area.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare accurate, fair, balanced and carefully researched daily stories and longer-form enterprise stories to meet assigned deadlines. Seek a variety of sources for each piece.
• Write clear, focused and well-organized stories. Write with authority based on clear understanding of topic.
• Develop and maintain a strong network of sources, including in NBA and NHL.
• Be a versatile reporter who can react quickly to breaking news, work on daily stories as well as long-range enterprise stories, and find stories that are relevant and engaging to our audience.
• Work closely with an Assistant Sports Editor and others to chart direction and make decisions on story topics based on our goals and priorities.
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion in story choice, sourcing and framing.
• Use digital tools to monitor audience interest in stories and boost readership.
• Be willing to experiment, try new story topics and formats, and evaluate and learn from the outcomes of those experiments, always with an eye toward reaching audiences and driving subscriptions.

Qualifications:

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom, and we encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile doesn’t match this job description exactly, you may still be a candidate for this position. Please let us know how your skills and experience relate to the role and its objectives in your cover letter.

• Experience: 2 years of sports beat-writing experience at a daily newspaper or website preferred.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or a combination of education and experience. 
• Must have thorough knowledge of, and deep interest in, the NBA, the Kraken and the NHL.
• Broad knowledge of Seattle’s NBA history is an asset.
• Must have the ability to analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness, fairness, etc., on deadline.
• Must have the ability to write clearly, accurately and creatively. 
• Must be a proactive communicator who is organized and adept at planning.

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $60,000 to $101,500. We typically pay between $60,000 to $88,000, depending on experience and qualifications.   

Benefits: 

• Medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Optional life and AD&D insurance and long-term care insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 10 days of annual vacation accrual, increasing with tenure up to 20 days
• 10 days of annual sick accrual; unused sick pay accrues to an extended illness bank
• 9 paid holidays
• Internet stipend for predominately remote employees
• Subsidized transit cards
• Complimentary Seattle Times subscription
• Wellness program
• Parental leave options

Please Note: This position requires both a pre-employment drug screen (excluding cannabis) and a criminal background check once an offer has been made. As a union-represented position, you will also be required to join a union and pay regular membership dues. Finally, this role requires reliable access to a personal vehicle to respond to work assignments.

Founded in 1896, The Seattle Times continues its tradition as a family-owned, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper that cuts through the clutter and provides readers with timely, relevant news. We serve the Pacific Northwest with thoughtful, independent journalism that makes a real difference in our community. And as a media solutions company, we combine cutting-edge digital capabilities and service with the values and integrity of respected traditional media… with an established audience of 1.9 million. At The Seattle Times, you'll find work that matters.

If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, please contact Human Resources at careers@seattletimes.com and provide a description of the reasonable accommodation(s) needed.

Salary : $60,000 - $101,500