Careers in Journalism

The Good Careers Guide* states that journalists write and edit news reports, commentaries, feature articles and blogs for newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and websites, including online publications.  

Good Careers Guide - Journalist* 

Successful journalists - 

• Are able to write clear, concise, objective and accurate material quickly
• Have good general knowledge
• Are interested in current events
• Are able to speak clearly when working on radio and television

Journalists fulfil a range of duties including – 

• Gathering news and information by interviewing people and attending events
• Undertaking research to provide background information for articles
• Assessing the suitability of reports and articles for publication or broadcasting, ensuring they are within an established style and format, and edit as necessary
• Writing articles that comment on or interpret news events, some of which may put forward a point of view on behalf of a publication
• Presenting news on air (television and radio)

Importantly, journalists are required to understand the laws of defamation, contempt, and copyright.  They may have to work long and irregular hours and are often under pressure to meet deadlines.  Journalists may work indoors and carry out interviews by telephone or may have to work outdoors in all kinds of weather, and travel is often required.

Although the Britannica website is an overseas one, it provides useful links regarding the various types of journalism.  It states that journalism is the collection, preparation, and distribution of news and related commentary and feature materials through such print and electronic media as newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, webcasts, podcasts, social networking and social media sites, and e-mail as well as through radio, motion pictures, and television.  Where journalism would once have been only related to newspapers, and news on television and radio, today we see news disseminated through many mediums.