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News reporter vs news producer

The differences between news reporters and news producers 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 producer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a news producer has an average salary of $54,608, 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 producer are assignment desk, control room, and story development.

News reporter vs news producer overview

News ReporterNews Producer
Yearly salary$41,481$54,608
Hourly rate$19.94$26.25
Growth rate-10%8%
Number of jobs11,60911,336
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 90%
Average age4040
Years of experience212

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 producer do?

A News Producer supervises the editorial content of the news to ensure that news stories are produced and presented to the public in a quality manner. They collaborate with the news director to select and prioritize content to make the broadcast more attractive.

News reporter vs news producer salary

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

News ReporterNews Producer
Average salary$41,481$54,608
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $64,000Between $39,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyThe Monitor GroupThe New York Times Company
Best paying industryMediaProfessional

Differences between news reporter and news producer education

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

News ReporterNews Producer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 90%
Most common majorJournalismJournalism
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

News reporter vs news producer demographics

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

News ReporterNews Producer
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 45.0% Female, 55.0%Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1%
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, 7.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage10%14%

Differences between news reporter and news producer 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 producer example responsibilities.

  • Manage day-to-day completion activities including project planning and QA testing.
  • Produce daily local traffic reports for distribution to local radio and TV stations.
  • Produce TV documentaries that feature issues relate to sociology, psychology, and advertising.
  • Post news articles and web polls to WRGB s website, and update Facebook page.
  • Produce live and record newscasts on ABC and NBC, cut and edit video for newscasts.
  • Post stories and shows to WBAA website and promote through on-air announcements, Facebook posts, and tweets.
  • Show more

News reporter vs news producer skills

Common news reporter skills
  • Digital Marketing, 13%
  • Local Community, 10%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Develop Story Ideas, 5%
  • Instagram, 4%
Common news producer skills
  • Assignment Desk, 10%
  • Control Room, 9%
  • Story Development, 8%
  • Social Media Sites, 8%
  • Local News, 6%
  • ABC, 6%

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