High School Sports Reporter, Chillicothe OH

The Chillicothe Gazette, part of the USA TODAY Network, is seeking a full‑time reporter to cover high school sports in and around Ross County, Ohio.

High school sports remain a staple of life in this community, giving this reporter a wide lens to tell stories in written and visual formats. Students with unique background stories, breaking news on the beat, coverage of the biggest rivalries and state playoff success, as well as going behind the scenes to tell readers how things work, are all critical to the success of this position.

The Gazette collaborates with a dozen other Ohio newsrooms as part of the network's Center for Community Journalism, giving your best work an opportunity to be seen beyond the Chillicothe area.

Chillicothe is located one hour south of Columbus and 100 miles from Cincinnati. It is home to Earthworks, one of the newest UNESCO World Heritage sites, is Ohio's first capital and has a revitalized and thriving downtown.

• Create storytelling that accurately informs, entertains and engages specific audiences and platforms through the use of metrics.
• Work toward becoming the community's leading voice of expertise in high school sports.
• Connect with the community through storytelling and outreach (social media, on camera, forums, community leadership, etc.). Provide thoughtful analysis of complex issues.
• Work with editor and content strategist to evaluate what's working and what's not and develop ongoing plans to satisfy audience needs.
• Collaborate to provide appropriate elements for stories (i.e. photos, videos and graphics). Capture basic photos and video as needed.
• Promote personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
• Provide great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.

• A valid driver's license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous reporting experience preferred; even better if you've covered sports.
• Proficiency on social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Reddit.
• Experience shooting and editing photos and video on a mobile device.
• AI and automation literacy and a willingness or experience in using it to enhance their journalism.
• Strong communication skills, news judgement and headline‑writing ability.
• Ability to multitask and excel under intense deadline pressure.
• Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently.
• Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills; familiarity with AP style.
• Ability to work some nights and weekends.
• Comfort building a beat and communicating with athletes and coaches.