How long does it take to become a Reporter?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a reporter. That is the time it takes to learn specific reporter skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 5 to 7 years years to become a reporter.

Can you be a reporter without a degree?

Yes, you can be a reporter without a degree. While many newspapers and larger media outlets may require a journalism degree, there are no industry standards regarding educational requirements or certifications needed to be a reporter.

Do journalists get paid well?

No, journalists do not get paid well. While some journalists get paid well, the average salary for a journalist is $52,000 a year mid-career journalist. Someone just starting typically earns closer to $32,000 a year. Even less if you're beginning as a freelance journalist. However, the top 10% of journalists make around $86,000 a year. Factors such as years of experience, the company you work for, and location impact how much a journalist gets paid.

How do I become a reporter with no experience?

To become a reporter with no experience, you should attend school, apply for internships, gain outside knowledge, and network. To get started in a career as a reporter, consider earning a bachelor's degree in journalism or communications.

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

What is a reporter and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Aaron Moore Ph.D.

It is the reporter's responsibility to put across honest and trustworthy information to the public viewers or listeners as the case may be through different means like print and media. As a reporter, you must make certain that you gather essential and veritable data that is validated by interviews and remarks of those concerned and provides succinct and extensively illuminating materials within a designated time.

You must also effectively collaborate with every worker, remain proficient at all times, and obey the policies and regulations laid by the organization or network. You are also required to modify and review press releases and presentations and check many copies.

As a reporter, you must have good communication, research, problem-solving, and creative skills. You should also possess great attention to detail and digital literacy. Asides from this, you must have a bachelor's degree, although a master's degree can be used as an alternative. A reporter in the United States earns an average yearly salary of $41,720 or $20.06 per hour.

What general advice would you give to a 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.

ScoreReporterUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $46,667

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 9.71%

Black or African American 6.41%

Hispanic or Latino 12.69%

Unknown 4.39%

White 66.51%

Gender

female 55.19%

male 44.81%

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 reporter

Explore reporter education requirements

Most common reporter degrees

Bachelor's

81.4 %

Master's

7.7 %

Associate

6.5 %

Start to develop specific reporter skills

Skills	Percentages
News Stories	12.32%
Digital Marketing	10.33%
Facebook	6.06%
Twitter	5.72%
Photography	5.20%

Complete relevant reporter training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 reporter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real reporter resumes.

Research reporter duties and responsibilities

Report to managing editor as member of editorial staff, contribute to newspaper editorials.
Edit and revise press releases and submissions; proofread large amount of copy.
Use social media (i.e Twitter, Facebook) to relay 'trouble-spots' to local drivers.
Cover NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR and general sports news events for as Dallas-based free-lance reporter.

Prepare your reporter resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 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 Reporter Resume templates

Build a professional 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 Reporter resume.

Apply for reporter jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a 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 reporters rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Reporter reviews

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