Freelance Esports Writer

Sporting News is seeking creative and driven freelance Esports 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 Esports and gaming. You follow the biggest gamers on Twitch. You’re dialed into the biggest tournaments and events. You’re obsessed with new releases, updates and patches. You’re in the know on the best gear. 

On any given day, you might write a how to watch preview for Overwatch at the Esports World Cup, craft a viewers’ guide for upcoming Twitch streams, round up critics’ reactions to Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and break down the latest news on Pokimane. 

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 Esports and gaming
• 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 Esports, gaming and streaming 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