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Beat reporter vs reporter

The differences between beat reporters and reporters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a beat reporter and a reporter. Additionally, a beat reporter has an average salary of $65,737, which is higher than the $46,667 average annual salary of a reporter.

The top three skills for a beat reporter include feature stories, twitter and hard news stories. The most important skills for a reporter are news stories, digital marketing, and facebook.

Beat reporter vs reporter overview

Beat ReporterReporter
Yearly salary$65,737$46,667
Hourly rate$31.60$22.44
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs2,13311,179
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 86%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Beat reporter vs reporter salary

Beat reporters and reporters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Beat ReporterReporter
Average salary$65,737$46,667
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $117,000Between $29,000 And $73,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Citi
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between beat reporter and reporter education

There are a few differences between a beat reporter and a reporter in terms of educational background:

Beat ReporterReporter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 86%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorJournalismJournalism
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Beat reporter vs reporter demographics

Here are the differences between beat reporters' and reporters' demographics:

Beat ReporterReporter
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 59.3% Female, 40.7%Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.7% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%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 Percentage10%10%

Differences between beat reporter and reporter duties and responsibilities

Beat reporter example responsibilities.

  • Develop and write columns and editorials in the sports field as well as managed the blog website.
  • Update newspaper's Facebook account.
  • Cover issues relating back to health, writing print stories, producing broadcast video and photography.
  • Used twitter to monitor trending topics and reach out to points of contact to cover crime and jurisprudence.
  • Interview sources daily; coordinate frequently with editorial and photography departments.
  • Construct and edit web-published multimedia pieces that are featured on the university's athletic programs.
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Reporter example responsibilities.

  • Report to managing editor as member of editorial staff, contribute to newspaper editorials.
  • Edit and revise press releases and submissions; proofread large amount of copy.
  • Use social media (i.e Twitter, Facebook) to relay 'trouble-spots' to local drivers.
  • Cover NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR and general sports news events for as Dallas-based free-lance reporter.
  • Report and write for metro, arts, lifestyle, real estate, and regional sections of major daily newspaper.
  • Cover local government, environmental issues and write features in addition to photography and pagination for twice-weekly newspaper.
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Beat reporter vs reporter skills

Common beat reporter skills
  • Feature Stories, 17%
  • Twitter, 10%
  • Hard News Stories, 8%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Photography, 6%
  • Press Conferences, 5%
Common reporter skills
  • News Stories, 12%
  • Digital Marketing, 10%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Photography, 5%
  • Feature Stories, 4%

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