| Date Posted | May 23, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Industry | Newspapers / Wires |
| Job Status | Full-time |
Description:
The Commercial Dispatch, a 13,000 circulation daily in Columbus, Mississippi, is looking for a sports editor to lead a section that includes athletics coverage of two universities (Mississippi State University and Mississippi University for Women), football powerhouse East Mississippi Community College and more than a dozen prep schools.
Our local schools have produced an outsized number of professional athletes in recent years, including A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles), Willie Gay (Kansas City Chiefs), Jeffery Simmons (Tennessee Titans) and Robert Woodard II (NBA G League).
Important and interesting sports stories are happening here.
The right candidate values the impact a committed newspaper can have on the community it serves and understands the important role local sports reporting plays in that effort. They have leadership experience (you will oversee two full time employees, one part time employee and multiple stringers), are willing to guide young reporters, are familiar with AP style and know a good story when they see one.
The ideal editor will work with the publisher and managing editor to define a vision for the section and then take ownership of realizing that vision.
Our award-winning sports department has built a reputation as a leading voice on Mississippi State University athletics in print, online and via a regular podcast. We also pride ourselves on thorough, high-quality coverage of high school athletics in the area and are building more of a footprint covering youth sports. Our sports writers and editors, over the past four years alone, have earned top prizes in multiple categories from the Mississippi Press Association, as well as top-10 finishes in several categories in the Associated Press Sports Editors Contest.
If you’re a writer at heart, don’t worry, the job isn’t all management and editing. Our sports editor provides profiles, game coverage, in-depth pieces and analysis columns.
We publish print editions Tuesday through Saturday and are constantly pushing digital. We’re looking for someone who understands the value of both print and digital and how they can be leveraged to best serve our readers.
While our office is in Columbus, the sports editor can live and work out of either Columbus or nearby Starkville (home of Mississippi State). The region has a rich and diverse history and has a wealth of activities, good restaurants and is easily accessible to larger cities such as Birmingham and Memphis.
Salary in mid $40s, depending on experience. Benefits include health insurance, paid time off, gym membership assistance, etc.
Send resumes and clips to Managing Editor Zack Plair at zplair@cdispatch.com. No phone calls please.