Sports Reporter - HS/College -… at Lee Enterprises · Richmond

High school and college sports reporter — Richmond, Virginia

The Richmond Times-Dispatch, part of Lee Enterprises, seeks an ambitious, enterprising reporter to cover high school and some college sports for our digital and print audiences in Richmond and across Virginia. High school sports will be the foundation of this beat. College sports coverage will be a secondary responsibility. Nearby colleges include the University of Richmond, William & Mary, and HBCUs Virginia Union and Virginia State.

Opportunities for select professional baseball coverage will occasionally present themselves. Richmond is home to the Flying Squirrels, the AA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

We’re looking for a journalist who can break news, deliver insightful analysis and tell memorable stories about the athletes, coaches and communities that make sports matter.

Our prep coverage is wide-ranging because our readers just can't get enough of what we write. You might write stories about a nationally recruited athlete, the high school “transfer portal,” a feel-good underdog story or a leadership accountability story, and everything in between.

The beat spans the city of Richmond and surrounding communities, including Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield counties, with travel across Virginia for championships and other important events.

This reporter will also work closely with our deputy sports editor to plan and produce compelling coverage of high school and college sports. Collaboration will be essential to identifying strong stories, coordinating coverage, and following local athletes as they move from high school to college competition. The ideal candidate goes beyond scores and play-by-play to explain why games were won or lost, what a program’s decisions mean and what fans should watch next. Just as important, this reporter will uncover the human-interest and accountability stories behind the competition: the ambitions, challenges and experiences of student-athletes, coaches and families.

We want a resourceful journalist who builds trusted sources, breaks news and becomes an essential source of sports coverage in Richmond. You should think digital first, use audience insights to guide coverage and be comfortable producing video and other content that connects with readers across platforms. Based in Virginia’s capital city, this position offers the opportunity to cover a vibrant sports community in a regional hub for business, art, dining and entertainment.

What You’ll Bring

The drive to make The Times-Dispatch an essential source for high school sports coverage. Strong news judgment and the ability to find compelling stories that serve existing readers and attract new audiences. A competitive approach to breaking news, paired with a commitment to accuracy, fairness and context. Curiosity about the people behind the results and an ability to turn strong reporting into engaging storytelling. Initiative in developing sources and maintaining relationships with athletes, coaches, families and athletic programs. A collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for contributing to statewide sports coverage.

Responsibilities

Report and produce accurate, engaging high school and college sports coverage, including breaking news, enterprise stories, features, recruiting updates and analysis. Collaborate with our reporters and editors to set coverage priorities, coordinate assignments and develop stories. Build a reliable source network to identify emerging stories and break news. Cover key games, tournaments and championships, with travel as needed. Use search trends, social platforms and other reporting tools to discover story ideas and understand audience interests. Shoot and edit video, and obtain appropriate permissions for contributed visual content. Tell stories in formats suited to the audience and platform, including articles, Q&As, lists, collections and video. Use real-time audience metrics to inform coverage decisions and respond to reader interest. Engage with audiences on social media and promote coverage effectively.

Requirements

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in journalism, communications or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Professional journalism experience or significant internship experience. Strong reporting, writing, communication and time-management skills. Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and produce clean, accurate, publication-ready work. Ability to shoot and clip video and publish quickly across digital platforms. Proficiency with social media for reporting, source development, audience engagement and story promotion. A sound understanding of journalism ethics, sourcing and verification. A valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law. Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer, pre-employment background check, motor vehicle record check and urinalysis drug screen.

How to Apply Show us what you can do and how you would approach this beat. Submit one PDF containing the following materials, in this order:

Your resume: One to two pages. A cover letter: Explain how you would approach high school and college sports coverage for The Times-Dispatch. Links to six online work samples: Choose examples that best demonstrate your reporting, writing and multimedia skills. For collaborative work, briefly describe your contribution.