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Broadcast News
CNN, NBC News, ABC News
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
News analysts, reporters, and journalists turn scattered facts into stories people can understand quickly. The work stands out because it mixes interviewing, digging through records, and sometimes going on air, all while facts may still be changing; the tradeoff is constant deadline pressure in a field where pay is uneven and newsroom jobs are getting scarcer.
Also known as ReporterNews ReporterJournalistNews CorrespondentMultimedia Journalist
Median Salary
$60,280
Mean $106,030
U.S. Workforce
~42K
4.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-3.9%
49.3K to 47.4K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists sits in the Creative category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~42K workers, with a median annual pay of $60,280 and roughly 4.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 49.3 K in 2024 to 47.4K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or English, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Intern and can progress toward Managing Editor or Bureau Chief. High-value skills usually include AP Style, Copy Editing & Headline Writing, Source Verification, FOIA & Public Records Research, and CMS Platforms (WordPress, Arc Publishing & Drupal), paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Writing, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Talk to sources, set up interviews, and confirm details before a story is published or aired.
- Read documents, public records, and background materials to build a fuller picture of what happened.
- Write or script stories for print, web, radio, TV, or social media, then shape them to fit the space or time available.
- Record interviews or live footage, and sometimes present the story directly to viewers or listeners.
Keep exploring: more Creative careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Talk to sources, set up interviews, and confirm details before a story is published or aired.
02 Read documents, public records, and background materials to build a fuller picture of what happened.
03 Write or script stories for print, web, radio, TV, or social media, then shape them to fit the space or time available.
04 Record interviews or live footage, and sometimes present the story directly to viewers or listeners.
05 Work with editors, producers, and other reporters to decide what gets covered and how the newsroom should handle it.
06 Double-check names, dates, quotes, and numbers, then update the story if new facts come in.
Industries That Hire
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Newspapers & Digital Media
The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters
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Local TV Stations
Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Gray Television
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Radio & Podcasts
NPR, iHeartMedia, Audacy
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Sports Media & Entertainment
ESPN, Fox Sports, The Athletic
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The work is varied: one day you may cover politics, the next day a local crime story, a court hearing, or a live event.
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The average salary is $106,030, so experienced reporters at strong outlets or on-air roles can earn well above the $60,280 median.
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BLS says no work experience or on-the-job training is required, so a strong portfolio can matter more than a long apprenticeship.
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You get direct access to sources, public records, and events, which makes the job appealing if you like asking questions and getting answers first-hand.
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There are still about 4.1K annual openings, so people who can write quickly and verify facts still have opportunities to move in.
Challenges
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Employment is projected to fall from 49.3K to 47.4K by 2034, a 3.9% decline, so this is a shrinking field rather than a growing one.
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The pay spread is wide: the mean salary is far above the median, which means many workers earn much less than the headline average suggests.
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Newsroom budgets are still under pressure, so layoffs and hiring freezes can hit local papers, TV stations, and digital outlets without much warning.
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Deadlines often force you to publish before every fact is perfectly settled, which makes the job stressful and increases the cost of mistakes.
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Automation, wire copy, and social platforms can handle some routine reporting and rewriting, so entry-level work is more competitive than it used to be.
Career Progression
Intern
0-1 years
$28K-$42K
Learns how to chase tips, transcribe interviews, and support reporters while building clips and contacts.
Entry-Level Reporter
1-4 years
$43K-$58K
Covers local beats, files fast updates, and starts handling stories from first call to final draft.
News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist THIS ROLE
3-8 years
$59K-$78K
Develops original stories, interviews sources, and may also write scripts or appear on air; this tier includes the role's median pay.
Senior Reporter or Anchor
7-15 years
$79K-$115K
Handles bigger assignments, breaking news, or live segments and often mentors newer reporters.
Managing Editor or Bureau Chief
12+ years
$116K-$160K
Sets coverage priorities, assigns stories, and oversees quality, deadlines, and staffing across a team.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or English
The standard entry point for this role and the path BLS lists as typical for new hires.
Internships and student newsroom experience
A strong way to break in if you can show clips, bylines, or broadcast samples, even without a long work history.
Certificate in multimedia journalism or broadcast production
A practical alternative for career changers who want job-specific training and a portfolio before applying.
Key Skills
Technical
AP Style, Copy Editing & Headline Writing 76%
Source Verification, FOIA & Public Records Research 74%
CMS Platforms (WordPress, Arc Publishing & Drupal) 72%
Adobe Premiere Pro & Adobe Audition 70%
Live Broadcast Rundown Tools (ENPS & iNews) 68%
Social Media Publishing (Hootsuite, Sprout Social & X) 66%
Soft Skills
SpeakingWritingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingTime Management Job Outlook and Trends
+-3.9%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
4.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 49.3K to 47.4 K over the next decade, representing -3.9% growth. Around 4.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.