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.
Reporter responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real reporter resumes:
- 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.
- Create and oversee Instagram account.
- Excel at discovering positive stories for lifestyle areas.
- Conduct weekly show discussing soccer around the world.
- Establish relationships with community members for sources to new scoops.
- Proofread copy and assist editor in layout and composition of the newspaper.
- Acquire several front-page scoops, one before all other media at the U.N.
- Report breaking news through twitter, and post ongoing updates to the news website.
- General assignment reporter, fill-in anchor and assignment editor for Boise market ABC affiliate.
- Interview experts on national and international news topics and edit interviews down to 10-minute clips.
Reporter skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Reporters are proficient in News Stories, Digital Marketing, and Facebook. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Persistence.
We break down the percentage of Reporters that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- News Stories, 12%
Produced groundbreaking news stories and in-depth coverage of trends involving medical technology companies, managed care and health care delivery organizations.
- Digital Marketing, 10%
Highlighted local digital marketing efforts pertaining to apps, events, businesses, and start-ups.
- Facebook, 6%
Improved public image and community relations by integrating Facebook and additional social media sites.
- Twitter, 6%
Participated in experimental project documenting homelessness during a 24-hour period on Twitter.
- Photography, 5%
Interviewed persons of interest, organized event calendars, wrote regular articles, provided consistent photography, and helped paraphrase stock compilations
- Feature Stories, 4%
Reported on breaking news, developed enterprising news feature stories and projects that required both organized news gathering and experienced interviewing.
"news stories," "digital marketing," and "facebook" are among the most common skills that reporters use at work. You can find even more reporter responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a reporter to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts must be able to report the news." Additionally, a reporter resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "write and publish press releases along with internal communications with employees and manage all social media accounts. "
Computer skills. Another essential skill to perform reporter duties is computer skills. Reporters responsibilities require that "journalists should be able to use editing equipment and other broadcast-related devices." Reporters also use computer skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "report local events*laid out newspaper design on computer for biweekly paper. "
Persistence. This is an important skill for reporters to perform their duties. For an example of how reporter responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "sometimes, getting the facts of a story is difficult, particularly when those involved refuse to be interviewed or to provide comment." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a reporter: "secured news coverage access through persistence using community contacts. ".
The three companies that hire the most reporters are:
- Gannett188 reporters jobs
- Nexstar Media Group69 reporters jobs
- Dow Jones31 reporters jobs
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Compare different reporters
Reporter vs. Production editor
A production editor is responsible for checking publication materials before printing and distribution to ensure error-free and accurate content. Production editors must have excellent writing communication skills to perform editing and proofreading of materials efficiently, following strict requirements of publication deadlines. They also verify the resources of content, as well as identifying highly requested feature opportunities by coordinating with writers and other industry personalities. A production editor negotiates contract offers for writers, provides feedback reviews, and facilitates brainstorming sessions.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a reporter are more likely to require skills like "digital marketing," "facebook," "twitter," and "photography." On the other hand, a job as a production editor requires skills like "proofreading," "editorial production," "production process," and "production schedules." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Production editors earn the highest salaries when working in the media industry, with an average yearly salary of $61,163. On the other hand, reporters are paid more in the media industry with an average salary of $48,200.On average, production editors reach similar levels of education than reporters. Production editors are 1.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Reporter vs. Assistant editor
An assistant editor is an individual responsible for assisting an editor-in-chief or editor-at-large of a newspaper, magazine, radio program, or website. Assistant editors hold meetings with staff and freelance writers to discuss new, fresh and original content for projects on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They review assignments handed in by writers or reporters for sense, accuracy, readability, and content. Assistant editors must also utilize new media applications such as Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to an article or cause.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that reporter responsibilities requires skills like "digital marketing," "facebook," "photography," and "news coverage." But an assistant editor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "editorial content," "video footage," "web content," and "media management."
On average, assistant editors earn a higher salary than reporters. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, assistant editors earn the most pay in the media industry with an average salary of $55,636. Whereas reporters have higher pay in the media industry, with an average salary of $48,200.In general, assistant editors achieve similar levels of education than reporters. They're 1.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for reporters in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Maria Polski Ph.D.
Associate Professor, East-West University
Reporter vs. Managing editor
Managing editors are individuals who coordinate and oversee the editorial activities of a publication. They administer the daily operations or a website or publication, such as generating ideas and planning and editing content. Their responsibilities include the recruitment, promotion, and firing of staff members. They even create and implement deadlines. Great managing editors are those who are updated on the latest trends and make informed decisions. They should also be equipped with skills in management and coaching.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, reporters are more likely to have skills like "digital marketing," "photography," "video packages," and "scoops." But a managing editor is more likely to have skills like "web content," "editorial content," "editorial calendar," and "digital content."
Managing editors earn the highest salary when working in the media industry, where they receive an average salary of $79,077. Comparatively, reporters have the highest earning potential in the media industry, with an average salary of $48,200.managing editors typically earn similar educational levels compared to reporters. Specifically, they're 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Reporter vs. Associate editor
The primary role of an Associate Editor is to ensure that subordinates submit high-quality content. They review and edit copies, set deadlines, and supervise the production details of magazines, newspapers, books, or websites.
Types of reporter
Updated January 8, 2025
