ADD ADVICE TO FAVJournalist
Journalists research and write up news stories and sometimes features.
What journalists do
- attend events marked in the newsroom diary
- on local newspapers, make regular calls to police stations, fire stations, etc
- spend time out of the office, following the story
- develop contacts and carry out interviews.
Key skills
- a ’nose’ for a story
- self-motivation and determination
- ability to compile a story quickly
- persuasiveness
- good communication skills
- keyboard skills, and sometimes shorthand.
Training to be a journalist
Postgraduate courses are available, which give the appropriate National Council for the Training of Journalists and N/SVQ qualifications. An 18-month training contract is usual after a full-time course.
It is sometimes possible to gain work on a magazine or newspaper directly after university, usually after a period of work experience.
Salaries
Journalists may be employed on a fixed salary, on contract or as freelance contributors. Starting salaries for trainees range from £11,000 to £15,000. Those who have completed postgraduate courses could earn around £20,000. Freelancers often sell features for around £300.
