News Copy Editor, CBS Sports

This is a Freelance Job

Overview & Responsibilities:
CBS Sports seeks a dynamic News Editor for this freelance position. The candidate must be skilled at identifying news and emerging storylines; gathering and organizing articles and other sources for background, potential human-interest stories; and evaluating and summarizing key points of storylines or commentaries to enhance and support the coverage across CBS Sports productions, including but not limited to CBS Sports HQ.

A strong News Editor displays confidence in anticipating and reacting to breaking news and other developing storylines across multiple sports. The ideal candidate excels at communication and collaboration to decipher news with urgency in a fast-paced environment; deliver context and recommendations for news presentations; and engage with a variety of content contributors to maintain editorial standards across all presentations.

The News Editor will be responsible for:
• Providing editorial oversight to multiple production personnel.
• Planning and facilitating coverage for upcoming news events.
• Working with external partners to acquire relevant material for news storytelling.
• Partnering with cross-department contributors to ensure consistency, quality, and reach of our newsgathering.

To successfully deliver editorial guidance to all productions, this News Editor must have strong sports knowledge, the ability to make quick editorial decisions, and possess excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ideal candidate is passionate and knowledgeable about sports journalism and storytelling, enthusiastic about contributing to, and committed to upholding the highest editorial standards of the CBS Sports brand!

Basic Qualifications:
• Conduct newsgathering and provide editorial guidance across multiple platforms. React to breaking news with an emphasis on accuracy, creative storytelling, and relevance to our productions and our audience.
• Monitor news feeds, including searching social & other media outlets, and work with CBS Sports reporters and other editorial staff to gather and evaluate relevant news and information.
• Communicate regularly with studio producers and other production contributors to discuss developing news and provide guidance on the presentation of that news within our programming.
• Prepare and distribute news briefs and key points for graphic or video presentations of news across all sports.
• Write, edit, and review scripts and graphics for accuracy, style, and editorial value. This includes skills at writing to video and for broadcast news (e.g., writing for voice-over and packages).
• Discover connections between our events and developing news stories; then provide ideas for how to tell those stories within our games and studio shows. This may include suggesting and gathering elements, potential guests, and details on alternative angles to enhance the telling of those stories.
• Serve as the leading editorial voice during live studio programming and partner with producers to generate urgent, effective coverage of breaking news.
• Under tight deadlines, educate on-air talent and other production staff on the key details of a developing story and offer perspective on proper context for presentation on our shows.
• Coordinate with and support management and all production staff to maintain editorial standards for newsgathering and coverage on broadcast and cable platforms.
• Ensure the accuracy and timeliness of on-air content.
• Outline suggested questions and topics for interview subjects and analyst discussions.
• Identify outside content for use across productions from news conferences and interviews to highlights. Evaluate outside video for use in news SOTs and potential segments; ability to edit video a plus. Maintain knowledge of and adhere to league rights and footage restrictions.
• Work with the Talent Director to identify best match contributors from CBS Sports, 247Sports, MaxPreps, and CBSSports.com staffs to appear on CBS Sports HQ in response to news and anticipated developments. Collaborate with our Talent Booker in pursuing appearances from external voices.
• Maintain files of ongoing stories and calendars of upcoming events to anticipate and guide future coverage across platforms.
• Use deep sports knowledge along with strong research techniques to identify and write briefs previewing and recapping key storylines related to games, teams, and sports covered on CBS Sports productions.
• Conduct a variety of searches using news sites, school/team websites, social media, and other reliable sources to support storytelling and coverage for all game and studio productions.
• Brainstorm and support the accurate, creative, culturally relevant and sensitive, and thorough presentation of content throughout CBS Sports.
• Contribute to and guide content development and storytelling involving the subjects of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disabilities, and other culture-based topics.
• Work closely with Production personnel, on-air talent, and content creators throughout the Sports division to pitch ideas, fact-check content, and respond in real-time to questions and requests for guidance.
• Proactively identify and suggest solutions to address potential coverage angles and storylines.
• Prepare general background/research material for other entities as needed.

Additional Qualifications:
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment, and communicate with urgency and clarity to producers, on-air talent, and production associates.
• Excellent working knowledge of and interest in multiple sports, especially NFL, college football, college basketball, golf, and soccer.
• Must possess strong research skills and editorial judgment.
• A resourceful ability to conduct research and a passion for discovering and sharing new knowledge is a must.
• Must have excellent writing and communication skills, and demonstrate a keen attention to detail.
• Must have experience with a variety of approaches to Internet searches and be fluent in electronic newsgathering techniques, including quickly navigating the Internet and best practices for utilizing social media.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Must be able to work with limited supervision while also thriving in a team-oriented environment.
• History of working collaboratively across departments with peers and colleagues to advance content and coverage.
• Must have experience performing well under pressure, including a proven track record of responding effectively to feedback even up against deadlines for air.
• Must be able to work nights, weekends, and flexible hours.
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment under deadlines and prioritize assignments.
• Experience at gathering visual elements, prepping graphics, and editing packages for segments is preferred.
• Must be a team player with proven interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Excellent English grammar and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities with experience working across diverse platforms.
• 3 years of newsroom or other editorial experience, preferably in journalism, production, or related areas.
• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or equivalent training and experience.
• Experience in digital and/or video preferred.
• Prior experience in the sports journalism field is a plus!