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.
- 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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or equivalent experience
- Minimum of 3 years of relevant reporting experience
- Proven ability to break news and develop sources
- Deep familiarity with New Jersey high school sports landscape
- Ability to work remotely and independently under tight deadlines
- Reliable transportation to meet sources and cover events
- Willingness to work nights and weekends
- Experience building and maintaining a dedicated social media presence for breaking news
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Advance Local, one of the largest media groups in the United States, operates the leading news and information companies in more than 20 cities, reaching more than 50 million people monthly with its quality journalism and community engagement.
