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News writer vs news anchor

The differences between news writers 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 writer, becoming a news anchor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a news writer has an average salary of $45,129, which is higher than the $43,198 average annual salary of a news anchor.

The top three skills for a news writer include news articles, ABC and SEO. The most important skills for a news anchor are news content, facebook, and twitter.

News writer vs news anchor overview

News WriterNews Anchor
Yearly salary$45,129$43,198
Hourly rate$21.70$20.77
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs17,0103,607
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age4040
Years of experience24

What does a news writer do?

A news writer is primarily responsible for producing informative written materials about current events, ensuring quality and accuracy. Their responsibilities typically revolve around conducting interviews, traveling to different locations, pursuing leads, researching public records, and submitting stories within the expected deadline and set format. Typically working for newspapers or web news platforms, a news writer must also review materials to fact-check and correct any errors, monitor the progress of events or cases, and coordinate with other staff.

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 writer vs news anchor salary

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

News WriterNews Anchor
Average salary$45,129$43,198
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $64,000Between $31,000 And $59,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NY-
Highest paying stateNew York-
Best paying companyPitchBook Data-
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between news writer and news anchor education

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

News WriterNews Anchor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common majorJournalismJournalism
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

News writer vs news anchor demographics

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

News WriterNews Anchor
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 45.1% Female, 54.9%Male, 48.7% Female, 51.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.3% 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 writer and news anchor duties and responsibilities

News writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage transcription and queuing of b-roll tapes/interviews for live and pre-record broadcasts.
  • Manage the Instagram account, which mean publishing and keeping up to date with the articles.
  • Anchor news updates for top-rate, personality driven FM morning show.
  • Conduct interviews and create professional visuals with upcoming model and entertainers for lifestyle magazine publication.
  • Involve in newsgathering, show development and writing.
  • Used Photoshop and InDesign to adjust photos and paginate the newspaper.
  • 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 writer vs news anchor skills

Common news writer skills
  • News Articles, 17%
  • ABC, 7%
  • SEO, 6%
  • Edit Video, 6%
  • Control Room, 5%
  • Twitter, 5%
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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