How To Become A Multimedia Reporter: What It Is and Career Path

What is a multimedia reporter and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Aaron Moore Ph.D.

Multimedia reporters are journalists that work in various media--print, radio, television, online, and you name it. They are often expected to generate weekly content and report on breaking news using their versatile skillset. Aside from regularly writing news stories, they can also be involved in social media management, video production, and on-the-ground research. When the opportunity arises, they can sometimes fill in for anchors on television newscasts or hosts on radio broadcasts. Deadlines can be hectic, so multimedia reporters need to be quick on their feet and ready to jump at any opportunity.

On average, multimedia reporters earn about $50,926 a year or $24.48 an hour. There are currently more women working in the field than men but only by a slight margin.

A college education is a must-have, and most multimedia reporters in the United States hold bachelor's degrees in journalism or communication. Their education allows them to develop the creative, interpersonal, and computer skills necessary to thrive in the workforce.

What general advice would you give to a multimedia reporter?

Aaron Moore Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Journalism; Director of Internship Program, Rider University

The journalism field has changed dramatically - and not really for the best. With that said, those beginning in the area need to have a strong social media presence. They need to be able to tell editors they can attract eyeballs to any of their work or content. Before beginners start looking for a journalism job, cultivate a social media presence.

ScoreMultimedia ReporterUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,226

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate -10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.29%

Asian 9.68%

Black or African American 6.38%

Hispanic or Latino 12.63%

Unknown 4.38%

White 66.64%

Gender

female 59.05%

male 40.95%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.1

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.1

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a multimedia reporter

Explore multimedia reporter education requirements

Most common multimedia reporter degrees

Bachelor's

85.6 %

Master's

6.7 %

Associate

5.6 %

Start to develop specific multimedia reporter skills

Skills	Percentages
Social Media Sites	26.73%
News Reports	15.54%
Facebook	7.69%
Edit Video	6.36%
Twitter	5.30%

Complete relevant multimedia reporter training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New multimedia reporters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a multimedia reporter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real multimedia reporter resumes.

Research multimedia reporter duties and responsibilities

Report to managing editor as member of editorial staff, contribute to newspaper editorials.
Set up Facebook, YouTube pages.
Cover high profile breaking news stories while simultaneously posting to facebook, twitter, and instagram
Interview persons of interest, organize event calendars, write regular articles, provide consistent photography, and help paraphrase stock compilations

Prepare your multimedia reporter resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your multimedia reporter resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a multimedia reporter resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable multimedia reporter resume templates

Build a professional multimedia reporter resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your multimedia reporter resume.

Apply for multimedia reporter jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a multimedia reporter job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do multimedia reporters rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Multimedia reporter reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019

Pros

Every day was different, you meet a lot of new people, the events covered could be very exciting

Cons

Physically demanding, low pay and part time positions available to those just starting out, no health insurance, competitive, pressure to be available on call despite terms of contract