Career Center

USC University Communications seeks an energetic storyteller to join our creative editorial team as a Writer/Multimedia Journalist.

The Writer/Multimedia Journalist will seek out news across the university, telling the stories of USC faculty, staff, students, alumni and other members of the Trojan Family through news and feature content, in collaboration with fellow members of the University Communications team. Reporting to the Editorial Director, the Writer/Multimedia Journalist will create content for our university news site, USC News (news.usc.edu), as well as our alumni publication, USC Trojan Family Magazine, and other university media.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Finding stories that advance the university’s priorities.

• Preparing those stories with journalistic excellence, accuracy, ethics and flair.

• Making and maintaining relationships with staff and faculty experts across the university.

• Seeking opportunities to link USC stories to current events and societal trends.

The Writer/Multimedia Journalist will be comfortable reporting; writing for digital, print or broadcast; and occasionally shooting and editing audio and/or video packages. They also will work collaboratively with writing, editing and graphics/video staff across University Communications. The Writer/Multimedia Journalist will help determine the appropriate medium for each individual story: text, still photography, audio, video or other multimedia.

The ideal candidate:

• Has professional experience working for a content publisher, producing effective, accurate and compelling digital-first stories every day, on deadline, about topics that matter.

• Is comfortable writing news and human-interest content that strives to make academic and scientific research accessible, interesting and relevant to people who aren’t scientists or professors.

• Understands what makes stories interesting and inspiring.

• Demonstrates integrity, accuracy, curiosity and style in their writing and reporting.

• Is self-motivated, but also wants to contribute to the work of a team of creative colleagues.

Preferred Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, public relations, history or related field is preferred.

• Three to five years of post-collegiate professional experience reporting and creating news stories in a multimedia journalism or brand journalism operation.

• Exceptional news reporting and writing skills; experience creating optimized content for a professional news website or blog; ease with analyzing and explaining complex topics; strong knowledge of digital communications technologies and ability to write with an appropriate voice for different audiences and media.

• Ability to directly engage with high-level faculty on potentially complex topics such as science and medicine, as well as collaborate with writers, editors, photographers, video producers and other public relations and creative team members.

• Experience in a complex organization, the ability to work in teams, tactfulness and attention to schedules and detail are critical in this position. The ideal candidate will understand the importance of dealing politely and courteously with sources ranging from Nobel Prize-winners and university donors to incoming freshmen.

• Mastery of grammar and AP Style and experience with news and social media writing styles.

• Familiarity with university or academic environment is a plus.

• Candidates local to (or already moving to) Southern California are strongly preferred — relocation is not included in this position. Position is full-time, onsite in Los Angeles. Current schedule for full-time employees is a hybrid of at least three days in the office and at most two days of remote work each week.

Required Documents:

Candidates must submit:

• Resume, including college degree information.

• Samples of writing/editing (two-three articles, posts, websites or similar).

• Cover letter that includes well-considered, succinct responses to the following questions:

• How many years have you worked for a digital content publisher? (Describe the writing/editing work you performed.)

• How does that experience pertain to this position?

• Why are you interested in this position with USC University Communications?

• How would your skills and knowledge advance the success of USC University Communications?

The hourly rate range for this position is $32.65 - $36.93. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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About University of Southern California (USC)

USC is the leading private research university in Los Angeles—a global center for arts, technology and international business. With more than 47,500 students, we are located primarily in Los Angeles but also in various US and global satellite locations. As the largest private employer in Los Angeles, responsible for $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic and professional schools and administrative units. As a USC employee and member of the Trojan Family—the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work—you will enjoy excellent benefits, including a variety of well-being programs designed to help individuals achieve work-life balance.

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