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Newspaper writer vs reporter

The differences between newspaper writers and 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 writer and a reporter. Additionally, a newspaper writer has an average salary of $53,083, which is higher than the $46,667 average annual salary of a reporter.

The top three skills for a newspaper writer include adobe indesign, editorials and conduct interviews. The most important skills for a reporter are news stories, digital marketing, and facebook.

Newspaper writer vs reporter overview

Newspaper WriterReporter
Yearly salary$53,083$46,667
Hourly rate$25.52$22.44
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs10,51211,179
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Newspaper writer vs reporter salary

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

Newspaper WriterReporter
Average salary$53,083$46,667
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $74,000Between $29,000 And $73,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Citi
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between newspaper writer and reporter education

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

Newspaper WriterReporter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorCommunicationJournalism
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Newspaper writer vs reporter demographics

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

Newspaper WriterReporter
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 43.6% Female, 56.4%Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.7% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between newspaper writer and reporter duties and responsibilities

Newspaper writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage the Instagram account, which mean publishing and keeping up to date with the articles.
  • Proofread all columns before being publish, train new employees, write opinion and news columns.
  • Create and envision editorials for the publication.
  • Coordinate and conduct interviews with article subjects, and maintain constant communication with editor-in-chief.
  • Create story and editorial ideas to give to writers, to help generate interest and ensure circulation of the paper.
  • Coordinate and conduct interviews with article subjects, and maintain constant communication with editor-in-chief.

Reporter example responsibilities.

  • Report to managing editor as member of editorial staff, contribute to newspaper editorials.
  • Edit and revise press releases and submissions; proofread large amount of copy.
  • Use social media (i.e Twitter, Facebook) to relay 'trouble-spots' to local drivers.
  • Cover NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR and general sports news events for as Dallas-based free-lance reporter.
  • Report and write for metro, arts, lifestyle, real estate, and regional sections of major daily newspaper.
  • Cover local government, environmental issues and write features in addition to photography and pagination for twice-weekly newspaper.
  • Show more

Newspaper writer vs reporter skills

Common newspaper writer skills
  • Adobe Indesign, 15%
  • Editorials, 15%
  • Conduct Interviews, 15%
  • News Articles, 14%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • Writing Articles, 9%
Common reporter skills
  • News Stories, 12%
  • Digital Marketing, 10%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Photography, 5%
  • Feature Stories, 4%

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