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Author vs correspondent

The differences between authors and correspondents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an author, becoming a correspondent takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a correspondent has an average salary of $82,217, which is higher than the $78,368 average annual salary of an author.

The top three skills for an author include veterans, JAN and DOD. The most important skills for a correspondent are news stories, news coverage, and feature stories.

Author vs correspondent overview

AuthorCorrespondent
Yearly salary$78,368$82,217
Hourly rate$37.68$39.53
Growth rate4%-10%
Number of jobs9532,835
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4240
Years of experience42

What does an author do?

An author is an individual individual responsible for developing creative stories published in formats such as books, movies, or television scripts. Authors conduct research of information that may be included in their works, whether they are fictional or non-fictional. Before publicly making their work available, authors must present a draft to editors for feedback and approval. Authors may work as self-employed or freelance and sell their written content to book publishers or advertising agencies.

What does a correspondent do?

A Correspondent is the backbone of every news agency today. It is through the correspondent experts write the news of a particular topic. Through Correspondents, a news agency can get an in-depth report of happenings and events which may not be possible through ordinary reporters. Correspondents are expected to have versatility and command on a particular topic. They are resourceful in finding newsworthy articles and getting the necessary interviews and data for a well-balanced informative report.

Author vs correspondent salary

Authors and correspondents have different pay scales, as shown below.

AuthorCorrespondent
Average salary$78,368$82,217
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $118,000Between $50,000 And $134,000
Highest paying CityBeverly, MAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew Jersey
Best paying companyJohn Wiley & SonsAmerican Broadcasting Company
Best paying industryTechnologyMedia

Differences between author and correspondent education

There are a few differences between an author and a correspondent in terms of educational background:

AuthorCorrespondent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorBusinessJournalism
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNorthwestern University

Author vs correspondent demographics

Here are the differences between authors' and correspondents' demographics:

AuthorCorrespondent
Average age4240
Gender ratioMale, 49.5% Female, 50.5%Male, 45.0% Female, 55.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.9% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.7% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage16%10%

Differences between author and correspondent duties and responsibilities

Author example responsibilities.

  • Manage and integrate web content for an international client using proprietary CMS software.
  • Manage the proposal lifecycle, including RFP analysis, regular communications, proposal development and production consistent with branding strategies.
  • Work on DNA mutagenesis, DNA construction (insertion, deletion), PCR.
  • Create online marketing materials including a website that employs HTML, JavaScript, PHP, AJAX, and MySQL.
  • Authenticate identity and verify that requests for PKI digital certificates meet all requirements of DOD and internal procedures.
  • Authore several books on JavaScript, HTML/CSS
  • Show more

Correspondent example responsibilities.

  • Lead reporting in Mongolia, representing AFP's regional headquarters in Beijing.
  • Manage constituent relations regarding financial services, housing, budget, judiciary, homeland security, and government oversight issues.
  • Develop Facebook strategy, execute launch and manage content.
  • Handle education, foreign affairs, judiciary and natural resources issues; assist with appropriations requests.
  • Process FHA, VA and correspondent disclosures.
  • Gain knowledge of interviewing, photography, and newsworthiness.
  • Show more

Author vs correspondent skills

Common author skills
  • Veterans, 17%
  • JAN, 15%
  • DOD, 10%
  • HTML, 9%
  • Twitter, 5%
  • Fiction, 4%
Common correspondent skills
  • News Stories, 17%
  • News Coverage, 11%
  • Feature Stories, 7%
  • Instagram, 6%
  • Financial Statements, 6%
  • Develop Story Ideas, 4%

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