Freelance Entertainment Writer

Sporting News is seeking creative and driven freelance entertainment and culture writers to join its affiliate and commercial content team. Supporting an enterprise third-party partnership, this is a high volume writing position best suited for flexible, supplemental part-time work or aspiring journalists ready to break into the industry, build up bylines and learn the affiliate marketing business.

This role requires deep knowledge across a broad spectrum of American entertainment, pop culture and celebrities. You love TV shows. You’re a movie buff. You’re engrossed in celebrity culture. On any given day, you might write a how to watch preview for ‘The Bachelor’, craft a viewers’ guide for new shows coming to Netflix, round up critics’ reactions to latest releases on Apple+ and break down viral moments from Taylor Swift appearing at Chiefs’ games. 

Writers supporting SN’s affiliate and commerce business are business-savvy, detail-oriented, well-versed in SEO best practices and energized to work in a fast-paced production environment. 

Candidates should expect approximately 15-25 hours per week. Weekly flat rates are determined by volume of assignments though expected pay range is on par with $20-25 per hour, commensurate with experience. Work can be done remotely.  

HERE’S A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT WE NEED:

• Curate and write 4-8 assigned stories per day
• File stories on-time to editors directly in CMS
• Apply SN’s SEO best practices by following established protocols
• Execute link strategy with specific call-to-action copy and placement
• Implement product enhancements to deliver best-in-class how to watch content

DO YOU HAVE THESE ESSENTIALS?

• 1-3 years of digital marketing and/or entertainment writing experience
• Demonstrated ability to write quickly with clean, concise copy
• A strong, versatile understanding of most major U.S. television shows, upcoming movie releases and streaming services
• Basic knowledge of SEO tools and best practices, including writing headlines, URLs and copy for a search audience, and how to farm Google Trends for content ideas
• Sharp business acumen with demonstrated capacity to understand how SN’s editorial strategy aligns with commercial goals
• Creative news judgment instincts to discern interesting content from noise
• Ability to work nights and weekends, as required

NOT ESSENTIAL BUT GREAT IF YOU ALSO HAD

• College degree in marketing, journalism, English, or related field
• Experience writing about celebrities and pop culture
• Understanding of how to use audience data and tools to shape content strategy
• Ability to learn new roles and adapt in a constantly evolving industry