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Reporter vs anchor

The differences between reporters and anchors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a reporter and an anchor. Additionally, an anchor has an average salary of $70,715, which is higher than the $46,667 average annual salary of a reporter.

The top three skills for a reporter include news stories, digital marketing and facebook. The most important skills for an anchor are news stories, story development, and facebook.

Reporter vs anchor overview

ReporterAnchor
Yearly salary$46,667$70,715
Hourly rate$22.44$34.00
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs11,1792,986
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

What does a reporter do?

In journalism, a reporter is responsible for relaying truthful and reliable information to the public audience through various mediums such as print and media. A reporter must ensure to gather necessary and factual data that are supported by interviews and comments of those involved, remain unbiased in all aspects, produce a concise and comprehensive informational material within an allotted time, and efficiently coordinate with every staff. Furthermore, a reporter must remain professional at all times and adhere to the policies and regulations set by the company or network.

What does an anchor do?

A news anchor is a journalist who informs the public through reports of events and news stories. News anchors educate the public about the world, local, and national events. They interact with the reporters while they are in the air. Their job includes gathering, verifying, and analyzing data from different sources. They produce news and coordinate reports. Skills necessary for this job include verbal communication, the ability to improvise, collaboration, and reading comprehension.

Reporter vs anchor salary

Reporters and anchors have different pay scales, as shown below.

ReporterAnchor
Average salary$46,667$70,715
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $73,000Between $41,000 And $119,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew York
Best paying companyCitiThe Walt Disney Company
Best paying industryMedia-

Differences between reporter and anchor education

There are a few differences between a reporter and an anchor in terms of educational background:

ReporterAnchor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorJournalismJournalism
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Reporter vs anchor demographics

Here are the differences between reporters' and anchors' demographics:

ReporterAnchor
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 44.8% Female, 55.2%Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between reporter and anchor duties and responsibilities

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

Anchor example responsibilities.

  • Read off teleprompter and interact with co-anchor.
  • Write and update KOTA's website and Facebook page.
  • Serve as primetime anchor and reporter for local ABC affiliate.
  • Co-Anchore the 6 p.m. news at the ABC affiliate in Alaska.
  • Fabricate steel clips and anchoring points, assemble aluminum window frames.
  • Film basketball games and edit clips for analysis on the show.
  • Show more

Reporter vs anchor skills

Common reporter skills
  • News Stories, 12%
  • Digital Marketing, 10%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Photography, 5%
  • Feature Stories, 4%
Common anchor skills
  • News Stories, 21%
  • Story Development, 7%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 5%
  • Local News, 5%
  • News Coverage, 5%

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