Investigative Reporter Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Sports Digital Producer/Content Creator  

The Des Moines Register is seeking an experienced digital producer who will relentlessly focus on growing audience, especially for Iowa sports coverage, from local audiences following their favorite high school football teams on Friday nights to the national fan base following Iowa State University and University of Iowa athletics.

This job requires expert skills in refining SEO, writing headlines, crafting social media posts, editing text and shooting and editing photos and video. It also requires an understanding of audience metrics and social media platforms; quick, tight, lively writing; and a competitive mindset determined to see Register work at the top of our page view charts each day.

You would collaborate with sports editors, reporters, photographers and videographers to produce sports social videos for Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts; jump in to write trending sports news as needed (a typical day would include 2-4 trending bylines); work with podcasts and newsletters; and create engagement through polls and crowd-sourced stories. You also would develop and execute a strategy to grow our sports audience and revenue on YouTube. You would monitor audience comments, engage with the audience and facilitate conversations between readers and journalists.

The job also requires the savvy and flexibility to work with SEO and audience plans for breaking news, features, business, investigations and other general coverage. The Des Moines-based employee reports to the Register's sports editor, with a close working relationship with our newsroom audience team.

This job requires an insatiable curiosity about digital audiences and their news consumption habits and a drive to get the most audience possible for each piece of content. Ideal candidates would have experience with social media management tools and be comfortable designing social graphics with tools like Canva. Knowledge of analytics tools such as CrowdTangle, Google Analytics, Parse.ly and social engagement insights is also a plus.

This job requires working Tuesday through Saturday through much of the academic year, to focus on Friday night high school sports and Saturday college football and basketball. Work week is typically Monday through Friday from April through August. Shift times vary during the fall/winter months depending on football and basketball start times. 

As a state capital, Des Moines is a busy news town. The metro is home to a vibrant arts and entertainment scene and a large community of young professionals living downtown.

The Des Moines Register is a 17-time Pulitzer Prize winner that is recognized nationally for the quality of its political and state government reporting. The Register offers an opportunity to build a career path in Iowa or to gain the foundation to move on to top metros across the country.

Responsibilities:

• Use metrics and analytics to determine how to best reach and grow the digital audience. 
• Increase the digital audience and engagement and grow subscriptions. 
• Be courageous about experimentation.
• Be a team player who likes to collaborate with coworkers. 
• Apply innovative, creative thinking to support the company’s goals. 

Requirements: 

• Bachelor's or master’s in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• 3 years of experience in professional journalism writing, editing, digital production or social media roles. 
• Understanding of metrics, social media and SEO. 
• Solid news judgment.
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to write quickly and clearly.
• Self-motivation and self-direction.  
• Top-notch planning, organizational and time management skills. 
• Ability to multi-task and excel under intense deadline pressure in a rapidly changing environment. 
• Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct. 
• This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law. 

Application Instructions
 
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, show us what you’ve done. Put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order: 

1. Your resume – one to two pages. 
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job. 
3. Links to 10 to 20 online samples of your work, which must include video. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do. 

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration. 

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