High School Sports Reporter

Posted Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 5:00 AM

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The Topeka Capital Journal , part of the USA TODAY Network , is seeking a reporter to join our sports team who can crea te impactful stories about the sports scene in and around Shawnee County , Kansas.

Despite being surrounded by the state’s two flagship universities, o ur readers embrace coverage of local high school sports on and off the field , and we need a reporter who can hunt down those stories : B reaking news, well- told features , updates on teams and athletes . There are also opportunities for enterprise reporting and coverage of Washburn University men’s basketball, an NCAA Division II powerhouse.

Topeka, the state capital of Kansas, is the heart of Shawnee County, which has about 200,000 people and is located one hour west of Kansas City and between Kansas State University and the University of Kansas.

• 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.
• Proficiency on social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Reddit.
• AI and automation literacy and a willingness or experience in using it to enhance your journalism .
• Experience shooting and editing photos and video on a mobile device.
• 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.

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