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Photo journalist skills for your resume and career
Updated January 8, 2025
1 min read
Quoted experts
Scoobie Ryan,
Matt Tullis
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical photo journalist skills. We ranked the top skills for photo journalists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 26.6% of photo journalist resumes contained adobe photoshop as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a photo journalist needs to be successful in the workplace.
14 photo journalist skills for your resume and career
1. Adobe Photoshop
Here's how photo journalists use adobe photoshop:
- Edit pictures using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.
- Created advertisements and edited photos using Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Editor and Adobe PageMaker.
2. Local News
Here's how photo journalists use local news:
- Document local events, music, performances for non-profit organizations, marketing and local news agencies.
- Edit local news stories on a weekly basis.
3. DSLR
Here's how photo journalists use dslr:
- Captured portraits and group photos on a DSLR in manual mode and formed artificial lighting using an external flash.
- Utilize DSLR camera and wireless PDA to take and upload images to WDW Imaging servers.
4. News Stories
News Story is a term that is quite self-explanatory as it refers to all the information that is recorded either in writing or as an interview and aims to inform the public about any particular matter, event, idea or mishap. A news story can be very short as well lengthy depending on the type and quantity of content and consist of relevant facts and figures.
Here's how photo journalists use news stories:
- Worked on news stories, special interest, school events and some city counsel meetings.
- Shoot and edit video of news stories that are breaking or developing that day.
5. Feature Stories
Here's how photo journalists use feature stories:
- Edited print news and feature stories for military newspapers, magazines and online media outlets.
- Operate ENG Live Truck during breaking news and feature stories.
6. News Articles
Here's how photo journalists use news articles:
- Ensured accuracy and integrity of news articles by researching information, developing and preserving contacts.
- Collaborate as peer-editor recommending editorial corrections to 300- to 1000-word digital news articles.
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Here's how photo journalists use press conferences:
- Investigated stories by conducting interviews, attending press conferences and analyzing relevant documents.
- Attended international press conferences and interviewed world leaders in English, publishing articles.
8. Conduct Interviews
Conduct interview is the ability of an individual - the interviewer, to communicate formally or face to face with someone from whom the interviewer is gathering information. The interviewer controls the order of the questions and can ensure that all questions are answered. The purpose of conducting interview is to be able to assess the suitability of the candidate being interviewed for a specific position.
Here's how photo journalists use conduct interviews:
- Shoot, conduct interviews and edit video footage for newscast.
- Conduct interviews of prominent political figures such as legislators and then-Governor Schwarzenegger.
9. Facebook
Here's how photo journalists use facebook:
- Maintained the sites Facebook pages, events and announcement pages and coordinated with other nearby Patch editors on content.
- Contributed to social media efforts with evening programs through Twitter and Facebook updating and commentary.
10. Quality Images
Here's how photo journalists use quality images:
- Photographed high quality images for the daily stories, edited, toned captioned as well upload for the publications.
11. News Events
Here's how photo journalists use news events:
- General assignment staff photographer with an emphasis on breaking news, regional and local news events, feature and lifestyle stories.
- Scheduled and coordinated interviews for various news events that were produced for online, television, and print media venues.
12. Edit Images
Here's how photo journalists use edit images:
- Photograph and edit images for clients.
13. Press Releases
Here's how photo journalists use press releases:
- Collaborated ideas with media relations director for press releases.
- Created official Press Releases for US Army Marketing Affairs, while effectively disseminated to various agencies.
14. Adobe Premiere
Here's how photo journalists use adobe premiere:
- Film, produce, and edit material in Adobe Premiere Pro.
- Edited video using Adobe Premiere Pro.
What skills help Photo Journalists find jobs?
Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.
What skills stand out on photo journalist resumes?
Scoobie Ryan
Associate Director, University of Kentucky
Traditional skills on a journalist's resume are important-writing, editing, and storytelling-but we're seeing demand for things like the ability to fly a drone and use it to gather video. A student who has an FAA drone pilot's license on a resume plus the ability to shoot and edit video shot using a drone stands out. As a result, our Drone Journalism class is very popular.
Students who can use a variety of hardware and software are in demand for MMJ jobs. Our students get experience with Canon DSLRs, Sony Mirrorless, 360 cameras, GoPro Fusions, and more. They learn to use the Adobe Creative Suite. Students also need to be able to shoot, edit and post a story using just a smartphone.
Knowledge of social media is essential-not just how to use it, but its rhythms and pace. Students must understand how to promote a story on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, livestream it on Facebook, and post to YouTube.
Producers are in high demand. They must be able to know how a story will develop and stay ahead of it. They need to write well on deadlines, work collaboratively, stay calm, and multi-task.
It helps if they're platform agnostic. We encourage them not to think of themselves as print reporters, broadcasters, or web producers. Journalists who can find the truth, verify it and present it using the platform best suited to reach their audience are in demand.
Students who can use a variety of hardware and software are in demand for MMJ jobs. Our students get experience with Canon DSLRs, Sony Mirrorless, 360 cameras, GoPro Fusions, and more. They learn to use the Adobe Creative Suite. Students also need to be able to shoot, edit and post a story using just a smartphone.
Knowledge of social media is essential-not just how to use it, but its rhythms and pace. Students must understand how to promote a story on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, livestream it on Facebook, and post to YouTube.
Producers are in high demand. They must be able to know how a story will develop and stay ahead of it. They need to write well on deadlines, work collaboratively, stay calm, and multi-task.
It helps if they're platform agnostic. We encourage them not to think of themselves as print reporters, broadcasters, or web producers. Journalists who can find the truth, verify it and present it using the platform best suited to reach their audience are in demand.
What hard/technical skills are most important for photo journalists?
Matt Tullis
Director of Digital Journalism, Co-Director of Sports Media, Assistant Professor of Practice of Digital Journalism, Author of Running With Ghosts, Host and Producer of Gangrey: The Podcast, Fairfield University
Journalism graduates need to know how to shoot and edit videos. It doesn't matter if they're going to work at a newspaper or a website or a TV station. They need to be able to shoot and edit videos and do it well. We live in a visual world now, and those are skills every journalist needs.
What soft skills should all photo journalists possess?
Matt Tullis
Director of Digital Journalism, Co-Director of Sports Media, Assistant Professor of Practice of Digital Journalism, Author of Running With Ghosts, Host and Producer of Gangrey: The Podcast, Fairfield University
Anyone who wants to do journalism professionally has to be able to talk with people, all sorts of people. They have to be a self-starter; someone who sees an idea and will go after it immediately. And they need to network, even while they are still in college. Follow the journalists you would like to emulate on Twitter. Reach out to them and tell them who you are. And anytime someone from the journalism industry comes to campus, go to their events and talk with them if possible.
What photo journalist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Steve Rottinghaus
Career and outreach coordinator, The University of Kansas
It is important for a journalist to provide valuable information on current events to community members and hold public officials accountable. News consumption is in high demand.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about photo journalistList of photo journalist skills to add to your resume
The most important skills for a photo journalist resume and required skills for a photo journalist to have include:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Local News
- DSLR
- News Stories
- Feature Stories
- News Articles
- Press Conferences
- Conduct Interviews
- Quality Images
- News Events
- Edit Images
- Press Releases
- Adobe Premiere
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025