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Sports Reporter Ledger-Enquirer in Columbus, Georgia In person / hybrid Position Summary Sports Reporter is the L-E's forward-facing presence at games in the Columbus area. Readers will recognize this person at Friday night football games, local gymnasiums and venues throughout the Chattahoochee Valley. This is a reporting job first: original stories about athletes, coaching trends, game analysis, and community sports culture that define the Chattahoochee Valley, built on deep sourcing and authentic interactions. It is also a visibility job. The reporter on this beat considers the digital page, live scoring updates, and the social media feed in equal measure, translating original reporting into short-form video, photo storytelling, and on-platform content. The goal is becoming a recognizable, credible presence sports fans seek. Responsibilities and Priorities Original Reporting Reported stories remain the foundation of the role, and everything else is built to amplify them. Report, write, and publish high school sports coverage, game recaps, and athletic profiles with a service-journalism lens: practical, actionable, locally sourced. Opportunities also could be available to cover college, professional and other amateur sports, depending on whether those stories would have an audience among L-E readers. Maintain recurring franchise coverage , such as athlete of the week polls, as a consistent throughline for audience loyalty. Source story ideas from community presence, coach relationships, and social listening, bringing the fans' questions into the newsroom. Cover local sports culture with an eye for recruiting trends, standout personalities, shifting athletic programs, and occasional regional college/pro assignments. Content Creation Reporting and content are treated as one continuous process, not two separate jobs stacked on top of each other. Collaborate with editors or content creators for timely, relevant digital sports updates and real-time game scoring. Produce short-form video , photo storytelling, and platform-native posts drawn directly from gymnasiums and fields. Capture original photo and video (or partner with multimedia staff) in the field during games, signing days, and interviews as part of the reporting process. Maintain an appropriate split between written reporting and video production, adjusted story to story based on what the material calls for. Develop a recognizable on-camera and on-page voice that builds reader familiarity and trust among local families and fans. Community Visibility Being seen and known in Columbus is core to the job, not an add-on. Maintain a consistent, in-person presence at local high school games, athletic tournaments, and community sports gatherings. Build and maintain source relationships across Columbus' coaching staff, athletic directors, and regional sports programs. Represent the L-E as an approachable, trusted presence in fan interactions in person on the sidelines and in comments/DMs tied to published work. Audience Engagement Growth is measured by trust and retention, not raw follower count. Manage and respond to fan engagement on published stories and related social media sports content. Track what sports resonate with readers and adjust story selection and content format accordingly. Collaborate with editors to ensure sports reporting reaches fans in the formats they actually use, without sacrificing reporting quality for volume. Minimum Qualifications Demonstrated reporting and writing experience , with a portfolio showing original, sourced local sports journalism. Comfort and confidence on camera for post-game interviews and sideline analysis. Basic skill shooting/editing photos and video on a phone or standard equipment under tight deadlines. Strong instinct for story selection , headlines, and framing that earns attention without sacrificing accuracy. Self-starter energized by being visible and present in the local sports community; this is not a desk-only role. Working knowledge of high school sports in Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley, or a clear plan to build it. Preferred Qualifications Experience producing short-form video or platform-native content alongside traditional sports journalism. Familiarity with newsletter platforms , SEO basics, and digital publishing tools for sports analytics. Established local source relationships within Columbus prep sports circles, coaching staff, or regional athletic associations. How We'll Measure Success Success in this role looks like sustained original reporting output paired with a growing, engaged local sports following. This means a growing audience that recognizes the byline and the face behind it, seeks recurring franchise content, and increasingly treats the L-E sports coverage as a trusted, must-follow part of daily life for families and sports enthusiasts in Columbus.

Pay:

$40,000.00 - $45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Columbus, GA 31901