Journalist

Journalists seek out news and report it to the public as quickly as possible. They aim to present stories in a clear, engaging style.

A journalist may:

• attend press launches, courts, council meetings and other events
• interview people by phone or in person
• respond to tip-offs, calls and news releases
• record notes in shorthand or on tape and type stories up on a computer.

In addition to the pressure of working to deadlines and getting stories out ahead of the competition, journalists must keep their stories balanced, fair and lawful.

Long and unpredictable hours are common in journalism. Journalists generally work 39 hours a week, but they may work shifts to cover nights and weekends. They have to travel to cover news items, and may sometimes work outdoors.

Salaries start from around £12,000 for new local journalists, rising to £80,000 or more for top journalists in national news.

Journalists need to be:

• inquisitive
• excellent writers
• good at relating to all kinds of people
• cool under pressure
• good at absorbing information quickly
• interested in current affairs.

There are opportunities across the UK, but competition for posts is keen. Enthusiasm and work experience count for a great deal with employers. Journalists are employed by local and national newspapers, broadcasters, news agencies, magazines and online news operations.

Some journalists have a degree, as well as a vocational or postgraduate qualification n journalism. The degree studied does not need to be in journalism, although many universities offer courses in media studies or similar subjects.

Journalists train on the job. They may also study on day release or work towards work-related qualifications. Some big news groups, such as the BBC, run in-house training schemes. There are also short courses to help develop new skills.

With experience, journalists may move on to lead a team of reporters, or they may specialise in a field such as crime or business reporting. They may move to a publication with a larger circulation, or from print to broadcast journalism. Some take on new responsibilities, eg as editors. Others move into press and public relations work.

Further details