About this role|Current USA TODAY Co. Employees- Please ensure you are using our abbreviated process on the internal Careers site by logging into Dayforce through MyApps|
USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com
Entertainment Writer/Reporter, Documentaries & Nostalgia, USA TODAY Entertainment
Reports to: TV & Streaming Editor
Location: New York or Los Angeles strongly preferred
Overview:
USA TODAY Entertainment is seeking a talented and passionate Writer/Reporter to join our Entertainment team with a primary focus on covering documentaries and the people who bring them to life. This position reports to the TV & Streaming Editor. The successful candidate will spotlight both A-list celebrities in film, television, and music, as well as real individuals at the heart of true crime stories and other documentaries, using compelling storytelling to engage and inform our diverse audience. Your work will help position USA TODAY as a leader in documentary coverage, across digital, print, and video platforms, as well as help us dive into older catalogues of content in the streaming space.
Responsibilities:
• Research, report, pitch, and produce timely and engaging stories on documentaries and the people featured within them, including celebrities and real-life subjects.
• Identify and highlight headline-worthy moments and trends in the documentary landscape, ensuring USA TODAY remains at the forefront of entertainment news.
• Stay on top of entertainment trends, identifying nostalgia stories and content resonating with audiences that deserve new coverage.
• Conduct interviews with on-screen talent, and subjects of documentaries, delivering insightful coverage that resonates with audiences.
• Write, edit, and publish content optimized for digital, print, and vertical video platforms, adhering to USA TODAY’s high journalistic standards.
• Leverage AI tools and analytics to inform content strategy and maximize reader engagement across all platforms.
• Collaborate with editors, videographers, and other team members to produce multi-platform storytelling that stands out in a crowded media landscape.
Requirements:
• At least 3 to 5 years of reporting or writing in entertainment journalism.
• Strong understanding of the entertainment industry, especially trends in documentaries, film, television, music, and true crime.
• Demonstrated ability to identify newsworthy angles and create compelling, accurate, and well-structured stories under tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in multi-platform storytelling, including digital publishing, print, and video (especially vertical formats).
• Sharp audience insight, with the ability to understand what makes documentaries resonate with diverse readers and viewers.
• Contacts and sources within the documentary television space.
• Strong communication skills, collaborative spirit, and adaptability in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
Application Instructions
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, 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.
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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The annualized base salary for this role will range between $60,000 and $93,750. Base compensation is reflective of many factors, including, but not limited to, the market in which one lives/works, individual education level, skills, certifications and experience. Note: variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable.
USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at Recruit@usatodayco.com. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.