Freelance Football Writer (Remote)

As a Freelance Football Writer for The Athletic, your primary responsibilities will include writing, editing, and publishing engaging preview pieces, news, and explainer articles about football, particularly in the context of betting. You will also analyze matches to identify where they can be won or lost, providing insights for our readers. Integrating betting odds into your narratives and curating top content from social media are also key parts of your role.

To be considered for the Freelance Football Writer position at The Athletic, candidates should ideally have over four years of experience in sports journalism with a focus on football. A journalism degree or an equivalent qualification is preferred, along with expert knowledge of the sport and an understanding of betting markets.

Essential skills for the Freelance Football Writer role at The Athletic include strong writing and editing abilities, an analytical mindset to dissect matches and betting odds, knowledge of SEO best practices, and a flair for storytelling that captivates readers and adds value to betting insights.

Understanding betting markets is crucial for a Freelance Football Writer at The Athletic because it allows you to create insightful articles that provide readers with valuable information on odds, helping them make informed betting decisions. This expertise not only enhances the quality of the content but also engages a readership keen on sports betting.

Yes, the Freelance Football Writer position at The Athletic is fully remote, allowing you to work from anywhere in the United States while being part of a talented team committed to producing top-notch football writing.

When answering this question, think about your approach to researching a topic, how you organize your ideas, and the steps you take to draft and edit your articles. Illustrate it with examples from previous experiences, emphasizing your ability to adapt content for different audiences.

Explain how you make betting odds relevant to your pieces, like weaving them into match previews or analysis. Discuss your strategy for helping readers understand these concepts without getting overwhelmed, thereby enhancing the overall narrative.

Share specific examples of past analyses you've conducted, focusing on your understanding of tactics, player performance, and how such insights can influence betting. Highlight any data or metrics you've used to substantiate your evaluations.

Discuss the resources you utilize to keep abreast of news in football and sports betting. Mention following relevant social media accounts, reading up on sports news, and any platforms or forums where you engage with other enthusiasts or professionals.

Emphasize that compelling storytelling captures audience attention, makes complex subjects relatable, and can significantly enhance their understanding of sports and betting. Provide examples of stories that impacted your readers positively.

Talk about how you prioritize tasks, create schedules, and maintain open communication with your editors. Share any tools or techniques you use to stay organized and ensure timely delivery of your content.

Select an article that stands out for its success in terms of readership or engagement. Discuss the topic, the research you undertook, your writing style, and why you believe it resonated with the audience.

Explain your collaborative style, demonstrating flexibility and openness to feedback. Discuss a specific instance where collaboration led to a stronger piece and how you value the input from seasoned professionals.

Share your understanding of SEO and how you incorporate keywords and phrases to optimize articles for search engines while keeping the content natural and engaging for readers, thus driving more traffic to your work.

Discuss your approach to receiving criticism constructively. Emphasize the importance of continuous learning and how you would analyze the feedback to improve your future articles, maintaining a positive attitude.