All About Reporters and Correspondents
Reporter or Correspondent Definition Collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events by interview, investigation, or observation. Report and write stories for newspaper, news magazine, radio, or television.
A Day in the Life of a Reporter or Correspondent
- Develop ideas or material for columns or commentaries by analyzing and interpreting news, current issues, or personal experiences.
- Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.
- Report on specialized fields such as medicine, green technology, environmental issues, science, politics, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education.
- Write columns, editorials, commentaries, or reviews that interpret events or offer opinions.
- Research a story’s background information to provide complete and accurate information.
- Conduct taped or filmed interviews or narratives.
Featured schools near , edit
Things a Reporter or Correspondent Should Know How to Do
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Dramatic Critic
- Business Reporter
- Staff Writer
- Broadcast Journalist
- Film Critic
Reporter or Correspondent Employment Estimates
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. There will be an estimated 3,700 positions for Reporter or Correspondent per year.

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
The typical yearly salary for Reporters and Correspondents is somewhere between $23,490 and $100,930.

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
- 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
- Mapping software
Becoming a Reporter or Correspondent
Individuals working as a Reporter or Correspondent have obtained the following education levels:

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

Where Reporters and Correspondents Work

Below are examples of industries where Reporters and Correspondents work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Reporter or Correspondent may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Jfurrer via Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unreported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |