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Reporter or Correspondent

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What You Need to Know About Reporter or Correspondent

Occupation Description Collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events by interview, investigation, or observation. Report and write stories for newspaper, news magazine, radio, or television.

Life As a Reporter or Correspondent

  • Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a story.
  • Gather information about events through research, interviews, experience, or attendance at political, news, sports, artistic, social, or other functions.
  • Investigate breaking news developments, such as disasters, crimes, or human-interest stories.
  • Review written, audio, or video copy and correct errors in content, grammar, or punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines.
  • Transmit news stories or reporting information from remote locations, using equipment such as satellite phones, telephones, fax machines, or modems.
  • Revise work to meet editorial approval or to fit time or space requirements.

What Every Reporter or Correspondent Should Know

When polled, Reporters and Correspondents say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

  • Travel Journalist
  • Weather Anchor
  • Anchor
  • Radio News Writer
  • Food Critic

What Kind of Reporter or Correspondent Job Opportunities Are There?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 44,700 jobs in the United States for Reporter or Correspondent. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Reporter or Correspondent. The BLS estimates 3,700 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Reporter or Correspondent are District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, New Hampshire, or Kentucky. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Reporters and Correspondents Salary

Reporters and Correspondents make between $23,490 and $100,930 a year.

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Reporters and Correspondents who work in District of Columbia, New York, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Reporters and Correspondents in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $37,770
Alaska $48,230
Arizona $61,400
Arkansas $32,620
California $67,820
Colorado $55,930
Connecticut $45,130
Delaware $50,580
District of Columbia $100,550
Florida $53,810
Georgia $51,140
Hawaii $43,250
Idaho $34,390
Illinois $53,610
Indiana $46,830
Iowa $32,650
Kansas $47,180
Kentucky $50,190
Louisiana $57,990
Maine $42,650
Maryland $60,170
Massachusetts $53,140
Michigan $47,110
Minnesota $51,770
Mississippi $34,530
Missouri $45,240
Montana $29,270
Nebraska $39,510
Nevada $47,900
New Hampshire $44,900
New Jersey $61,180
New Mexico $49,230
New York $81,930
North Carolina $41,660
North Dakota $43,740
Ohio $42,050
Oklahoma $38,300
Oregon $48,960
Pennsylvania $39,600
South Carolina $46,660
South Dakota $32,390
Tennessee $37,290
Texas $45,910
Utah $50,120
Vermont $38,890
Virginia $49,530
Washington $53,980
West Virginia $38,260
Wisconsin $34,180
Wyoming $30,900

What Tools do Reporters and Correspondents Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Reporters and Correspondents:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Facebook
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • FileMaker Pro
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
  • LexisNexis
  • YouTube
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • ESRI ArcView
  • Social media sites
  • Twitter
  • Mapping software

How to Become a Reporter or Correspondent

What kind of Reporter or Correspondent requirements are there?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Reporter or Correspondent?

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Reporters and Correspondents Sector

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The table below shows the approximate number of Reporters and Correspondents employed by various industries.

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those thinking about becoming a Reporter or Correspondent might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: Jfurrer via Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unreported

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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