How To Become A News Reporter: What It Is and Career Path

What is a news reporter and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Expert

Aaron Moore Ph.D.

News reporters gather and disseminate the news, whether in print or broadcast form and may cover anything, from local to global news and events. News reporters usually begin covering a story by gathering information via interviews and research. Then they write articles or scripts for broadcasts that clearly analyze, interpret and explain the information for the readers or viewers. News reporters must check their work for accuracy and update and make any necessary changes if conditions change or new details arise. A news reporter needs to establish credibility and form positive relationships with experts and contacts in various fields that provide them with information.

Many employers require that reporters have at least a bachelor's degree in journalism and some field experience. Typically, colleges offer 4-year Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degrees in journalism, with concentrations often available. Since experience is such an important component when it comes to hiring a journalist, many schools require that trainees complete one or more internships to gain hands-on experience in their desired specialization. As an intern or entry-level position, one can expect to earn an hourly wage of $11.30.

What general advice would you give to a News Reporter?

Aaron Moore Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Journalism; Director of Internship Program, Rider University

The journalism field has changed dramatically - and not really for the best. With that said, those beginning in the area need to have a strong social media presence. They need to be able to tell editors they can attract eyeballs to any of their work or content. Before beginners start looking for a journalism job, cultivate a social media presence.

ScoreNews ReporterUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $41,481

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.3

Growth Rate -10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.29%

Asian 9.60%

Black or African American 6.31%

Hispanic or Latino 12.45%

Unknown 4.37%

White 66.98%

Gender

female 55.04%

male 44.96%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress Level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.1

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

2.1

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a news reporter

Explore news reporter education requirements

Most common news reporter degrees

Bachelor's

82.9 %

Associate

6.9 %

Master's

5.7 %

Start to develop specific news reporter skills

Skills	Percentages
Digital Marketing	12.76%
Local Community	10.41%
Facebook	6.50%
Twitter	6.11%
Develop Story Ideas	5.02%

Complete relevant news reporter training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New news reporters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a news reporter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real news reporter resumes.

Research news reporter duties and responsibilities

Report to managing editor as member of editorial staff, contribute to newspaper editorials.
Conduct interviews, edit clips and stories, and announce stories/headlines on air.
Work with editors to deliver content in the appropriate style with an eye for SEO.
Operate digital recording equipment to film b-roll footage, interviews, and on camera reporting.

Prepare your news reporter resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your news reporter resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a news reporter resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable News Reporter Resume templates

Build a professional News Reporter resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your News Reporter resume.

Apply for news reporter jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a news reporter job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do news reporters rate their job?

4/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

News Reporter reviews

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019

Pros

Every day was different, you meet a lot of new people, the events covered could be very exciting

Cons

Physically demanding, low pay and part time positions available to those just starting out, no health insurance, competitive, pressure to be available on call despite terms of contract