Freelance Digital Writer - Editor

VERSANT (Nasdaq: VSNT) is an industry-changing media and entertainment business and home to trusted brands that shape culture, inform audiences, and build lasting connections. It operates across four core markets: political news and opinion, business news and personal finance, golf, and sports and genre entertainment. These markets are served through a powerful portfolio of iconic and innovative brands, including CNBC, MS NOW, USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!,

SYFY, and Versant’s sports division USA Sports, along with complementary digital assets including Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, Golf Now and Golf Pass.

Role

Summary:

Versant Sports is hiring a Freelance Digital Writer/Editor who will be a part of our growing team of digital content creators and publishers on the Sports digital team. This role requires day to day content creation and distribution of all original sports written editorial and video content across Versant Sports platforms, with a priority on Golf Channel and other sports as assigned.

The ideal candidate is creative, adaptable, and efficient at writing, editing and optimizing digital‑first Sports content for distribution across site, app, social media and mobile optimized platforms. You will package Golf Channel’s written and video content in a manner that maximizes reach while prioritizing editorial accuracy. You’ll also be assigned other sports editorial articles in line with Versant’s Sports priorities.

This is a project based / limited term position with an estimated duration of up to12months, unless otherwise amended or terminated as deliverables within this project are completed.

Responsibilities:

• Write and edit SEO-optimized sports articles, headlines and captions that drive page views and discovery.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced sports environment and write and edit multiple articles quickly on deadline, often throughout live event coverage
• A strong familiarity with Golf and covering Golf related news is required, as well as ease in writing for multiple other sports genres including: basketball, volleyball, soccer and other Versant Sports priorities
• Create, edit and publish tournament- and news-related content as assigned
• Writer/editors should have strong handle on editorial judgement and use performance metrics to drive reach and engagement on the content they’re creating. A good sense of what will perform well for sports and golf audiences is required.
• Manage the presentation of content across Versant Sports sites including Golf Channel and USA Sports homepages and sports brand-specific pages
• Manage video publishing and livestream presentation on the Golf Channel main site and on the Sports App
• Assist in the ideation, creation and execution of sales / sponsored content
• Excellent grammar and fact checking are required
• Package Golf Channel written and video content on our digital platforms to maximize reach and prioritize editorial accuracy
• Plan around key properties and tentpole events to develop coverage strategies and ensure coordination between linear broadcasts and digital teams
• Contribute to team brainstorms by pitching content ideas that will help build on-site and off-site traffic and audience
• Support relationships with partner platforms
• Juggle multiple projects with parallel timelines

Basic Qualifications:

• BA or BS from a four-year accredited college or university or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in digital editorial, content creation and distribution at a sports or media company, publisher or content agency
• Strong writing, editing and content packaging skills with a clear sense of voice by audience and platform
• Experience working with CMS platforms, SEO basics and analytics dashboards
• Solid editorial judgment and engagement with multiple digital properties
• Firm understanding of digital storytelling, audience development and distribution best practices
• Clear communication skills and ability to work collaboratively
• Keen attention to detail and ability to prioritize across multiple concurrent leagues and events
• Familiarity with a digital ecosystem and ability to learn and master multiple technical platforms
• Strong copy…