Reporter - HS Sports Insider

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

In this newly created role, you will become the go-to voice for breaking news, rumors, and coaching and roster movement across New Jersey high school sports — working closely with our editors and team of reporters and freelancers to cover the biggest stories in the state. Think of this as a well-connected power broker of New Jersey high school sports: a must-follow presence whose posts are an automatic click, built around a dedicated social feed where breaking news is funneled complete with “SIGNED” and “BREAKING NEWS” treatment.

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 that reaches thousands of readers, with an instinct for finding the next big story before anyone else does — whether that's an 8th-grade football prospect closing in on a decision, a powerhouse coach mulling retirement, or the NJSIAA weighing a major rule change.

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

This role will require reliable transportation to meet with sources and cover events, and will include night and weekend hours.

What you'll be doing:

• Serve as the go-to voice for the biggest breaking news in New Jersey high school sports.
• Break news regularly on player, coach and school movement — transfers, hirings, firings and controversies.
• Build and maintain a dedicated social presence where all staff breaking news is funneled, packaged for maximum reach.
• Develop sources and contacts across every corner of the state that distinguish your coverage from the competition.
• Cover the NJSIAA, the state's governing body for high school sports, and its impact on rules and eligibility.
• 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 has 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 self-starter with experience working in a fast-paced newsroom.
• A dogged, hard-working reporter with a proven ability to break news.
• Deep familiarity with the New Jersey high school sports landscape.
• A degree in journalism or communications, or equivalent education and work experience.
• 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.