Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts

Summary

Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts inform the public about news and events happening internationally, nationally, and locally.

Quick Facts: Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts
2010 Median Pay	$36,000 per year $17.31 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	58,500
Job Outlook, 2010-20	-6% (Decline moderately)
Employment Change, 2010-20	-3,200

What Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts Do

Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts inform the public about news and events happening internationally, nationally, and locally. They report the news for newspapers, magazines, websites, television, and radio.

Work Environment

Reporters and correspondents spend a lot of time in the field, conducting interviews and investigating stories. The work is often fast paced, with constant demands to meet deadlines and to be the first reporter to publish a news story on a subject.

How to Become a Reporter, Correspondent, or Broadcast News Analyst

Employers generally prefer workers who have a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications and have experience from an internship or from working on a college newspaper.

Pay

The median annual wage of broadcast news analysts was $54,140 in May 2010. The median annual wage of reporters and correspondents was $34,530 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of broadcast news analysts is expected to grow by 10 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment of reporters and correspondents is expected to decline moderately by 8 percent from 2010 to 2020. Declines are expected because of the consolidation of news organizations, a decrease in readership of newspapers, and a decline in viewership for many news television shows.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts by contacting these additional resources.

What Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts Do About this section

Reporters that work in television set up and conduct interviews, which may be broadcast live or recorded for future broadcasts.

Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts inform the public about news and events happening internationally, nationally, and locally. They report the news for newspapers, magazines, websites, television, and radio.

Duties

Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts typically do the following:

• Research topics and stories that an editor or news director has assigned to them
• Interview people who have information, analysis, or opinions relating to a story or article
• Write articles for newspapers, blogs, and magazines and write scripts to be read on television or radio
• Review articles to ensure their accuracy and their use of proper style and grammar
• Develop relationships with experts and contacts who provide tips and leads on stories
• Analyze and interpret information to increase their audiences’ understanding of the news
• Update stories as new information becomes available

Reporters and correspondents, also called journalists, often work for a particular type of media organization, such as a television or radio station, or a newspaper. Those who work in television and radio set up and conduct interviews, which can be broadcast live or recorded for future broadcasts.

These workers are often responsible for editing interviews and other recordings into a cohesive story and for writing and recording voiceovers that provide the audience with the facts of the story. They may create multiple versions of the same story for different broadcasts.

Most television and radio shows have hosts, also called anchors, who report the news and introduce stories from reporters.

Journalists for print media write articles to be used in newspapers, magazines, and online publications. Most newspapers and magazines have both print and online versions, so reporters must produce content for both versions. Often, doing so requires staying up to date on new developments of a story so that the online editions can be updated with the most current information.

Some journalists convey stories through both broadcast and print media. For example, television stations often also have a website, and a reporter may produce a blog post or article for the website. In addition, those working for newspapers or magazines may create videos or podcasts that people access online.

Some journalists cover a particular topic, such as sports, medicine, or politics. Others cover a wide range of issues.

Journalists in large cities or working for large news organizations are more likely to specialize. Journalists who work in small cities, towns, or organizations may need to cover a wider range of subjects.

Some reporters live in other countries and cover international news. Some journalists, called commentators or columnists, interpret the news or offer opinions to readers, viewers, or listeners.

Although some broadcast news analysts present weather reports, broadcast meteorologists are a type of atmospheric scientist. For more information about workers who create and provide weather reports and short-term forecasts, see the profile on atmospheric scientists, including meteorologists.

Some reporters—particularly those who work for print news—are self-employed and take freelance assignments from news organizations. Freelance assignments are given to writers on an as-needed basis. Because these reporters are paid for the individual story, they work with many organizations and often spend some of their time marketing their stories and looking for their next assignment.

Some people with a background as a reporter, correspondent, or broadcast news analyst teach journalism or communications at colleges and universities. For information on workers who teach at colleges and universities, see the profile on postsecondary teachers.

Work Environment About this section

Reporters and correspondents spend a lot of time in the field conducting interviews and investigating stories.

Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts held about 58,500 jobs in 2010. In 2010, the following industries employed the most reporters, correspondents and broadcast news analysts:

Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts spend a lot of time in the field, conducting interviews and investigating stories. Many reporters spend little to no time in an office. They travel to be on location for events or to meet contacts and file stories remotely.

Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts covering international news often live in other countries. Stories such as natural disasters and wars can put reporters in dangerous situations.

Work Schedules

Most reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts work full time. The work of journalists is often fast paced, with constant demands to meet deadlines and be the first reporter to publish a news story on a subject. When news is breaking, reporters may need to work long hours or change their work schedule to follow the story. Because news can happen any time of the day, journalists may need to work nights and weekends.

How to Become a Reporter, Correspondent, or Broadcast News Analyst About this section

Journalists need to be persistent in their pursuit of the story as getting the facts of story can be difficult, especially when those involved refuse to comment.

Employers generally prefer workers who have a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications and have experience from an internship or from working on a college newspaper.

Education

Most employers prefer workers who have a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications. However, some employers hire applicants who have a degree in a related subject, such as English or political science, if they have relevant work experience.

Bachelor’s degree programs in journalism and communications include classes in journalistic ethics and how to research stories and conduct interviews. Many programs require students to take liberal arts classes, such as English, history, economics, and political science, so that they are prepared to cover stories on a wide range of subjects.

Some schools offer graduate programs in journalism and communications. These programs prepare students who have a bachelor’s degree in another field to become journalists.

Employers generally require workers to have experience from internships or from working on school newspapers. While attending college, many students seek multiple internships with different news organizations.

Advancement

With experience, reporters and correspondents can advance from news organizations in small cities or towns to news organizations in large cities. Alternatively, they may become editors or news directors.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Journalists need to be able to report the news both verbally and in writing. Strong writing skills are particularly important for journalists in all kinds of media.

Objectivity. Journalists need to report the facts of the news impartially and without inserting their opinion or bias into the story.

People skills. To develop contacts and conduct interviews, reporters need to build good relationships with many people. They also need to work well with other journalists, editors, and news directors.

Persistence. Sometimes, getting the facts of a story is difficult, particularly when those involved refuse to be interviewed or provide comment. Journalists need to be persistent in their pursuit of the story.

Stamina. The work of journalists is often fast paced, and the hours can be long and exhausting. Reporters need to be able to keep up with the long hours.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of broadcast news analysts was $54,140 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,560, and the top 10 percent earned more than $146,230.

The median annual wage of reporters and correspondents was $34,530 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,970, and the top 10 percent earned more than $75,230.

Most reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts work full time. The work of journalists is often fast paced, with constant demands to meet deadlines and be the first reporter to publish a news story on subject. When news is breaking, reporters may need to work long hours or change their work schedule to follow the story. Because news can happen any time of the day, journalists may need to work nights and weekends.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of reporters and correspondents is expected to moderately decline by 8 percent from 2010 to 2020. Declines are expected because of the consolidation of news organizations, decreases in the readership of newspapers, and declines in viewership for many news television shows.

Employment of broadcast news analysts is expected to grow by 10 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Growth is expected as news agencies prefer news analysts over traditional reporters to provide insight and commentary about the news.

In recent years, news organizations have begun to merge and consolidate, meaning that larger organizations acquire smaller organizations. Often, after a merger, the news agency reduces the number of reporters and correspondents on staff. As a result, the demand for journalists has decreased.

In addition, readership of newspapers and the viewing audience for many news television shows have been declining. As a result, news organizations may have more difficulty selling advertising, which is often their primary source of revenue.

To make up for decreased revenue, news organizations may need to downsize and employ fewer journalists. However, an increase in demand for online news and podcasts (audio or video digital media files that can often be downloaded from a website) may offset some of the downsizing.

Job Prospects

Opportunities are expected to be limited because of both the number of workers who are interested in entering this field and declines in the number of positions. Prospects should be best for those with experience in the field, often gained through internships or by working on school papers.

In addition, opportunities will likely be better in small local newspapers or television and radio stations.

Competition will be particularly strong in large metropolitan areas, at national newspapers with higher circulation figures, and at network television stations.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about broadcast news analysts, visit

National Association of Broadcasters

For more information about careers in journalism and about internships, visit

Dow Jones News Fund

For more information about accredited programs in journalism and mass communications, visit

Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications