• News analysts, reporters, and correspondents gather information, prepare stories, and make broadcasts that inform the public about local, national, and international events; present points of view on current issues; and report on the actions of public officials, corporate executives, interest groups, and others who exercise power.
• News analysts—also called newscasters or news anchors—examine, interpret, and broadcast news received from various sources.
• News anchors present news stories and introduce videotaped news or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters.
• News correspondents report on news occurring in the local and foreign cities where they are stationed.
• In covering a story, reporters, sometimes referred to as journalists, investigate leads and news tips, look at documents, observe events at the scene, and interview people. Reporters take notes and also may take photographs or shoot videos.
• At their office, they organize the material, determine the focus or emphasis, write their stories, and edit accompanying video material.
• Many reporters enter information or write stories on laptop computers and electronically submit the material to their offices from remote locations.
• Increasingly, reporters are asked to maintain and produce material for a newspaper’s Web site.
• In some cases, news-writers write a story from information collected and submitted by reporters. Radio and television reporters often compose stories and report “live” from the scene.
• At times, they later tape an introduction to or commentary on their story in the studio.
• Some journalists also interpret the news or offer opinions to readers, viewers, or listeners. In this role, they are called commentators or columnists.
• News-casters at large stations and networks usually specialize in a particular type of news, such as sports or weather.
  • Weathercasters, also called weather reporters, report current and forecasted weather conditions. They gather information from national satellite weather services, wire services, and local and regional weather bureaus. Some weathercasters are trained meteorologists and can develop their own weather forecasts.
  • Sportscasters select, write, and deliver sports news, which may include interviews with sports personalities and coverage of games and other sporting events.
• General-assignment reporters write about newsworthy occurrences—such as accidents, political rallies, visits of celebrities, or business closings—as assigned.
• Large newspapers and radio and television stations assign reporters to gather news about specific topics—for example, crime or education. Some reporters specialize in fields such as health, politics, foreign affairs, sports, theatre, consumer affairs, social events, science, business, or religion. Investigative reporters cover stories that may take many days or weeks of information gathering.
• Some publications use teams of reporters instead of assigning each reporter one specific topic. As a member of a team, a reporter can cover a greater variety of stories.
• News teams may include reporters, editors, graphic artists, and photographers working together to complete a story.
• Reporters on small publications cover all aspects of the news. They take photographs, write headlines, lay out pages, edit wire-service stories, and write editorials. Some also solicit advertisements, sell subscriptions, and perform general office work.

• Small broadcast stations and publications and online newspapers and magazines should provide the best opportunities.
• Talented writers who can handle highly specialized scientific or technical subjects will have an advantage.
• Consolidation and convergence should continue in the publishing and broadcasting industries.
• As a result, companies will be better able to allocate their news analysts, reporters, and correspondents to cover news stories.
• Since broadcasting and newspapers—the two industries employing most of these workers—are dependent on advertising revenue, employment growth will suffer during an economic downturn.
• Improving technology may eventually lead to more employment growth in this occupation by opening up new areas of work, such as online or mobile news divisions.
• The continued demand for news will create some job opportunities.
• Job openings also will result from the need to replace workers who leave their occupations permanently; some news analysts, reporters, and correspondents find the work too stressful and hectic or do not like the lifestyle, and transfer to other occupations.
• Competition will continue to be keen for jobs at large metropolitan and national newspapers, broadcast stations and networks, and magazines.
• Job opportunities will be best for applicants in the expanding world of new media, such as online newspapers or magazines.
• Small local papers and news stations also will provide greater job prospects for potential reporters and news analysts.
• For beginning newspaper reporters, freelancing will supply more opportunities for employment as well.
• Students with a background in journalism as well as another subject, such as politics, economics, or biology, will have an advantage over those without additional background knowledge in moving beyond an entry-level position.
• Journalism graduates have the background for work in closely related fields such as advertising and public relations or communications, and many take jobs in these fields.
• Other graduates accept sales, managerial or other non-media positions.

News analysts, reporters, and correspondents must write clearly and effectively to succeed in their profession. Others for whom good writing ability is essential include Authors, writers and editors; Public relations specialists.

Many news analysts, reporters, and correspondents also must communicate information orally. Others for whom oral communications skills are important are Announcers; Interpreters and translators; Retail salespersons; Teachers- kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary; Teachers- postsecondary.

• BA in Mass Communication or Journalism