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News Reporters Job Overview

News reporters write and report news stories for newspapers, radio or television. They investigate news, look at documents, observe events at the scene and interview people. News reporters take notes and photographs and shoot videos. At their office, they organize material, determine the focus or emphasis of their story, write stories and edit video materials. Many reporters enter information or write stories using computers and electronically submit the material to their offices from remote locations. General-assignment reporters write about occurrences such as accidents, political rallies, celebrity visits or business closings. Some write on specific topics, such as crime, health, politics, foreign affairs, sports, theater, consumer affairs, social events, science, business or religion. Investigative reporters cover stories that may require many days or weeks of information gathering.

News Reporters Schools and Degrees

Most news reporters have a bachelor's degree in journalism or some related field. Most colleges and universities offer programs in journalism. Courses in business, speech and computer science are also useful. Large newspapers and broadcast stations look for reporters with a degree in a specialized area. A liberal arts bachelor's degree coupled with a master's degree in journalism provides excellent opportunities in the field. More than 1,500 institutions offer programs in communications, journalism and related programs. In 2007, over 100 of these were accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. High school courses in English, journalism and social studies provide a good foundation for college programs.

Job Requirements

News reporters should be aware of current events, be persistent, self-motivated and poised. They need excellent word-processing skills. Computer graphics and desktop-publishing skills also are useful. Knowledge of news photography is also valuable for entry-level positions. Reporters should be dedicated to providing accurate and impartial news. Persistence, initiative, resourcefulness and physical stamina are all important. Broadcast reporters and news analysts must be comfortable on camera. All reporters must be at ease in unfamiliar places and with a variety of people. Positions involving on-air work require a pleasant voice and appearance.

Nature of Work

A reporters’ job can be very hectic, as they are under constant pressure to meet deadlines and find stories. Covering wars, political uprisings, fires, floods and similar events can often be dangerous. Their working hours vary. Reporters for morning papers often work from the late afternoon until midnight. Radio and television reporters usually are assigned to a day or evening shift. Magazine reporters usually work during the day. Reporters sometimes have to change their work hours to meet a deadline or to follow late-breaking developments. Their work demands long hours, irregular schedules and some travel.

News Reporters Jobs and Outlook

According to research in 2006, news reporters held about 59,000 jobs in the U.S. That number is expected to grow by 1% in the next ten years. Employment is the highest in the following industries:

• Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
• Management of Companies and Enterprises
• Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
• Other Information Services
• Radio and Television Broadcasting

The mean hourly wage for news reporters in the US is about $20.76, while the mean salary is around $43,170.

Job Numbers and Growth

News reporters nationally number 59,000. The unemployment level for workers is low, compared to other occupations. About 4% of employees were unemployed recently.

Area Job Conditions

News reporters are relatively common in Ames (Iowa), Cedar Rapids (Iowa), and Washington (District of Columbia). They are rarer in Jacksonville (Florida), Houston (Texas), and Honolulu (Hawaii).

Workers are paid highest in Springfield (Illinois), Washington (District of Columbia), and Buffalo (New York), and lowest in Joplin (Missouri), Ames (Iowa), and Lincoln (Nebraska).

Training and Education

Employees are generally expected to have a bachelor's degree. About 85% of news reporters hold a bachelor's degree or better. Currently 14% of workers have some college education, though not a degree. About 1% of employees were able to get their jobs with a high-school diploma. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

About 17% of news reporters work less than full-time. In 11% of the cases, workers work for themselves.

News Reporters by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin