Sports Reporter | St. Cloud, Minnesota

Job opportunity at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK - Sports Reporter

The St. Cloud Times, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is building a team of creative, experimental journalists to tell stories that connect with our audience on every platform they use. We have a strong history of award-winning journalism to provide a firm foundation to hone your craft.

Sound appealing? We have an immediate opening for a sports enterprise reporter to uncover the important, interesting and plain entertaining stories in our sports-crazy region.

You'll focus on non-game enterprise coverage of issues and topics connected to Central Minnesota high school, small college, minor league, semipro and recreational sports. While you need to know your way around a stat sheet, most of your effort will be covering stories that happen before or after the buzzer sounds.

Signs you may be a great fit for the job:

• You graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism or have the
  equivalent in experience and education.

• You have one year of newsroom experience (preferred).
• You are interested in experimentation and can see new possibilities.
• You thrive in a fast-paced work environment that requires multi-tasking while
  meeting tight deadlines.
• You can craft well-written, grammatically correct stories and engaging headlines.
• You thrive while interacting with the public and reporters/editors.
• You are drawn to telling stories and chronicling events using video.
• You are curious about your community.
• You are assertive and act on your curiosity to get the story.
• You are self-motivated.
• You are known for your effective communication and are able to get along with
  diverse personalities and thrive in and embrace peer-to-peer feedback and
  training.
• You have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Here’s what we have to offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive Health, Dental and Vision coverage
• Life Insurance
• 401(K) Saving Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Company Holidays
• Paid Time Off to Volunteer in the Community
• Employee Discount Program

 

Translation: "You're gonna get yelled at a lot."

 

I wouldn't suggest this one to any friend in the industry. Gannett is the worst. I know. Trust me. You're welcome. But if you need a gig, I understand.

 

What's everyone's beef with Gannett? I did some freelance stuff for them in Nashville and didn't have any issues. Asking because I'm in the entry level phase of my career.

 

If you're that incurious, you shouldn't be a reporter.

 

Do all you guys get on here to complain about the listings and be snarky?

 

No. Vombatus comes to make sex jokes.

 

@AndrettiSJ to be honest because Gannett is killing the business. I have worked at Gannett for years and am actively seeking employment elsewhere and if not for being married with two kids I'd have left already. If you're looking for an entry-level job by all means, but plan on leaving after a year or two or you'll likely be let go. Get your clips and try and go to a family run paper or one with their s*** together. I still enjoy my work but not who I do it for. They don't give a s*** about me or anyone else that works for them and certainly not the customers/subscribers. When we all had to reapply for our jobs I had a big wig from St. Cloud as one of the editors that traveled around to be impartial...good times.

 

Wow that's sounds tough. Definitely not what I had hoped a full time position at Gannett would be like but thank you for the insight.

 

Especially the way Gannett just recently slashed high school reporters in Wisconsin. If you are looking for an entry level job there are plenty others. But, sometimes you can really work with great people and learn a lot as I have. I don't want to discourage you...just know that those that aren't working directly with you, the higher-ups...don't believe much that comes out of their mouth. The work can be rewarding and is for me...but just plan on going to a different paper later for your sanity.

 

Since I had this job for 7 years, that's why I was discouraging you. I am now working 8-5 in a marketing job and life is much better. I agree with the previous posts wholeheartedly. In 2014, we all had to reinterview for our jobs in St. Cloud ( along with most of Gannett), which was the most insulting thing I've ever done. I stuck it out another year, but that created a longstanding tension in the newsroom. It was basically "Office Space" come to life. They brought in editors from all over the country to see how useful you were. You interviewed for the 2 different jobs you wanted and went against your friends and co-workers to see who would win. We all called it the Hunger Games. Luckily I got to keep my sports writing job, but that meant a good friend in the sports department had to take a news job covering city council meetings. Great morale boost after that! When I started there in 2008, there were almost 50 people in the newsroom. Now there are about 15 people left. Gannett has turned a great paper into a USA Today bureau. If you're looking to start out, this place will make you want to leave the business in 1-2 years. It's not just Gannett, but also the leaders in place there. You can do better. Trust me.

 

I have never seen this one before. Is it new?