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Freelance reporter vs news reporter

The differences between freelance reporters and news 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 freelance reporter and a news reporter. Additionally, a freelance reporter has an average salary of $59,035, which is higher than the $41,481 average annual salary of a news reporter.

The top three skills for a freelance reporter include photography, feature stories and conduct interviews. The most important skills for a news reporter are digital marketing, local community, and facebook.

Freelance reporter vs news reporter overview

Freelance ReporterNews Reporter
Yearly salary$59,035$41,481
Hourly rate$28.38$19.94
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs3,76811,609
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Freelance reporter vs news reporter salary

Freelance reporters and news reporters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Freelance ReporterNews Reporter
Average salary$59,035$41,481
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $101,000Between $26,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-The Monitor Group
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between freelance reporter and news reporter education

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

Freelance ReporterNews Reporter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Most common majorJournalismJournalism
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Freelance reporter vs news reporter demographics

Here are the differences between freelance reporters' and news reporters' demographics:

Freelance ReporterNews Reporter
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 43.4% Female, 56.6%Male, 45.0% Female, 55.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 9.5% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 9.6% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between freelance reporter and news reporter duties and responsibilities

Freelance reporter example responsibilities.

  • Maintain connections to audience on Facebook by posting breaking news, local news, current events and teases for stories.
  • Design websites using HTML code.
  • Work on web pages in Dreamweaver in HTML and CSS.
  • Lead writer that cover various topics revolving around the NFL season and college draft.
  • Enhance publication's online presence by posting material on the newspaper's website and Facebook pages.
  • Provide coverage for topics around sports with a primary focus on MLS, MLB, and NFL.
  • Show more

News reporter example responsibilities.

  • Report to managing editor as member of editorial staff, contribute to newspaper editorials.
  • Conduct interviews, edit clips and stories, and announce stories/headlines on air.
  • Work with editors to deliver content in the appropriate style with an eye for SEO.
  • Operate digital recording equipment to film b-roll footage, interviews, and on camera reporting.
  • Drive online traffic through social networking, weaving SEO strategy into story copy, and frequent blogging.
  • Work independently gathering news stories, capturing audio sound clips for air, and writing news stories.
  • Show more

Freelance reporter vs news reporter skills

Common freelance reporter skills
  • Photography, 16%
  • Feature Stories, 14%
  • Conduct Interviews, 7%
  • News Coverage, 7%
  • Local Events, 7%
  • News Articles, 5%
Common news reporter skills
  • Digital Marketing, 13%
  • Local Community, 10%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Develop Story Ideas, 5%
  • Instagram, 4%

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