Sports Reporter, Monroe, LA
Req #44884
Monroe, LA, USA
Job Description
Posted Monday, August 25, 2025, 11:00 PM

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Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a scalable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. We endeavor to deliver essential content, marketing solutions, and experiences for curated audiences, advertisers, consumers, and stakeholders by leveraging our diverse teams and suite of products to enrich the local communities and businesses we serve. Our current portfolio of trusted media brands includes the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, uses innovation and software to enable small and medium-sized businesses to grow, and USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, our events division, creates impactful consumer engagements, promotions, and races. Gannett open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at Gannett, you should be completing an application on Gannett Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com
The News Star in Monroe, Louisiana, part of the USA TODAY Network, is looking for a self-starter to report on sports at nearly two dozen northeast Louisiana high schools, as well as NCAA athletics at the area’s Division I universities.
We want someone who is ambitious. We want someone who will own the beat with voice and authority - both in stories and on social media platforms through experimentation with different media and formats.
This reporter will be comfortable using metrics to understand the enterprise and watchdog stories our readers want and will have the reporting and writing chops to deliver. They will enjoy building relationships with players, coaches, parents and fans, and will tap into those sources to break news and find compelling human-interest stories.
The Monroe area consistently has teams competing for state high school championships in a variety of sports, and a trio of Division I programs are in the area: hometown Louisiana-Monroe, HBCU stalwart Grambling State, and Louisiana Tech.
The home of the Duck Dynasty TV franchise, Monroe is the seat of Ouachita Parish, with more than 150,000 people. It’slocated90 minutes east of Shreveport, 2 hours west of Jackson, Mississippi, and about 4 ½ hours from New Orleans or Memphis, with a host of outdoors opportunities and local eateries.

REQUIREMENTS:

• 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 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.
• 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.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 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 college 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.

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

• Your resume – one to two pages.
• A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
• Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role