Life As a Reporter or Correspondent
Reporter or Correspondent Job Description Collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events by interview, investigation, or observation. Report and write stories for newspaper, news magazine, radio, or television.
List of Reporter or Correspondent Job Duties
- Discuss issues with editors to establish priorities or positions.
- Conduct taped or filmed interviews or narratives.
- Review and evaluate notes taken about news events to isolate pertinent facts and details.
- Determine a published or broadcasted story’s emphasis, length, and format and organize material accordingly.
- Report on specialized fields such as medicine, green technology, environmental issues, science, politics, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education.
- Photograph or videotape news events.
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Reporter or Correspondent Skills
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:
- Music Critic
- Food Critic
- Movie Critic
- News Anchor
- Environmental Journalist
Job Demand for Reporters and Correspondents
In the United States, there were 44,700 jobs for Reporter or Correspondent in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Reporter or Correspondent. The BLS estimates 3,700 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Salary for a Reporter or Correspondent
Reporters and Correspondents make between $23,490 and $100,930 a year.
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 & Technology do Reporters and Correspondents Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Reporters and Correspondents may use on a daily basis:
- 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
How to Become a Reporter or Correspondent
Education needed to be a Reporter or Correspondent:
What work experience do I need to become a Reporter or Correspondent?
Reporters and Correspondents Sector
Reporters and Correspondents work in the following industries:
Related Careers
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.
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