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The differences between reporters and journalists 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 a journalist. Additionally, a journalist has an average salary of $60,828, 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 a journalist are news stories, multimedia, and story development.
| Reporter | Journalist | |
| Yearly salary | $46,667 | $60,828 |
| Hourly rate | $22.44 | $29.24 |
| Growth rate | -10% | -10% |
| Number of jobs | 11,179 | 11,488 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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.
Reporters and journalists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Reporter | Journalist | |
| Average salary | $46,667 | $60,828 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $73,000 | Between $38,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | Citi | Bloomberg |
| Best paying industry | Media | Finance |
There are a few differences between a reporter and a journalist in terms of educational background:
| Reporter | Journalist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Journalism | Journalism |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between reporters' and journalists' demographics:
| Reporter | Journalist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% | Male, 46.6% Female, 53.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.6% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |