How to Become a Journalist | Schools, Salary, Cost, Requirements

So you want to learn how to become a Journalist? Well, becoming a journalist can be a rewarding and exciting career path, but it requires hard work, dedication, and a passion for storytelling.

If you’ve ever been captivated by the power of storytelling, uncovering truths, and communicating with the masses, then becoming a journalist might just be your calling.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through every essential aspect of how to become a journalist, providing you with insights, tips, and resources to embark on this rewarding journey.

In this article, we’ll be sharing with you a few tips on how to become a Journalist.

We’ll also explore the career path of a journalist, including what it takes to become a journalist, the different types of journalism, and the opportunities and challenges that come with this career.

So, keep reading to learn it all.

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What Is Journalism?

Wikipedia explained Journalism as the producing and distributing reports on current or past events.

The word journalism is different from other forms of communication, such as email, tweets, opinions, advertising, and propaganda in some characteristics.

For example, journalism provides valid information so readers and viewers can make reasonable decisions.

The world of journalism is very broad, hence making it very difficult to pin down a definition that dots all the I’s and crosses all the t’s.

But you can gain more insight if you understand who a journalist is.

Who is a Journalist? (Introduction to Journalism)

A journalist is a person who practices journalism, which is the gathering, writing, editing, and publishing of news and other information to the public.

A typical journalist gathers, creates, evaluates, and presents news and information. In other words, a journalist does the investigation and collects and presents real information as a news story.

Successful journalists do not only find the facts but the truth behind the facts. Apart from this, it would be best if you got a good picture of what a journalist does to be classified as successful.

Journalists may work for news organizations, such as newspapers, magazines, television networks, radio stations, online news websites, or news agencies, and can specialize in a particular type of journalism, such as investigative reporting, political journalism, sports journalism, or cultural journalism.

The goal of journalism is to inform the public about important events, provide perspective and analysis, and hold those in power accountable.

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What Does a Journalist Do?

Generally, a journalist investigates, collects, and presents information as a news story that can be presented through television, magazines, newspapers, radio, and the Internet.

What a journalist does depends on the context you are asking from.

The truth is that journalists often have broad careers because they can work within different areas of media. At each of these media places, their tasks tend to be different.

Depending on the specific organization, a journalist can work in any of the following jobs/tasks below:

1. As a Reporter

As a journalist, you can function as a reporter. Here you will get direct involvement in the gathering of information.

They also conduct interviews, find sources, and go ahead to gather all the information needed to write a well-detailed new story.

Working as a reporter, you will also present the information in written or spoken form in news stories, documentaries, and feature articles.

Generally, as a journalist working as a reporter, you will have to cover all kinds of news stories. Some specialize in certain areas such as sports, politics, or lifestyle.

While some may have to work on the staff for large news organizations.

2. As an Editor

As a journalist, you can also work as an editor. Editors are in charge of deciding what goes in a newspaper, magazine, or news bulletin.

In a nutshell, Editors are responsible for the content that is to be written by the journalists and make all the final decisions.

3. As a News Editor

The news editor is in charge of all the news journalists. They are responsible for making all the decisions about the stories to cover and who to work with exactly.

4. As a Sub Editor

A sub-editor takes stories already written and edited by reporters and out them into the right form that suits the special need of their particular newspaper, magazine, or website.

It is important to understand that sub-editors do not gather information by themselves but rather they concentrate on the already existing stories.

Then they try to see how to make it better to match the audience.

5. Photojournalists

A photojournalist uses photography as a way to report the news.

What they do is cover events with a reporter, taking photographs to represent a written story. Or they choose to attend news events independently and do both jobs simultaneously.

6. Feature Writers

A typical writer in this field writes longer stories which will have to give more background to a news story.

This type of writing involves a lot of in-depth research to give readers a lengthy and informative article.

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Why Become a Journalist?

There are a lot of reasons people choose to become a journalist. There is always a story behind their choice of career as a journalist.

But if you do not have that intriguing story yet, here are the benefits you stand to achieve by choosing journalism as a career path.

Flexible Career

Being a journalist is one of the best careers because of its flexibility. As a journalist, many different niches are at your disposal.

All you need to do is to choose one specialization and pursue training and education in that field. If you are interested in politics, art, food, business, and sports, you can and will always find a job related to your passion.

Remember that as much as this career is flexible, it is also competitive. So every day, you may need to prove your journalistic worth.

Helps You Network

Journalists always have the opportunity to talk to new sources daily, and this helps their network build exponentially. Not only can this network offer future story ideas, but it can also help with potential job opportunities.

They can also maximize the interview process by establishing trust with clients; when you do this, they will be more willing to help you next time.

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You Learn Every day

As a journalist, you practically learn every day. You will learn what works, what doesn’t work, and why it is so. Hence, this will teach you introspection.

At the same time, you will learn to challenge yourself, discover your fears and desires, and learn about yourself and your role in the world.

Also, you will learn how to be a good storyteller. This is because of the several days of experience; your perception about how to tell a story will change totally.

It’s a chance to be Informative

The different forms of journalism are about providing the public with truthful insight.

Becoming a journalist, you will learn to take a complex topic and break it down so everyone can understand it.

This is a very important skill you can develop because it is essential to governments and big companies.

Chance to Change Perceptions

This one is always applicable to investigative journalism.

Here the journalist seeks out the truth in murky circumstances and then shines a light on the topic, changing the world’s perceptions about such a situation.

In this role, you will be able to educate, re-educate, inform, and shape public perception. This is common to topics a journalist is passionate about.

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Types of Journalism Available Today

Journalism is a broad field that encompasses many different types of media, including print, broadcast, and digital. Some of the most common types of journalism include:

• News Journalism: This type of journalism involves reporting on current events and breaking news stories. News journalists work for newspapers, television and radio stations, and online news outlets.
• Feature Journalism: Feature journalists write longer, in-depth articles that explore a specific topic or issue in depth. These articles often have a more personal tone and can include interviews, research, and analysis.
• Sports Journalism: Sports journalists cover a wide range of sports-related topics, including games, athletes, and the sports industry.
• Investigative Journalism: Investigative journalists are responsible for uncovering and reporting on important stories that may otherwise go untold. They use their writing skills, research, and investigative techniques to uncover information that is in the public interest.

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Opportunities and Challenges in Journalism

The opportunities and challenges in journalism vary depending on the type of journalism you practice and the media you work for. Some of the opportunities include:

• Exciting and dynamic work: Journalism is a fast-paced, constantly evolving field that offers a chance to make a real impact.
• Flexibility: Journalists can work for a variety of media outlets and can choose to specialize in a particular area of journalism.
• Opportunities for travel: Journalists may have the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world to cover stories.

However, there are also challenges in journalism, including:

• Tight deadlines: Journalists often have tight deadlines to meet, which can be stressful and demanding.
• Competition: There is a lot of competition for jobs in journalism, especially in certain types of media.
• Ethical dilemmas: Journalists often face ethical dilemmas, such as the balance between protecting sources and maintaining the public’s right to know.

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Educational Requirements to Become a Journalist

Earning a degree is one of the best ways to start your journalism career. Typically, a journalist earns a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or English.

Some students opt to double major and complete studies in journalism and also a subject like business or economics.

Journalism majors will take coursework in reporting, English, feature writing and editing, photojournalism, communications, and journalism ethics.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Journalist?

A bachelor’s degree is the typical education track the majority of people take to become a journalist and it takes four years to complete.

As a journalist who wants to succeed, you must progress in your profession. This makes them go to a master’s program, which takes an additional two years.

PhD usually lasts for five years.

Since people’s choice of the level of education they want differs, it is hard to say how many years it takes to become a journalist.

Knowing how long it takes to become a journalist depends on the level of education one wishes to acquire.

How Much Does it Cost to Become a Journalist?

On average, an international student should expect to spend around $34,000 a year to pay for tuition and fees, books and supplies, and room and board costs in journalism school. However, the cost can vary based on the school.

Some schools can cost as low as $11,000 a year, while others can charge a little over $60,000 annually.

This can only happen when you attend a school in your state of residence.

But even if you are in a private school, some good colleges and universities offer financial aid in the form of student loans.

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What to Study to Become a Journalist

There are some courses you will be required to study before you can become a journalist. Studying languages is great because it will allow you to take your journalism qualification worldwide.

Also, you need to study communication to help improve your speaking skills.

Here is a comprehensive list of the courses you need to study if you want to become a journalist:

• English Literature
• Creative Writing
• Media Studies
• Politics
• Languages
• Economics
• History

Best Schools to Study to Become a Journalist

Here is a list of the Best Schools to study Journalist specialization courses:

• University of Florida
• Boston University
• University of Georgia
• Michigan State University
• Marquette University
• New York University

Average Salary of a Journalist

In 2018, the average salary for a journalist was about $43,490.

The average pay for a broadcast news analyst was $64,600, and the median annual pay for reporters and correspondents was $41,260.

Those journalists with little or no experience earn less than $23,490 per year, whereas those with years of experience earn more than $100,930.

Most journalists work full time, except those who freelance and work variable hours depending on whether or not they have an assignment.

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How to Become a Journalist | Detailed Guide

If you want to become a successful journalist, you need first to gain an educational qualification, acquire relevant skills, engage in job training and certifications, and then finally gain experience.

Some steps guide you to becoming a journalist. Knowing and following these steps will aid you in earning your certification very fast and easily.

If you are entering the field with internship experience or starting from scratch, you should follow the steps we stated below to become a journalist.

Step 1. Gain Educational Qualification

One of the first steps to becoming a journalist is to gain a good educational qualification.

To do that, a bachelor’s degree is necessary for this competitive profession.

To gain qualifications in this field, journalism, and communications should be your major, but you can also minor in specialized subjects, such as political science or economics.

In some cases, a 4-year degree in communications or English is acceptable for those with freelance experience in the field.

Some standard undergraduate journalism courses include:

• Investigative journalism
• Broadcast journalism
• Writing for communication
• Reporting
• Communication law
• Field reporting

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Step 2. Acquire Relevant Skills

Communication skills are mandatory for any journalist. If you are planning on entering broadcast journalism, polish your verbal communication skills.

Regardless of the type of field, you want to major in, your written communication skills will have to demonstrate excellent grammar and spelling.

Generally, you have to learn how to spend time researching subjects using a wide range of sources. You can even go further to learn basic techniques such as computer software, cameras, and recorders, which can make the job easier.

Step 3. Engage in Job Training and Certifications

While earning an undergraduate degree, journalism is advisable for a student to pursue internship opportunities.

Internship helps to provide real-world experiences with magazines, newspapers, or television and radio stations.

The American Society of News Editors, suggests freelancing for those without experience from internships or writing for college newspapers.

Finally, internships will train you to become the better journalist you deserve.

Meanwhile, there are no specific certifications required to become a journalist.

Step 4. Gain Experience

The truth is that you need some experience to get a job as a journalist. But you don’t necessarily need a job to get experience.

Most employers will not bother to look at your resume unless you have an internship experience listed.

Even if you intend to be a broadcast journalist, having a portfolio of different writing clips is a good idea to demonstrate you understand how to report on the news.

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FAQs on How to Become a Journalist

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Summary

Embarking on the journey of becoming a journalist is a thrilling endeavor that requires dedication, continuous learning, and a passion for storytelling.

By cultivating your skills, embracing new technologies, and upholding ethical principles, you can make a profound impact on society.

Remember, journalism is not just a profession—it’s a calling to shine a light on truths, inspire change, and foster informed communities.

Journalism is a rewarding and challenging career that requires a combination of education, practical experience, and a passion for storytelling.

Whether you choose to specialize in news, features, sports, or investigative journalism, the key to success is to develop your writing skills, build relationships, and stay on top of the latest trends in the media.

With dedication and hard work, a career in journalism can lead to a fulfilling and impactful life.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of becoming a successful journalist. Remember to stay passionate, stay curious, and never stop learning.

References

• educationchioce.org – How to Become a Journalist: Education and Job Training Requirements for Becoming a Journalist
• theartcareerproject.com – How to Become a Journalist

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