Journalist

Journalist job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Journalists write and assemble together news stories that will interest their audience. By gathering together a number of different sources and ensuring that all the arguments are represented, they keep their audience abreast of events in their world.

The job typically involves:

• reading press releases
• researching articles
• establishing and maintaining contacts
• interviewing sources
• writing, editing, and submitting copy
• attending events
• proofreading
• verifying statements and facts
• staying up to date with privacy, contempt and defamation law
• liaising with editors, sub–editors, designers and photographers.

Promotional prospects are good, with structured career paths and the possibility of transferring between television, radio, newspaper and publishing work.

Typical employers of journalists

• newspapers
• magazines
• newswires
• websites
• radio stations
• television companies
• periodicals publishers.

Approximately 30% of journalists work freelance. However, to do so you will need a network of industry contacts, the ability to propose strong pitches and a reputation for reliability.

Vacancies are advertised online, in Media Week, UK Press Gazette Campaign, Broadcast and The Bookseller. Many jobs receive little advertising, so networking, internships and speculative applications (including samples of published work) are advisable.

Some employers, including periodical publishers, the BBC and ITN, operate graduate trainee schemes - early applications for such schemes are advisable.

Qualifications and training required

Most journalists now have degrees, and while any subject is acceptable, English or writing degrees are preferred. Specialist subjects such as economics, languages or sciences can be a great advantage.

Most jobs require a qualification accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). Several years worth of relevant experience is also essential and can be gained through published articles, freelance work, writing competitions, or voluntary work.

A full clean driving license is a common requirement.

Key skills for journalists

• enthusiasm
• stamina
• determination
• perseverance
• excellent oral or written skills
• inter-personal skills.