Posts tagged media

This is a great job, and we need someone great for it. Please pass it on.

USA TODAY Sports Media Group is looking for a talented, hard-working, forward-thinking lead editor to manage and develop USA TODAY Sports’ social news platform. This editor should have a track record of producing viral stories that spread across the web, resonating with sports fans and non-fans alike.

The editor will oversee social news coverage as well as a staff of dedicated contributors. Candidates should have a keen eye for identifying talent and a knack for developing that talent. They should also have experience with news teams operating on a 24-7 cycle and be comfortable in an environment that blends editorial judgment with data-driven solutions.

The work won’t be limited to USA TODAY Sports’ current digital offering. We’re transforming this part of the experience and looking for a leader to grow our capabilities in new and innovative ways.

This position is salaried with benefits and is based in Tysons Corner, VA (outside Washington, DC). Interested and qualified applicants should email jmottram@usatoday.com with “Social News Editor” in the subject line. Please summarize your vision, interest and relevant experience in 1-2 paragraphs. Do not add any attachments, like a resume.

After two-plus months of blissful unemployment I’ve got a new job leading content development for USA Today Sports Media Group. There’s a press release and everything, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Since leaving Yahoo I’ve been saying I want five things from what’s next, and that I’ll be lucky to land all five. They are:

1. Stay in digital media.

I haven’t worked in print since high school, and I’ve only done broadcast on the side since college, so this was pretty much a given.

2. Get back to sports.

A few years ago I moved out of Yahoo Sports and across Yahoo Media (News, Finance, Entertainment, etc.). I’m happy to have done that, because I was exposed to new things, met tons of people and learned a lot, but sports is what I know. It’s what has always interested me the most, and it’s where I’ve had some success.

3. Work with people I want to work with.

This has become increasingly important, and no place rivals USATSMG. Dave Morgan, who hired and mentored me at Yahoo while building their sports empire, captains the ship. Mark Pesavento and Matt Graham, two more Yahoos I hold in very high regard, are his top lieutenants. Dan Shanoff, who is one of the smartest guys in sports media, is my co-pilot. There are countless others too, including Tom Beusse, Ross Schaufelberger, Gerry Ahern, Mary Byrne, Steve Raymond, Caleb Wilkerson, Michael Katz, Clay Walker, Chris Pirrone, etc., that drew me in and will make USATSMG a leader in online sports.

4. Work on things I want to work on.

There are some things I’ll do at USATSMG that are right in my wheelhouse (blogs, Big Lead Sports, etc.) and others that only exist in my head, things I’d like to create. That was a huge consideration: Who could I partner with to create new experiences that engage fans? USATSMG is an able and willing partner on that. I’m excited about what we’ll build together, especially with social media and for mobile devices.

5. Work from wherever I want.

I live in Wilmington, NC, where we moved and started a family four years ago. It’s not a hotbed for new media, but we love it, and being here works for us. I’m in touch via voice, video and text minute-to-minute and travel as needed month-to-month. USATSMG is a willing partner on that too, and I plan on rewarding them for it.

So, yeah, that’s what went into this. Getting all five things seemed like a long shot, but it landed. The fun starts August 6. Can’t wait.