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News reporter vs news anchor

The differences between news reporters and news anchors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a news reporter, becoming a news anchor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a news anchor has an average salary of $43,198, which is higher than the $41,481 average annual salary of a news reporter.

The top three skills for a news reporter include digital marketing, local community and facebook. The most important skills for a news anchor are news content, facebook, and twitter.

News reporter vs news anchor overview

News ReporterNews Anchor
Yearly salary$41,481$43,198
Hourly rate$19.94$20.77
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs11,6093,607
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age4040
Years of experience24

What does a news reporter do?

News Reporters collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events through interview, investigation, or observation. They carry cameras and take photos and video footage of objects or places of potential significance.

What does a news anchor do?

A news anchor presents and reports the news to the public, usually through television news broadcast or radio. They must keep the people informed of the current events, locally or internationally. They typically coordinate with directors and staff to prepare for broadcast, conduct research, introduce news correspondence, ask questions, utilize or revise scripts, and deliver news articulately and professionally. They may also share insights and commentary, should the segment require. Furthermore, a news anchor must adhere to the station's policies and regulations, including the moral codes of journalism.

News reporter vs news anchor salary

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

News ReporterNews Anchor
Average salary$41,481$43,198
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $64,000Between $31,000 And $59,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NY-
Highest paying stateNew York-
Best paying companyThe Monitor Group-
Best paying industryMedia-

Differences between news reporter and news anchor education

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

News ReporterNews Anchor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common majorJournalismJournalism
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

News reporter vs news anchor demographics

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

News ReporterNews Anchor
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 45.0% Female, 55.0%Male, 48.7% Female, 51.3%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.7% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between news reporter and news anchor duties and responsibilities

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

News anchor example responsibilities.

  • Operate AP NEWSCENTER/ENPS and manage CNN feed services.
  • Produce Emmy award-winning features, web content, and weekly consumer blog.
  • Cover a variety of NFL, NCAA and high school events.
  • Co-Launch station Facebook brand, promote and aid expansion to 80K followers.
  • Anchor, write and produce morning newscast for Huntsville's ABC affiliate.
  • Perform live shots, on-air play-by-play, write new script and provide analysis.
  • Show more

News reporter vs news anchor skills

Common news reporter skills
  • Digital Marketing, 13%
  • Local Community, 10%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Develop Story Ideas, 5%
  • Instagram, 4%
Common news anchor skills
  • News Content, 9%
  • Facebook, 8%
  • Twitter, 8%
  • Social Media Sites, 6%
  • News Coverage, 5%
  • Develop Story Ideas, 5%

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