Media & Creative Jobs

Journalist

Newspaper journalists research and write stories for publication in local or national press. They cover topics varying from news, politics, culture and sport to local and national events, entertainment, lifestyle and human interest stories. Correspondents cover specific geographical areas, or specialist subjects.

What does the job entail?

Typical work activities can include:

• Conducting interviews
• Building a list of reliable contacts (local council, the public, press officers etc)
• Seeking out and investigating stories
• Attending press conferences and asking questions
• Producing concise and accurate copy, often to strict deadlines

Typical Career Routes

Most Journalists start on local or regional newspapers. After a few years as a General Reporter, many people move up to become a senior reporter or a specialist writer of some kind. Other career options include moving into news management by joining the news desk, moving into production or working on page layout and headlines as a Sub-Editor.

Key Skills

• An interest in current affairs at all levels
• A lively interest in people, places and events
• An ability to write in a style which is easy to understand
• Fantastic spelling, grammar and punctuation
• An appreciation of the part a local newspaper plays in the community
• A willingness to accept irregular hours
• An ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Determination and persistence

Training and Qualifications

The usual entry requirement for newspaper journalism is a minimum of five A-C GCSE passes although in recent years it has become rare for a trainee to enter the industry at this level. Over half of the recruits are university graduates and many of the others have achieved at least two A-levels or equivalent. One of the passes at GCSE must be in English. Additional writing courses are beneficial but a strong portfolio of work completed during studies and personal time would be more useful.