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News writer vs news reporter

The differences between news writers 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 news writer and a news reporter. Additionally, a news writer has an average salary of $45,129, which is higher than the $41,481 average annual salary of a news reporter.

The top three skills for a news writer include news articles, ABC and SEO. The most important skills for a news reporter are digital marketing, local community, and facebook.

News writer vs news reporter overview

News WriterNews Reporter
Yearly salary$45,129$41,481
Hourly rate$21.70$19.94
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs17,01011,609
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

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 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.

News writer vs news reporter salary

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

News WriterNews Reporter
Average salary$45,129$41,481
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $64,000Between $26,000 And $64,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyPitchBook DataThe Monitor Group
Best paying industryTechnologyMedia

Differences between news writer and news reporter education

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

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

News writer vs news reporter demographics

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

News WriterNews Reporter
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 45.1% Female, 54.9%Male, 45.0% Female, 55.0%
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, 6.3% 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 news writer and news reporter 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 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 writer vs news reporter skills

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