Career Spotlight - Newspaper Journalism

What is a Newspaper Journalist?

A Newspaper Journalist, or Reporter, has the role of investigating and writing stories for local, regional or national newspapers or on a newspaper’s online version. A Journalist at a national newspaper might cover events such as general elections and world events, while one contributing to a community newspaper might find themselves covering local council meetings and store openings.

A Newspaper Journalist’s work will involve investigating stories as soon they break, following up potential article leads as well as developing new contacts. A Journalist will have the task of interviewing people both in person and telephonically, as well as attending press conferences, armed with recording equipment or pen and paper to capture information. A successful reporter will come up with new ideas for stories and write up articles keeping to the style of the publication he or she is writing for.

What Skills Do I Need?

A successful Journalist is determined and persistent and possesses good listening and questioning skills. He or she must have excellent writing skills and a flawless command of the language in which they are reporting. An interest in current affairs and an enquiring and inquisitive mind are both valuable assets. A Reporter will have the ability to put the person he or she is interviewing at ease and instil confidence enough for the person to open up without fear. A healthy level of computer skills is necessary, as a Journalist will need to type articles quickly and effectively - also, plenty of research will be done on the internet. Lastly, a Reporter needs to have shorthand skills as the ability to take effective notes at speed is mandatory.

What Qualifications Do I Need?

There are two options available to an individual interested in pursuing a career in Journalism. Firstly, there is the option of studying prior to applying for a job, known as “pre-entry”. There are Certificate Courses available – short courses for specific topics – though the more comprehensive alternative would be a Bachelor of Arts Degree specialising in Journalism. The next step would be to apply for a junior position at a local or regional newspaper in order to gain experience.

The second option available is on-the-job-training, also known as “direct entry”. This entails joining a local or regional newspaper as a trainee. If this is the option you select, you should have some prior writing experience. This experience can be gained by volunteering as an intern at a local paper, submitting articles to websites, or submitting articles to your local newspaper. Keep a record of all the articles you have written, especially if they have a by-line featuring your name, to show a prospective employer.

What are the Working Hours and Conditions Like?

A Journalist will need to be flexible about the hours which he or she works as breaking news does not stick to a 9 – 5 schedule. Following up on stories and meeting deadlines will mean long and irregular hours which may include evenings, weekends as well as public holidays. Journalists generally work out of a large open-plan office shared with others – this can be rather hectic and noisy. A fair amount of time is spent outside of the office as well, chasing up stories. Journalists are required to travel within the areas covered by the newspaper he or she is employed by – if you work for a national publication, this may mean travelling internationally at short notice.