Both Taylor Swift and Beyoncé’ fans received eye-opening news this week, as fans have the opportunity to land their dream jobs after USA Today announced it was looking for a reporter to cover each singer.
Gannett, the US media company behind USA Today and The Tennessean, released a job posting on Tuesday that was titled Taylor Swift Reporter. For journalists who have a penchant for the pop icon, this job comes straight out of their wildest dreams.
On Wednesday, the outlet then released a job posting for a Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, who would similarly be committed to covering stories on Queen Bey.
According to the two job descriptions, the outlet is looking for reporters with a strong voice, video abilities, and social-media skills to cover each star. The journalists will cover Taylor Swift or Beyoncé news for USA Today, The Tennessean, and more than 200 local news outlets associated with the Gannett brand.
The successful candidates will be able to work remotely from most parts of the US, and international travel will be required. However, those applying need to have at least five years of digital-reporting experience, as well as relevant journalism qualifications, to be considered.
The salary for the roles is really wide, as the advert said the hourly rate will be between $21.63 and $50.87. This means the successful candidates could be earning up to a six-figure annual salary if they’re lucky.
According to the Taylor Swift job posting: “Swift’s fanbase has grown to unprecedented heights, and so has the significance of her music and growing legacy.”
It continues: “We are looking for an energetic writer, photographer and social media pro who can quench an undeniable thirst for all things Taylor Swift with a steady stream of content across multiple platforms. Seeing both the facts and the fury, the Taylor Swift reporter will identify why the pop star’s influence only expands, what her fanbase stands for in pop culture, and the effect she has across the music and business worlds.”
The advert for Beyoncé ’s reporter follows a similar strain, with the description reading: “The international superstar and icon’s impact is felt across generations. She has been a force in everything from how the country views race to how women think about their partners. We are looking for an energetic and enterprising writer, capable of a text and video-forward approach, who can capture Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s effect not only on the many industries in which she operates, but also on society.”
Naturally, news of the two roles has caused quite a stir online, as it’s one of the first times reporters are being recruited to cover a specific pop star.
“Imagine the potential with those cover letters, using her lyrics to describe personalities and work ethic. Good luck to the hiring team. This position may contain a large pool of applicants,” wrote one social media platform, in response to the Swift advert.
While the USA Today director of innovation said on Twitter: “We listen to our readers and they can’t get enough of Taylor Swift. So, yes, we really are looking for a Taylor Swift reporter.”
However, one social media profile questioned: “Wait, USA Today saw the backlash to the Taylor Swift reporter role and did one for Beyoncé?”
