Press / Media

Journalist

Overview

A Journalist researches, writes, and reports news stories for print, online, or broadcast media. They must have excellent writing and research skills, and be able to work under tight deadlines. They may specialize in a particular area of coverage, such as politics, business, or sports.

The main responsibilities of a Journalist include researching and investigating stories, conducting interviews with sources, writing and editing news articles or scripts, reporting live from the scene of events, and verifying the accuracy of information. They must also adhere to ethical standards of journalism, including avoiding conflicts of interest, maintaining objectivity, and protecting sources.

Common tasks 

    TaskRelated trait(s)
    Researching and investigating news stories through interviews, background research, and other sources Cautiousness and objectivity Multitasking Reading Comprehension Extroversion  Effective listening Curiosity
    Writing and editing news articles, reports, and features for print, online, or broadcast media, or covering news events  Effective listening
    Developing and maintaining relationships with sources and contacts in order to develop story leads and secure exclusive stories Effective listening
    Adhering to ethical and legal standards of journalism, including accuracy, fairness, and unbiased reporting Tenacity Integrity Cautiousness and objectivity
    Staying up-to-date on current events and trends, and developing expertise in specific areas of coverage Curiosity
    Collaborating with other reporters and editors Helping Others  Compliance

    Soft skills measured by TraitForward

    TraitNo of QuestionsCronbach’s  alpha (α)
    Persuasive communication110.84
    Do they express themselves effectively?
    Effective listening80.71
    Do they understand others?
    Tenacity50.72
    Do they value freedom of expression?
    Cautiousness and objectivity80.78
    Are they objective?
    Multitasking60.67
    Can they multitask? Can they handle demanding workloads?
    Extroversion90.84
    Can they handle social situations?
    Reading Comprehension100.79
    Do they like reading?
    Empathy70.80
    Do they understand how people feel?
    Integrity90.73
    Do they have a moral compass?
    Compliance90.74
    Do they follow rules?
    Helping Others60.75
    Do they like helping others?
    Positive group practices90.72
    Do they like being included in a group?
    Curiosity90.73
    Are they curious?
    *Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α) determines the extent to which the questions consistently measure each trait and it is expressed as a number ranging between 0 and 1 . Higher values indicate higher agreement between questions.  A value of α equal to greater than .7 indicates acceptable reliability or internal consistency.  For more information on the psychometric properties of the solution, please click here.

    Did you Know?

    Source: US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics

    Median wage: 

    $48,370 / per year

    $23 / hour

    The median annual wage for this profession is $48,370. Nonetheless several professionals may not be paid in that rate. A relatively low salary the 10th percentile of the annual wage is $29,210, whilst a relatively high salary, the 90th percentile of the annual wage is $120,590.

    Expected employment growth:

    Number (in thousands in 2021): 47.1 (News analysts, reporters, and journalists)

    Number (in thousands in 2031): 43.1 (News analysts, reporters, and journalists)

    Employment percent change: -8.6 (News analysts, reporters, and journalists)

    Entry Education level:

    To become a Journalist, one typically needs a bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field, although some employers may accept candidates with a degree in a different field if they have relevant experience or training in journalism. Journalists must have excellent communication and writing skills, as well as a strong attention to detail and the ability to work under tight deadlines. They must also have strong critical thinking and analytical skills, as they must be able to gather and analyze information from a variety of sources. Finally, Journalists must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and have a strong commitment to accuracy and ethics in their reporting.

    Find out the psychometric properties for the Journalist Traitforward questionnaire

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