What Does A Reporter and Correspondent Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Reporters

Reporters collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events by interview, investigation, or observation. Report and write stories for newspaper, news magazine, radio, or television.

Salary
$66000
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Reporters collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events by interview, investigation, or observation. Report and write stories for newspaper, news magazine, radio, or television.

  • Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.
  • Research a story’s background information to provide complete and accurate information.
  • Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a story.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Reporters receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas. They research a story’s background information to provide complete and accurate information.

A typical day for a Reporter and Correspondent will also include:

  • Edit or assist in editing videos for broadcast.
  • Review and evaluate notes taken about news events to isolate pertinent facts and details.
  • Communicate with readers, viewers, advertisers, or the general public via mail, email, or telephone.
  • Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a story.
  • Gather information about events through research, interviews, experience, or attendance at political, news, sports, artistic, social, or other functions.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Reporters also write reviews of literary, musical, or other artwork, based on knowledge, judgment, or experience. They may also write columns, editorials, commentaries, or reviews that interpret events or offer opinions.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Reporters discuss issues with editors to establish priorities or positions. They might also develop ideas or material for columns or commentaries by analyzing and interpreting news, current issues, or personal experiences.

In addition, they write online blog entries that address news developments or offer additional information, opinions, or commentary on news events.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.

To some Reporters, it is also their responsibility to determine a published or broadcasted story’s emphasis, length, and format and organize material accordingly.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Average

Is this job meaningful

Average

67% said they were satisfied with their job and 55% said they found their job meaningful.


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Pros

Suitable for people who like to work with designs.

Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Salary is below average.

It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$66000 per year

Average hourly wage

$32 per hour

Entry-level Reporters with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $25,510 to $32,160 per year or $12 to $15 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $127,370 $61
Senior (Top 25%) $80,950 $39
Median $49,300 $24
Junior (Bottom 25%) $32,160 $15
No experience (Bottom 10%) $25,510 $12

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Reporters based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Grantmaking and Giving Services $112470 $54.07
Telecommunications $87750 $42.19
Other Information Services $76400 $36.73
Radio and Television Broadcasting $72880 $35.04
Employment Services $71450 $34.35
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services $63990 $30.77
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations $58740 $28.24
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $58510 $28.13
Local Government $56330 $27.08
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers $53410 $25.68

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Reporters work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Reporters including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers 16890 $53410 $25.68
Radio and Television Broadcasting 16700 $72880 $35.04
Other Information Services 4850 $76400 $36.73
Motion Picture and Video Industries 1080 $ $*
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 640 $58510 $28.13
Cable and Other Subscription Programming 490 $ $*
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations 120 $58740 $28.24
Local Government 120 $56330 $27.08
Employment Services 70 $71450 $34.35
Junior Colleges 30 $50420 $24.24

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
0%

40 hours
41%

More than 40 hours
59%

Working schedule

64%

36%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
5%

Every day
95%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
5%

Every day
95%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
18%

Every day
73%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
0%

Once a year
59%

Once a month
27%

Once a week
9%

Every day
5%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
0%

Slightly competitive
5%

Moderately competitive
18%

Highly competitive
50%

Extremely competitive
27%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
9%

Once a year or more
5%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
5%

Every day
82%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
32%

Once a year or more
9%

Once a month or more
18%

Once a week or more
27%

Every day
14%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
18%

Once a year or more
18%

Once a month or more
23%

Once a week or more
27%

Every day
14%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
14%

Once a year or more
45%

Once a month or more
23%

Once a week or more
14%

Every day
5%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Hard
You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require a Bachelor’s degree and several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. Similar careers include Database Administrators, Chemists, Art Directors, and Accountants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
0%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
5%

Associate’s Degree or similar
5%

Bachelor’s Degree
82%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
5%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
5%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
0%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
5%

6 months to 1 year
18%

1 to 2 years
32%

2 to 4 years
27%

4 to 6 years
14%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
5%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
9%

1 month
45%

1 to 3 months
18%

3 to 6 months
14%

6 months to 1 year
9%

1 to 2 years
5%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Artist

People with this personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.

The Builder
24%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
57%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
90%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
38%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
62%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
43%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
81%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
64%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
76%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
48%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
48%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
71%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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