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What does a news writer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Aaron Moore Ph.D.

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.

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News writer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real news writer resumes:

  • 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.
  • Train new producers on how to use ENPS and edit video.
  • Photograph assignments for features, lifestyle, sports, campus, and news.
  • Require to anchor the evening newscast solo as well as co-anchor when request.
  • Initiate and follow through in planning, booking, and executing show segments.
  • Anchor ratings-leading morning and noon newscasts with particular emphasis on live, on-set interviews.
  • Write Facebook posts, post photos on Facebook, write a blog and client stories.
  • Hire in as initial team member at station launch * Create/deliver content for morning and top-rate noon news
  • Deliver weekday morning and evening news and weather co-anchor for early and late evening newscasts.
  • Compose stories and create supporting graphics for 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. newscasts using ENPS.

News writer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 17% of News Writers are proficient in News Articles, ABC, and SEO. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Persistence, and Communication skills.

We break down the percentage of News Writers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • News Articles, 17%

    Formulate daily news articles regarding hybrid and zero emissions vehicles

  • ABC, 7%

    Prepared editorial content for ABC News and Walt Disney Company websites; adhered to prescribed editorial style and format standards.

  • SEO, 6%

    Generated original reporting content with SEO optimized headlines.

  • Edit Video, 6%

    Write text and edit video of new and updated stories for posting to station website and social media platforms.

  • Control Room, 5%

    Assist producer in the control room and train with the producer to provide back-up when producer is unavailable.

  • Twitter, 5%

    Conduct outreach to readers and potential partners through social media outlets by co-managing a Facebook page and Twitter account.

Most news writers use their skills in "news articles," "abc," and "seo" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential news writer responsibilities here:

Computer skills. One of the key soft skills for a news writer to have is computer skills. You can see how this relates to what news writers do because "journalists should be able to use editing equipment and other broadcast-related devices." Additionally, a news writer resume shows how news writers use computer skills: "utilize multiple news sources with complex computer system to create catchy, accurate news scripts for noon and afternoon shows. "

Persistence. Many news writer duties rely on persistence. "sometimes, getting the facts of a story is difficult, particularly when those involved refuse to be interviewed or to provide comment," so a news writer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways news writer responsibilities rely on persistence: "secured news coverage access through persistence using community contacts. "

Communication skills. news writers are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to news writer responsibilities, because "reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts must be able to report the news." A news writer resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "developed feature stories for the small-town newspaper to bridge communications across communities. "

Interpersonal skills. For certain news writer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a news writer rely on this skill, as "to develop contacts and conduct interviews, reporters need to build good relationships with many people." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what news writers do: "possessed a strong level of interpersonal skills in order to conduct interviews within a diverse group of individuals. "

Most common news writer skills

The three companies that hire the most news writers are:

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Compare different news writers

News writer vs. Journalist

A journalist is responsible for creating written correspondence, covering various subjects as the management requires. This task involves a lot of research investigations, conducting interviews, and gathering reliable sources to verify the authenticity of data before releasing the articles on news portals and other social platforms. Journalists should have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, conveying information to the target audience with high accuracy and efficiency. They analyze opinions and testimonies, create eye-catching headlines, and ensure adherence to deadlines.

If we compare the average news writer annual salary with that of a journalist, we find that journalists typically earn a $15,699 higher salary than news writers make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between news writers and journalists are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like news articles, abc, and seo.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between news writers and journalist. For instance, news writer responsibilities require skills such as "english language," "control room," "assignment desk," and "deadline-driven environment." Whereas a journalist is skilled in "news stories," "excellent interpersonal," "multimedia," and "local community." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Journalists tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $64,488. In contrast, news writers make the biggest average salary, $47,969, in the technology industry.journalists tend to reach similar levels of education than news writers. In fact, journalists are 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

News writer vs. Editing internship

An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial department of an organization with publishing various media and digital content. Editorial interns shadow tenured editorial staff on researching stories, validating information, writing captivating articles, interviewing target audiences, and screening submitted manuscripts. They also assist in planning promotional strategies and marketing campaigns, such as monitoring press releases, posting on social media platforms, and developing marketing materials. An editorial intern must have excellent organizational skills, most importantly, a fast-learner to understand complex tasks and perform assigned duties under minimal supervision.

A career as a editing internship brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a news writer. In fact, editing interns salary is $10,094 lower than the salary of news writers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. News writers and editing interns both require similar skills like "news articles," "twitter," and "feature stories" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that news writer responsibilities requires skills like "abc," "seo," "edit video," and "english language." But an editing internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "video footage," "photography," "youtube," and "adobe premiere pro."

In general, editing interns achieve similar levels of education than news writers. They're 2.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for news writers in the next 3-5 years?

Aaron Moore Ph.D.Aaron Moore Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

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

Any journalist must be adept and have strong digital editing skills. There are many platforms like Final Cut, for example - the platform doesn't matter - the ability of digital editing is a must.

News writer vs. Production editor

A production editor is responsible for checking publication materials before printing and distribution to ensure error-free and accurate content. Production editors must have excellent writing communication skills to perform editing and proofreading of materials efficiently, following strict requirements of publication deadlines. They also verify the resources of content, as well as identifying highly requested feature opportunities by coordinating with writers and other industry personalities. A production editor negotiates contract offers for writers, provides feedback reviews, and facilitates brainstorming sessions.

On average, production editors earn higher salaries than news writers, with a $8,146 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on news writers and production editors resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "seo," "press releases," and "editorial content.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from news writer resumes include skills like "news articles," "abc," "edit video," and "english language," whereas a production editor is more likely to list skills in "proofreading," "editorial production," "production process," and "production schedules. "

Production editors earn the best pay in the media industry, where they command an average salary of $61,163. News writers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $47,969.production editors typically earn similar educational levels compared to news writers. Specifically, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

News writer vs. Editorial internship

An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial team in publishing digital and media content, writing articles, and managing readers' reviews. Editorial interns must have excellent knowledge of the industry they work for, suggesting the latest trends and featured topics, taking notes of the tenured employees' advice and observations, and actively joining brainstorming sessions. An editorial intern must be detail-oriented and take constructive feedback as an opportunity to learn. It is also crucial to have outstanding communication and proofreading skills and keep all the materials confidential until release.

Editorial interns tend to earn a lower pay than news writers by an average of $12,773 per year.While both news writers and editorial interns complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like news articles, seo, and twitter, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "abc," "edit video," "english language," and "control room" are skills that commonly show up on news writer resumes. On the other hand, editorial interns use skills like fact-check, editorial intern, web content, and instagram on their resumes.In general, editorial interns earn the most working in the media industry, with an average salary of $33,508. The highest-paying industry for a news writer is the technology industry.In general, editorial interns hold similar degree levels compared to news writers. Editorial interns are 2.5% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of news writer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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