Sixers

The Inquirer Posted Keith Pompey’s Job

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jun 3rd, 2026 · 4:30 PM EDT

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Here’s your chance to be a Sixers writer for the Inquirer. I’m hearing that the pay is very good, though workplace hazards include possibly being shoved by Joel Embiid in the locker room:

The Philadelphia Inquirer is seeking an experienced basketball writer to cover the Philadelphia 76ers, one of five major professional sports teams in a city and region known for its passionate fan base.

What You will Do

• The Sixers beat writer will report to a team/assignment editor and work with teammates, including other beat writers and nationally recognized columnists.
  You will serve as the Inquirer’s eyes and ears at Xfinity Mobile Arena and the team facility in Camden, NJ, on players, coaches and key front office officials at practices and games, at home and on the road.
• You will be vigilant and reactive to all Sixers breaking news, and be available to write news stories as they happen, including in real time in the Inquirer’s live blog.
• You will monitor Sixers topics trending on social media, as well as NBA and sports-adjacent story ideas that touch on business, fashion, culture, lifestyle and personality.
• You will be an active participant in developing coverage strategy with the rest of the editorial team, including creating content (video, audio or written) on social media and various off-platform entities such as YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.
• You will serve as a front-facing sports personality, with the ability to discuss topics pertinent to the team on multiple Inquirer platforms, including video projects and podcasts.
• You will be expected to build a local following, an audience who will engage with your content in any format – written, audio, video and social – to help promote Inquirer content across those landscapes.
• The Sixers beat writer is expected to continue the Inquirer’s long tradition of news breaking and in-depth storytelling while bringing a fresh and digital-first approach to the beat.
• You will contribute to an inclusive and positive work environment.

Who We’re looking for

• The ideal candidate will be fully committed to a team-first ecosystem. This person is a dogged, thought-provoking interviewer who can recognize quickly what the story is but is someone patient enough to allow a story to develop when needed.
• The Sixers beat writer comes with an established network of sources and contacts across sports but especially the NBA. He/she also is someone who can quickly build rapport and trust with new sources, has an effective gauge of Philadelphia’s sports culture – especially the Sixers’ rabid fan base – and will collaborate thoughtfully with editors and fellow writers to craft well-reported and researched stories.
• Journalism experience is a requirement, and a familiarity with Philadelphia is an asset. Philadelphia has a long history of college and high school basketball excellence and a working knowledge of both is recommended.
• The ideal candidate will be based in Philadelphia. Heavy travel in-season should be expected including split road trips with your beat partner.
• You should deliver insightful stories in the offseason, especially during the slowest news weeks, with reporting and analysis that demonstrates to readers The Inquirer’s expertise on the beat. We’re looking for a reporter who brings an endless list of ideas to their beat, during the season and offseason.
• You should also be a talented wordsmith and idea creator, working closely not only with your sport editor but with editors on other sports that fall within your knowledge wheelhouse. You should always be thinking about what’s next for players, the team, the league, and what readers are looking forward to.
• The ideal candidate must have at least 5 years of beat experience, covering high-level college or professional sports, including the NBA. He/she will have deep knowledge of sports’ increasing influence on society and culture.
• This is a highly competitive beat that requires a writer with a high motor. You and your beat partner will own all aspects of covering the team, on and off the field. You will be expected to break news, or react quickly to news and casual fan content.
• The public-facing nature of this job requires a confident public speaker who can convene diverse audiences and lead discussions in creative and productive ways on camera. Further, this candidate will be an active participant on social media, helping produce written stories into social posts that stand on their own.

“The ideal candidate will be based in Philadelphia.”

Well I’d hope so, since they’re going to be a Philadelphia 76ers beat reporter. Though management has made it clear since the employee revolt that you don’t actually have to live here to work for the Inquirer.

Anyway, good luck to the applicants!