Sports Columnist/Enterprise Reporter

Job Description

                     SPORTS COLUMNIST/ENTERPRISE REPORTER

The Buffalo News is seeking an aggressive and digitally focused columnist/enterprise reporter to join our perennial award-winning sports department. We are looking for someone to be a leading voice and help drive coverage in one of the nation’s most passionate sports markets.
 
The successful candidate will frame the community conversation around the Bills, the Sabres and other local teams and athletes – analyzing and critiquing teams, players and front-office strategies.
 
The Bills are our No. 1 franchise topic, so most of the position involves Bills and NFL enterprise. NFL experience is preferred but not required. However, this position allows the freedom to write the best stories you can find and want to tell. We’re looking for a reporter who shuns the good stories to focus on the great ones.
 
The ideal candidate will be able to go behind the news and newsmakers of the day by identifying smart, informative and innovative stories and executing them. The writer needs to be smart, thoughtful and impactful with their opinion pieces, but also passionate about storytelling. They must demonstrate strong news judgment and initiative.
 
The writer needs to be skilled in building and working sources as well as developing and reporting context-filled new angles on trending topics. Being versatile enough to write a news analysis or a lengthy takeout or a column backed by reporting is a key component.
 
At The Buffalo News, you’ll join a long line of APSE award-winning writers and editors. This is the only organization to have had three writers serve as president of the Pro Football Writers Association, and the current executive sports editor is the APSE first vice president.
 
Among the key responsibilities and traits for the position:

• Identify stories with high audience potential and reach.
• Report stories using interviews, documents and data, social media and original research.
• Collaborate with beat writers and other colleagues in photo, social media, digital production and excel when working as a team.
• Have a sense of curiosity that informs your reporting in new and unique ways beyond the usual institutional voices.
• Manage your time well and be able juggle responsibilities.
• Be comfortable using social media and engaging with readers.
• Write clean, clear and accurate copy.

 
The Buffalo News has the largest staff of journalists in the region. We have a history of breaking big stories and investing in stories that matter. We strive to hire talented and dedicated people who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. People of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply.
 
Why Buffalo? The region is a lot more than chicken wings. The city has seen a resurgence that makes it exciting to live and work here. The region has professional sports teams, world-class architecture and museums, a growing waterfront, a burgeoning medical campus and plenty of attitude. Two Great Lakes, Niagara Falls, beautiful hikes and ski slopes all within a short drive. We’re known for snowfall, but our springs, summers and falls are just as amazing.
 
Lee Enterprises offers competitive wages in a dynamic work environment with career growth opportunities. We offer an extensive benefit program that can be personalized to your needs. Our benefit program includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, company provided life insurance and supplemental life insurance. In addition, we offer a 401K retirement plan with company match. We also offer generous paid time off to allow flexibility to balance personal life and work. This includes paid parental leave for new parents.
 
Interested candidates should include a resume, a letter outlining how you will manage your duties and writing samples that show the scope of your work.

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