The Raleigh News & Observer seeks a commanding college sports reporter to join our team covering the powerhouse athletic programs of North Carolina, Duke and N.C. State, deep in the heart of ACC territory. 

The Triangle is home to some of the most storied college basketball programs in the nation, with teams making both the men’s and women’s Final Four in the past three years. It’s the perfect place to write about the changing landscape of college athletics, the expansion of the ACC, and the arrival of Bill Belichick at UNC.

We’re looking for a beat writer who can deliver daily coverage in a competitive news environment. That requires the sharp reporting skills, deep sourcing and storytelling savvy to publish quickly and keep readers interested on all our platforms, from the website to newsletters to social media.

In the increasingly professionalized world of college athletics, accountability reporting is a must. Equally important is going beyond game coverage and media availability to find the most interesting stories of the day and publish exclusive reporting our subscribers can’t find anywhere else.

Standout candidates will have an audience-first mindset, familiarity with using analytics to help inform coverage priorities, SEO savvy, and comfort using social media for both storytelling and reader engagement. All our journalists are expected to take advantage of opportunities to ethically harness and leverage artificial intelligence and other automation to enhance and elevate their work — and to find efficiencies that free them to focus on source-building and high quality, deeply reported journalism.

At the News & Observer, teamwork and collaboration are an integral part of our newsroom culture. We’re looking for a reporter who feels good about sharing ideas — and the spotlight — and will feel comfortable covering other sports, including the Carolina Hurricanes.

What you’ll bring: 

• At least two years of professional experience, preferably covering college sports. 
• Strong writing skills and deep curiosity. 
• Excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to “see the story” that is going to matter to readers.
• Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
• Ability to build source networks and bring a constant flow of story ideas.
• Enthusiasm for learning new skills and technologies, such as AI.
• Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving.
• Facility with data and public records.
• A collaborative work ethic and the ability to communicate easily with people around the office and across the company.

What we’ll bring: 

As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends. 

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.

To apply: 

Please include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your best work.

About the McClatchy Media Company: 

The McClatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee, have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month.The McClatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.

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Salary/Compensation: $26.44 - $36.06 per hour