One lucky Taylor Swift fan has a chance to nab a coveted and well-compensated position as a "Taylor Swift reporter," a job first listed in September -- paying up to $100,000 a year.
Amid her record-breaking Eras tour in 2023, Taylor was recognized as uniquely influential on the economy at large. That's not just speculation -- according to CBS News, in July the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia acknowledged the talented music-maker's outsized impact on the local economy:
"The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia announced [in July] that Taylor Swift's tour helped boost travel and tourism in the region, a claim also made by several other U.S. cities regarding the musician's widely popular concerts. Market research firm QuestionPro estimated last month that her tour could help add $5 billion to the worldwide economy."
Taylor worked hard to build her fortune and entertainment empire, and in doing so generated wealth and opportunities for countless others in several industries. In addition to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's assessment, scholarly analyses into Taylor's effect on the economy dubbed it "Swiftonomics," according to an August report from Northwestern University's NGN:
"One study estimated that two Swift’s performances in July could boost Colorado’s GDP with $140 million in consumer spending ... Chicago’s tourism and conventions bureau announced that the city set a record for occupied hotel rooms in June — nearly 97 percent — thanks in part to the three nights that Swift played at a multi-purpose stadium, Soldier Field. Cincinnati’s economy felt a boost, too, when the singer brought Eras to town. And in Las Vegas, it was Swift’s presence, not gambling, that caused the highest post-pandemic tourism spending."
In that context, it's unsurprising newspaper chain Gannett is seeking a Taylor Swift reporter to focus solely on the singer. News of the job posting spread rapidly across news sites, but none linked directly to the listing on Gannett's "Careers" page.
Titled "Taylor Swift Reporter," it was dated September 12th. Not only did the position pay up to $100,000 a year, it was also open to remote workers -- widening the pool of potential candidates, as long as they were "willing (and legally allowed) to travel internationally."
Gannett's help wanted listing described what the massive media conglomerate sought in their Taylor Swift reporter:
"... 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 ... We are looking for a journalist with a voice — but not a bias — able to quickly cultivate a national audience through smart content designed to meet readers on their terms. This reporter will chronicle the biggest moments on the next portions of Taylor Swift’s tour, offering readers of USA TODAY, The Tennessean and more than 200 local news sources an inside view."
While news about the Taylor Swift reporter position emphasized a salary of "up to $100,000," the rate of pay was hourly, between "$21.63 and $50.87." As such, a full-time reporter would earn between $44,990 and $105,810 -- and if Taylor's sold-out tour was any indication, there would be no shortage of candidates clamoring to be hired.