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Freelance Sports Beat Reporter Jobs (NOW HIRING)

leeenterprises

Buffalo Bills Beat Reporter

Buffalo, NY

$23.25 - $31.50/hr

BUFFALO BILLS BEAT REPORTER The Buffalo News is seeking an experienced, digital-savvy journalist ... sports editor will become APSE president in July. Our ideal candidate will be able to break news ...

leeenterprises

Buffalo Bills Beat Reporter

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$23.25 - $31.50/hr

BUFFALO BILLS BEAT REPORTER The Buffalo News is seeking an experienced, digital-savvy journalist ... sports editor will become APSE president in July. Our ideal candidate will be able to break news ...

Lee Enterprises

Buffalo Bills Beat Reporter

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$23.25 - $31.50/hr

BUFFALO BILLS BEAT REPORTER The Buffalo News is seeking an experienced, digital-savvy journalist ... sports editor will become APSE president in July. Our ideal candidate will be able to break news ...

gannett

High School Sports Reporter

Clarksville, TN

We are seeking a dynamic reporter who is digitally savvy and committed to leading the conversation ... College or other high-level sports beat experience preferred; strong digital skills required.

gannett

High School Sports Reporter

Clarksville, TN · On-site

We are seeking a dynamic reporter who is digitally savvy and committed to leading the conversation ... College or other high-level sports beat experience preferred; strong digital skills required.

MediaNews Group, Inc.

Sports Reporter

Denver, CO

$58K - $80K/yr

The Denver Post is seeking a reporter to cover the Denver Broncos, our most high-profile sports beat. This position is for the No. 2 spot on our Broncos coverage team. We are looking for a great ...

MediaNews Group, Inc.

Sports Reporter

Denver, CO · On-site

$58K - $80K/yr

The Denver Post is seeking a reporter to cover the Denver Broncos, our most high-profile sports beat. This position is for the No. 2 spot on our Broncos coverage team. We are looking for a great ...

gannett

Clemson Sports Reporter

Greenville, SC

GreenvilleOnline.com/The Greenville News is seeking a dynamic sports reporter to cover Clemson ... written beat coverage based on audience tendencies and metrics. We want someone who is a self ...

gannett

Clemson Sports Reporter

Greenville, SC

GreenvilleOnline.com/The Greenville News is seeking a dynamic sports reporter to cover Clemson ... written beat coverage based on audience tendencies and metrics. We want someone who is a self ...

Chicago Sun-Times

Beat Reporter, White Sox

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$61K - $72K/yr

We are seeking an experienced sports reporter to lead coverage of the Chicago White Sox. This role ... Experience covering a Major League Baseball beat for a daily news organization * Write clearly on ...

Paramount

Sports Reporter (Freelance)

Southfield, MI · On-site

... Sports Reporter to join our growing CBS Detroit News Team. This freelance position offers the opportunity to work with a dynamic team committed to delivering exceptional sports coverage across ...

Paramount

Sports Reporter (Freelance)

Southfield, MI

... Sports Reporter to join our growing CBS Detroit News Team. This freelance position offers the opportunity to work with a dynamic team committed to delivering exceptional sports coverage across ...

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Freelance Sports Beat Reporter information

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How much do freelance sports beat reporter jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance sports beat reporter in the United States is $18.80, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $20.43 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Freelance Sports Beat Reporter vs Staff Sports Reporter?

AspectFreelance Sports Beat ReporterStaff Sports Reporter
Employment TypeIndependent contractor, project-basedFull-time or part-time employee
Work EnvironmentRemote or on-site, flexible scheduleOffice or newsroom, fixed schedule
CredentialsRelevant sports journalism experience, portfolioDegree in journalism or related field, experience
Industry UsageFreelance platforms, personal networksMedia outlets, newspapers, online publications

In summary, a Freelance Sports Beat Reporter works independently, often on a project basis, with flexible hours and varied clients. In contrast, a Staff Sports Reporter is a full-time employee with a fixed schedule, working directly for a media organization. Both roles require sports journalism skills, but their work environments and employment structures differ significantly.

More about Freelance Sports Beat Reporter jobs
What cities are hiring for Freelance Sports Beat Reporter jobs? Cities with the most Freelance Sports Beat Reporter job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Sports Beat Reporter jobs? The most popular types of Sports Beat Reporter jobs are:
What states have the most Freelance Sports Beat Reporter jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Sports Beat Reporter jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Sports Beat Reporter jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Sports Beat Reporter jobs are:
Freelance Sports Beat Reporter jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Sports Beat Reporter job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 12% Contract. Highlights an 84% In-person, 8% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,099 per year, or $18.8 per hour.

Buffalo Bills Beat Reporter

leeenterprises

Buffalo, NY

$23.25 - $31.50/hr

Other

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

BUFFALO BILLS BEAT REPORTER

The Buffalo News is seeking an experienced, digital-savvy journalist who will own one of the highest-profile beats in the NFL.

We are looking for an aggressive reporter who, as the lead beat writer on the Buffalo Bills, can break news, provide analysis and take readers behind the scenes at One Bills Drive in a way that expands our audience in Western New York and beyond.

The Bills have an enormous, passionate, worldwide audience. And Buffalo News readers have an insatiable appetite for the Bills: As our No. 1 franchise topic, we publish at least one Bills story every day, usually many more.

The Buffalo News has a proud history of unparalleled NFL coverage. It is the only organization from which three writers have served as president of the Pro Football Writers of America. We won seven APSE Top 10 honors this year, including the coveted “Triple Crown,” and the executive sports editor will become APSE president in July. 

Our ideal candidate will be able to break news and tell great stories across multiple platforms, often simultaneously. He or she will be as comfortable working sources as sitting in the press box covering the game. We are looking for someone whose writing reflects ambition and enterprise and can identify new ways to make sure your content grows our subscriber base and overall audience.

You’ll play a collaborative role on a four-person team that covers a franchise that generates as much buzz as any in North American sports. The spotlight is always on an NFL franchise, but it burns brighter here — never more than now, with Josh Allen at the controls, a new coach in Joe Brady and a brand-new stadium opening this fall.

A deep knowledge of football is a must. Previous NFL beat experience is preferred, but we will consider those with strong experience on a major college or other pro beat.

In this role, you will:

  • Produce coverage that goes beyond press availability, establishing a unique voice on the beat.
  • Develop sources and break news of all sorts on the Bills beat.
  • Contribute to our podcasts and produce vertical video.
  • Maintain consistent communication with editors and fellow staff members.
  • Monitor data analytics to understand what our readers want.
  • Be a strong storyteller who can report on the inner workings of the Bills organization and the rest of the NFL.

Other requirements include:

  • Proficiency in social media as a reporting and reader engagement tool
  • Ability to write quickly, clearly and accurately on deadline
  • Digital fluency
  • Effective time management skills given multiple responsibilities and travel commitments.

The Buffalo News has the largest staff of journalists in the region. We have a history of breaking big stories and investing in stories that matter. We strive to hire talented and dedicated people who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. People of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply.

Why Buffalo? The region is a lot more than chicken wings and snow. The city has seen a resurgence that makes it an exciting time to work and live here. Aside from professional sports teams, the city has a philharmonic, a growing waterfront, a burgeoning medical campus and plenty of attitude – not to mention Niagara Falls, beautiful hikes and ski slopes all within a short drive.

Lee Enterprises is a leading provider of local news and information and a major subscription and advertising platform, with daily and weekly newspapers and rapidly expanding digital products serving 114 markets across 25 states.

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