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Newspaper reporter vs beat reporter

The differences between newspaper reporters and beat 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 newspaper reporter and a beat reporter. Additionally, a beat reporter has an average salary of $65,737, which is higher than the $49,143 average annual salary of a newspaper reporter.

The top three skills for a newspaper reporter include news articles, feature stories and community events. The most important skills for a beat reporter are feature stories, twitter, and hard news stories.

Newspaper reporter vs beat reporter overview

Newspaper ReporterBeat Reporter
Yearly salary$49,143$65,737
Hourly rate$23.63$31.60
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs2,3292,133
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Newspaper reporter vs beat reporter salary

Newspaper reporters and beat reporters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Newspaper ReporterBeat Reporter
Average salary$49,143$65,737
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $75,000Between $36,000 And $117,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between newspaper reporter and beat reporter education

There are a few differences between a newspaper reporter and a beat reporter in terms of educational background:

Newspaper ReporterBeat Reporter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Most common majorJournalismJournalism
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Newspaper reporter vs beat reporter demographics

Here are the differences between newspaper reporters' and beat reporters' demographics:

Newspaper ReporterBeat Reporter
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 43.7% Female, 56.3%Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.6% White, 66.6% 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, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between newspaper reporter and beat reporter duties and responsibilities

Newspaper reporter example responsibilities.

  • Create a Facebook page and update statuses regularly to promote the publication.
  • Use NewsEditPro and InDesign software to create attractive news pages nightly prior to deadline.
  • Interview persons of interest, organize event calendars, write regular articles, provide consistent photography, and help paraphrase stock compilations
  • Assist with some editorial functions including final editing of some stories.
  • Revise work to meet editorial approval or to fit time or space requirements.
  • Report from red-carpet events, including: MTV

Beat reporter example responsibilities.

  • Develop and write columns and editorials in the sports field as well as managed the blog website.
  • Update newspaper's Facebook account.
  • Cover issues relating back to health, writing print stories, producing broadcast video and photography.
  • Used twitter to monitor trending topics and reach out to points of contact to cover crime and jurisprudence.
  • Interview sources daily; coordinate frequently with editorial and photography departments.
  • Construct and edit web-published multimedia pieces that are featured on the university's athletic programs.
  • Show more

Newspaper reporter vs beat reporter skills

Common newspaper reporter skills
  • News Articles, 14%
  • Feature Stories, 13%
  • Community Events, 6%
  • Indesign, 5%
  • Local Events, 5%
  • Conduct Interviews, 5%
Common beat reporter skills
  • Feature Stories, 17%
  • Twitter, 10%
  • Hard News Stories, 8%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Photography, 6%
  • Press Conferences, 5%

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