Gannett, America’s largest newspaper chain, is looking to hire two full-time reporters with strikingly specific beats. You must be a connoisseur of “Lemonade”; the other should be an expert in all things “1989.”
The media company will have one reporter who will exclusively “chronicle Beyoncé’s music, fashion, cultural and economic impact” and another who will “capture Taylor Swift’s music and cultural impact” for USA Today and The Tennessean. Both newspapers are part of the USA Today Network, which is owned by Gannett. That job openings was announced this week.
The ideal candidate for the “Beyoncé Knowles-Carter Reporter” position is “an energetic and enterprising writer” who can capture Beyoncé’s impact “not only on the many industries in which she operates, but also on society,” the posting said.
Beyoncé is currently on her Renaissance World Tourwhich according to some estimates will collect in total 2 billion dollars. The 32-time Grammy Award winner’s tour is set to wrap up Oct. 1 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Kevin Mazur
Similarly, the company wants a Swiftie who is “an energetic writer, photographer and social media pro who can quench an undeniable thirst for all things Taylor Swift.”
The opening comes as Swift is also in the middle of a wildly successful world tour. Her Eras Tour has grossed hundreds of millions of dollars and credited promote local economies. Swift and AMC Theaters are also publishing a film about the trip in October. All the while she continues to gather prices and break music records.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin
Both jobs require a willingness to travel extensively and a journalist with a voice “but not a bias,” according to the postings. In addition to a CV, applicants must submit a video cover letter.
As news of the Swift reporter job spread Tuesday, Gannett came under fire for its decision to offer such a specific position after announcing hundreds of layoffs and extensive cuts last year. The company eliminated 20% of its journalist jobs between 2021 and 2022, according to Boston Business Journal.
Ahead of the company’s Beyoncé listing, Kristin Roberts, Gannett Media’s chief content officer, said in a statement to CBS News that the USA Today Network is “committed to serving our communities across America with journalism that matters to millions of readers, viewers and listeners. And that includes giving our audience content they crave.”
“As Taylor Swift’s fan base has grown to unprecedented heights, so has the influence of her music and growing legacy — not only on the industry, but on our culture. She is shaping a generation,” said Roberts.
