The Seattle Times is hiring: Sports Reporter (Temporary) in Renton

The Seattle Times, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper and one of the few remaining independent news organizations in the country, is looking to hire a Temporary Sports Reporter to contribute to year-round print-and-digital sports coverage at The Seattle Times. Cover games, practices and news, and produce analysis and enterprise stories related to sports topics as assigned.

Dates | This position will begin April 4, 2025 and will likely span through Aug. 4, 2025. The exact start and ends dates are to be determined.

Essential Functions:

• Prepare accurate, fair, balanced and carefully researched stories and multimedia posts to meet assigned deadlines. Seek a variety of sources in covering a story.
• Seek out and act quickly on story opportunities on all platforms. Aggressively follow through on stories, including interacting with readers after publication through chats, comments or other engagement tools.
• Write clear, well-focused and well-organized stories. Handle a variety of stories and writing approaches. Write clear, appropriate leads. Write with authority based on clear understanding of topic or beat. Self-edit for crisp, clean copy on multiple platforms. Use good interview techniques and effective quotes.
• Develop sources of continuing stories. Maintain a steady flow of ideas and stories. Produce enterprise stories and stay ahead of stories by anticipating or uncovering developments. Consistently suggest ideas for stories, photographs, video, interactive elements and illustrations. Use documents effectively and link to source documents from stories. Know and effectively use library and internal databases.
• Seek fresh ideas and approaches in reporting and writing. Seek diversity in coverage.
• Take on new challenges. Be willing to take leadership of a story or project.
• Approach coverage with inclusivity in mind at every stage of the reporting process, from story framing to sourcing to word selection.

Requirements:

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile doesn’t match this job description exactly, you may still be a candidate for this position. Please let us know how your skills and experience relate to the role and its objectives in your Cover Letter.

• Education: Requires a bachelor’s degree.
• Experience: Prefers two to three years of reporting experience at a daily newspaper or website.
• Must have the ability to analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness, fairness, etc., under pressure and on deadline.
• Cultural competence and familiarity with best journalistic practices related to equity and inclusion.
• Must have the ability to write clearly, accurately and creatively on multiple platforms.
• Must have the ability to write stories using WordPress, Cedar or other content management systems used by the newsroom. Includes creating hyperlinks; attaching photos and video; understanding the use of metadata, taxonomy, search engine optimization and metrics; and other, yet-to-be developed digital reporting skills. Requires the ability to effectively and consistently add metadata and taxonomic information to all content types.
• Requires excellent grammar and language skills.
• Requires typing and basic computer skills.
• Must have experience using Smartphones, tablets or other Web-enabled devices to monitor news, file stories from the field, and cover breaking news.
• Requires social media skills, including the ability to use X and other emerging social networks to gather and disseminate news, reach new audiences and track the changing social landscape.
• Must understand and uphold the standards, ethics and mission of journalism at The Seattle Times, regardless of platform.
• Requires the ability to travel to events and to meetings with sources in all types of weather, and to gather information from documents and databases, as well as from interviews.
• Must be willing to travel and work unusual schedules when news coverage demands it.
• Position requires use of personal vehicle unless waived by department head and Assistant Managing Editor. Employees required to use their personal vehicle must maintain a valid driver’s license as well as liability insurance minimums as set by The Seattle Times.
• Must organize time well and work on more than one task at a time when necessary. Must be able to meet daily and changing deadlines and balance workloads.
• Must maintain good staff communication and relationships and share knowledge and ideas with other staffers.
• Must keep supervisor and other appropriate people informed of schedules, work in progress, problems and changes.
• Must be able to respond constructively to direction, suggestions and critiques.
• Must keep well informed about news in general and assigned specialties by reading The Times and other online and print publications. Should offer suggestions for improving the newsroom’s coverage.

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $29.42 to $42.25.

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Sick pay accrued at a rate of .0385 of an hour for every hour compensated

Please Note: This position requires pre-employment assessments including a criminal background check, a drug screen (excluding cannabis), and a motor vehicle report once an offer has been made. This position requires that you have access to a reliable personal vehicle to respond to work assignments. In addition, you must be able to provide proof of a valid driver’s license and auto insurance meeting the company's liability limits prior to hire.

Founded in 1896, The Seattle Times continues its tradition as a family-owned, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper that cuts through the clutter and provides readers with timely, relevant news. We serve the Pacific Northwest with thoughtful, independent journalism that makes a real difference in our community. And as a media solutions company, we combine cutting-edge digital capabilities and service with the values and integrity of respected traditional media… with an established audience of 1.9 million. At The Seattle Times, you'll find work that matters.

If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, please contact Human Resources at careers@seattletimes.com and provide a description of the reasonable accommodation(s) needed.