US Sports and Leisure Correspondent

About us

The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide.

At the FT, curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Here, you’re given the chance to reach millions, create work that matters and deliver impartial journalism in a polarised world.

In our warm, collaborative culture, you’ll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing.

Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and inspire you. With no fixed path, you’ll discover new skills and forge a career that can take you anywhere.

Build a newsworthy career at the FT.

The role

The Financial Times is looking for an energetic and versatile journalist based in New York to cover the business of sports and the consumer brands that are closely tied to it.

Sports are a rapidly growing asset class that commands the attention of billions of people and tens of billions of dollars. We are looking for a dynamic reporter who can break corporate and investment stories, write vivid profiles and produce smart analysis. You will be able to dig into dealmaking and the billionaires who fund this industry as well as the intersection of sports with technology, media, consumer and betting industries.

While there will be some coverage of live events, this is fundamentally a corporate and financial beat. In particular, we want a reporter who will focus on how US sports are attracting global investment interest as they seek to grow worldwide while also producing smart stories about equipment, clothing and luxury brands linked to the world of sports.

This correspondent will need to be a collaborative self-starter who will work closely with the sports team in London, the deals and corporate finance team in New York and the global media team. They will contribute to both the Scoreboard and Due Diligence newsletters and work with FT Live on events that touch on the business of sports. 

Key responsibilities

• Produce scoops about deals and investments
• Write lively stories about the billionaires, sovereign wealth funds and private equity firms that are shaking up the world of sports
• Cover the major US sportswear and equipment companies
• Work with other reporters to break news about and analyse the media and sponsorship deals that drive profitability
• Weekend shifts as part of the team rota

Who we are looking for

You will have a proven track record of building contacts, breaking stories and working well within a team. We are also seeking someone who can write with flair, produce timely and smart analysis and identify trends. 

External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

Please submit your application by the end of the day, Wednesday 28th October 2026.

Salary range

A reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $80,000-$120,000p.a. To ensure pay fairness, the successful candidate will be offered a salary within the estimated salary range based on a number of considerations including but not limited to: skill set; experience and training; certifications; and other business and organisational needs.

This position is open to a broad pool of candidates, both internal and external. Where an external candidate is hired or a successful internal candidate is appointed to the role on terms covered by the collective bargaining agreement, they will be represented by the News Media Guild (NMG). Candidates appointed on other (i.e. foreign) employment terms, including certain internal transfers on assignments from other bureaux, may not be represented by the NMG.

The use of AI

Original reporting, great writing and intelligent commentary lie at the heart of FT journalism. Our readers trust us to produce quality journalism that is accurate, fair and insightful. This is why FT editorial staff do not by default use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write articles or create other reader-facing content. For specific and pre-approved cases, AI can be harnessed for certain tasks, such as assisting data research for investigations.  

We expect applicants to the FT newsroom to refrain from using AI in their test submissions, and any written materials should be a genuine reflection of their own knowledge, skills and experiences. We encourage candidates only to employ AI as a tool to help with research and interview readiness for a role. 

Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process is monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all.

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion 

We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.

What’s in it for you? Our benefits

Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here.

FT Newsroom staff are expected to work onsite a minimum of three days per week, subject to role requirements and regular review. While flexible working requests will be considered, not all patterns are suitable for Editorial roles.

Accessibility

We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory.

Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments/personalisation as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be happy to help.

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