Service Journalism and Trending Reporter

The National Connect team, part of the USA TODAY Network, is looking for a reporter to join our service journalism and trending team. This experienced reporter with an editor's sensibility will provide timely and audience-focused coverage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across America, capturing the unique perspectives and rich history of the HBCU culture as it relates to trending and breaking news. The reporter should be well-sourced and able to build relationships with major players and personalities key to HBCU community and culture. Key to this beat will be the ability to write about the HBCU experiences on a number of topics like education/academics, funding, politics, social justice, community service, the prowess of these schools' music programs and electrifying marching bands, Black Greek organization news, social and community events and festivals, major events including homecomings and Classics, the impact of sports programs and more.

HBCUs were born out of a time when Black students were barred from attending traditional colleges and universities due to segregation. Today, HBCUs educate a racially diverse student body and offer a rich cultural history to their students. Our goal is to connect and engage with this community in new ways. We are looking for a reporter who is quick and flexible - full of topic-focused story ideas, who can urgently pursue them and write them at volume in varied formats developing, covering and owning topics that cross and interest the network of HBCUs, students, faculty and alumni and set apart those impactful to specific universities or colleges.

This reporter should be a deeply curious self-starter, highly competitive and possess the desire to inform digital audiences. The reporter should be comfortable working with local and national editors and reporters, and able to seamlessly move between topics with an eye on how they affect Historically Black Colleges and Universities or specific schools or campuses, including pop culture trends. We start with the headline, so great digital headline-writing skills are a must, and the reporter will be responsible for coverage plans.

The reporter will work closely with USA TODAY Network editors and reporters in states and regions near HBCUs to cover high-interest stories, help swarm breaking news and plan for major events.

This reporter should be comfortable interacting with and listening to social media and other digital communities, and being comfortable on camera is a plus. They will use data and analytics, and Google Trends and other SEO tools to inform their story choices and presentation on and off our platforms. This reporter must love telling stories quickly when needed, in-depth when called for, and always with accuracy. A relentless passion for HBCU life, culture and the present and future of these communities is a plus, as is having attended an HBCU, though not required.

The typical shift will start early, but must be flexible for what the topic needs, meaning nights and/or weekends may also be required. The position is fully remote, but this reporter must live in an HBCU community.

Responsibilities:

• The ability to create highly effective coverage plans with minimal supervision.
• Monitor emails, social media, community groups and other sources to find stories.
• Monitor breaking news across the country for impact and relevance to HBCUs.
• Efficiently and accurately write stories, several per day.
• Find, pitch and swiftly produce stories on topics of emerging interest, with a focus on what readers want and need to know.
• Ensure content is properly optimized for competitive search ranking and best practices for user experience
• Travel to campuses or other locations as needed for high-impact coverage and events.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in journalism or related field. (Attendance at an HBCU is a plus.)
• Minimum 3 to 5 years' experience in journalism with editing and planning experience a plus.
• Expert at using social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, X, Instagram, Tik Tok, Reddit and Bluesky.
• Command of concise writing, spelling, grammar, and AP style.
• Good fact-checking and reporting skills.
• Well-organized, detail-oriented and flexible.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively inside and outside the organization.

How To Apply:

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:

1. Your resume - one to two pages.

2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.

3. 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.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

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The hourly rate for this role will range between $25.48and $39.81. Variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, location, and union representation, if applicable.

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