News Reporter Training and Jobs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Part-Time and Self Employment
About 17% of news reporters work less than full-time. In 11% of the cases, workers work for themselves.
Career Videos
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
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $37,000 | 120 | -16% |
| Montgomery | $37,000 | 70 | +54% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $45,000 | 60 | +28% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $48,000 | 470 | -9% |
| Tucson | $42,000 | 170 | +73% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $31,000 | 120 | +109% |
| Fort Smith | $27,000 | 40 | +19% |
| Little Rock | $40,000 | 70 | -30% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $54,000 | 130 | +42% |
| Los Angeles | $50,000 | 1,310 | +11% |
| Oakland | $63,000 | 150 | -48% |
| Riverside | $40,000 | 230 | -35% |
| Sacramento | $53,000 | 180 | -29% |
| Salinas | $50,000 | 50 | +12% |
| San Diego | $41,000 | 310 | -19% |
| San Francisco | $54,000 | 580 | +100% |
| Santa Ana | $46,000 | 250 | -41% |
| Santa Barbara | $39,000 | 40 | -15% |
| Santa Rosa | $44,000 | 40 | -18% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $42,000 | 80 | +11% |
| Denver | $67,000 | 510 | +40% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $39,000 | 130 | +6% |
| Hartford | $46,000 | 220 | +32% |
| New Haven | $42,000 | 80 | +3% |
| Norwich | $43,000 | 40 | +19% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $63,000 | 2,350 | +230% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $48,000 | 70 | +29% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $48,000 | 150 | -26% |
| Jacksonville | $37,000 | 140 | -20% |
| Miami | $54,000 | 360 | +26% |
| Orlando | $60,000 | 350 | +18% |
| Tampa | $41,000 | 280 | -16% |
| West Palm Beach | 200 | +33% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $26,000 | 30 | +87% |
| Atlanta | $82,000 | 360 | -47% |
| Augusta | $34,000 | 60 | +4% |
| Columbus | $33,000 | 40 | +33% |
| Macon | $24,000 | 50 | +106% |
| Savannah | $35,000 | 40 | -3% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $35,000 | 80 | +7% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $35,000 | 60 | +116% |
| Chicago | $59,000 | 1,120 | +2% |
| Peoria | $33,000 | 130 | +172% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $44,000 | 60 | +25% |
| Fort Wayne | $42,000 | 100 | +74% |
| Gary | $39,000 | 70 | -9% |
| Indianapolis | $51,000 | 270 | +3% |
| Lafayette | 40 | +100% | |
| South Bend | $39,000 | 60 | +69% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $35,000 | 80 | +108% |
| Davenport | $29,000 | 110 | +110% |
| Des Moines | $33,000 | 210 | +122% |
| Iowa City | $29,000 | 40 | +115% |
| Sioux City | $30,000 | 70 | +265% |
| Waterloo | $27,000 | 50 | +118% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $50,000 | 110 | +34% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | 80 | +17% | |
| Louisville | 240 | +36% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $45,000 | 140 | +31% |
| Lafayette | $31,000 | 40 | +1% |
| New Orleans | $46,000 | 170 | +11% |
| Shreveport | $40,000 | 50 | -1% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $34,000 | 90 | +59% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $54,000 | 190 | -50% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $41,000 | 50 | +86% |
| Boston | $70,000 | 650 | +28% |
| Springfield | $40,000 | 200 | +134% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $33,000 | 100 | -49% |
| Grand Rapids | $34,000 | 100 | -8% |
| Lansing | $54,000 | 90 | +61% |
| Saginaw | $47,000 | 40 | +83% |
| Warren | $38,000 | 260 | -17% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $27,000 | 70 | +95% |
| Minneapolis | $42,000 | 720 | +38% |
| St Cloud | $38,000 | 30 | +16% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $42,000 | 110 | +52% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $26,000 | 40 | +88% |
| Jefferson City | $38,000 | 80 | +308% |
| Joplin | $23,000 | 50 | +138% |
| Kansas City | $48,000 | 360 | +22% |
| Springfield | $30,000 | 80 | +49% |
| St Joseph | $28,000 | 40 | +208% |
| St Louis | $36,000 | 370 | -5% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $32,000 | 50 | +122% |
| Missoula | 40 | +198% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $27,000 | 110 | +146% |
| Omaha | $27,000 | 300 | +120% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $47,000 | 210 | -15% |
| Reno | $47,000 | 70 | +30% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $59,000 | 40 | +42% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $46,000 | 60 | -61% |
| Edison | $88,000 | 250 | -17% |
| Newark | $54,000 | 180 | -38% |
| Trenton | $39,000 | 50 | -22% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $39,000 | 180 | +62% |
| Santa Fe | $30,000 | 40 | +147% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $59,000 | 150 | +15% |
| Buffalo | $64,000 | 170 | +6% |
| Nassau | $64,000 | 380 | +3% |
| New York | $63,000 | 3,120 | +105% |
| Poughkeepsie | $40,000 | 30 | -57% |
| Rochester | $34,000 | 140 | -5% |
| Syracuse | $44,000 | 90 | +0% |
| Utica | $34,000 | 50 | +45% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $32,000 | 60 | +21% |
| Charlotte | $47,000 | 230 | -8% |
| Durham | 100 | +27% | |
| Greensboro | $36,000 | 90 | -12% |
| Raleigh | $46,000 | 90 | -40% |
| Wilmington | $29,000 | 60 | +59% |
| Winston Salem | 40 | -33% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $34,000 | 60 | +79% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $34,000 | 110 | +19% |
| Canton | $36,000 | 70 | +50% |
| Cincinnati | $43,000 | 230 | -22% |
| Cleveland | $31,000 | 410 | +37% |
| Columbus | $34,000 | 590 | +120% |
| Dayton | $39,000 | 140 | +27% |
| Youngstown | $38,000 | 70 | +9% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $28,000 | 230 | +37% |
| Tulsa | $53,000 | 150 | +21% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $45,000 | 80 | +105% |
| Portland | $44,000 | 370 | +24% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $37,000 | 100 | +0% |
| Harrisburg | $34,000 | 140 | +52% |
| Philadelphia | $37,000 | 510 | -9% |
| Pittsburgh | $43,000 | 480 | +43% |
| Scranton | $43,000 | 130 | +74% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $50,000 | 190 | +17% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $36,000 | 90 | +9% |
| Columbia | $35,000 | 110 | +9% |
| Greenville | $30,000 | 90 | +5% |
| Spartanburg | $40,000 | 30 | -5% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $27,000 | 60 | +260% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $41,000 | 80 | +24% |
| Johnson City | $26,000 | 40 | +111% |
| Knoxville | $40,000 | 80 | -17% |
| Memphis | $31,000 | 170 | -5% |
| Morristown | $29,000 | 30 | +160% |
| Nashville | $38,000 | 240 | +11% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $41,000 | 310 | +35% |
| Beaumont | $35,000 | 80 | +78% |
| Brownsville | $44,000 | 70 | +95% |
| Corpus Christi | $38,000 | 40 | -20% |
| Dallas | $47,000 | 390 | -37% |
| El Paso | $41,000 | 50 | -36% |
| Fort Worth | $33,000 | 190 | -25% |
| Houston | $37,000 | 520 | -33% |
| Killeen | 40 | +13% | |
| Mcallen | $30,000 | 50 | -23% |
| San Antonio | $30,000 | 250 | -2% |
| Sherman | $25,000 | 40 | +288% |
| Waco | $29,000 | 40 | +48% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $40,000 | 240 | +36% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $40,000 | 60 | +97% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $33,000 | 30 | +29% |
| Richmond | $49,000 | 170 | -5% |
| Virginia Beach | $49,000 | 300 | +36% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $56,000 | 370 | -10% |
| Spokane | $50,000 | 80 | +38% |
| Tacoma | $56,000 | 60 | -21% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $35,000 | 80 | +98% |
| Huntington | $41,000 | 40 | +28% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | $38,000 | 70 | +49% |
| Madison | $28,000 | 170 | +75% |
| Milwaukee | $40,000 | 270 | +11% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne | $33,000 | 30 | +182% |