Profession journalist

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

Personality Type

• Artistic / Enterprising

Tasks journalist

• Select, write and report (on) current stories for publication, broadcast or narrowcast, keeping to deadlines.
• Review copy and correct errors in content, grammar and punctuation, adhere to editorial style, formats, possibilities and limitations of the media.
• Gather information through (desk) research, interviews, field experience and by attending social events and public functions.
• Make significant news interesting and relevant to target audience, keep the news comprehensive and proportional, describe and illustrate detail as well as background.
• Analyze audiences and their interests, present different sides to a (conflicting) story, use multiple original sources and verify story before publication.
• Stay abreast of trends and issues, know who's who and how to reach them, and recognize newsworthy issues in the society.
• Consult the persons who decide on the selection of stories (such as editors or programme directors) and technical personnel (e.g. audiovisual operators) for support, if needed.
• Maintain independence, withstand pressure, bribes or presents from interested parties and abstain from topics involving own personal interests. Credit and protect sources, and avoid plagiarism.
• Provide a forum for public opinion and stimulate it through editorials, columns and reviews.
• Respond to and interact with individuals and target audiences through the media.

Related professions journalism, editing

• Author, writer
• Columnist, commentator
• Editor, all other
• Editor, books
• Editorial assistant
• Media correspondent
• Multimedia developer
• News analyst
• Press officer
• Proofreader
• Publisher
• Reporter

Knowledge

• Copyright legislation

  Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

• Grammar

  The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.

• Interview techniques

  The techniques for getting information out of people by asking the right questions in the right way and to make them feel comfortable.

• Spelling

  The rules concerning the way words are spelled.

• Writing techniques

  The different techniques to write a story such as the descriptive, persuasive, first person and other techniques.

• Editorial standards

  The guidelines on how to deal with and report on privacy, children, and death according to impartiality, and other standards.

Skills

• Consult information sources

  Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.

• Follow ethical code of conduct of journalists

  Follow the ethical code of conduct of journalists, such as freedom of speech, right of reply, being objective, and other rules.

• Use specific writing techniques

  Use writing techniques depending on the type of media, the genre, and the story.

• Study topics

  Carry out effective research on relevant topics to be able to produce summary information appropriate to different audiences. The research may involve looking at books, journals, the internet, and/or verbal discussions with knowledgeable persons.

• Follow the news

  Follow current events in politics, economics, social communities, cultural sectors, internationally, and in sports.

• Stay up to date with social media

  Keep up with the trends and people on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

• Apply grammar and spelling rules

  Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.

• Interview people

  Interview people in a range of different circumstances.

• Participate in editorial meetings

  Participate in meetings with fellow editors and journalists to discuss possible topics and to divide the tasks and workload.

• Build contacts to maintain news flow

  Build contacts to maintain a flow of news, for example, police and emergency services, local council, community groups, health trusts, press officers from a variety of organisations, the general public, etc.

• Write to a deadline

  Schedule and respect tight deadlines, especially for theatre, screen and radio projects.

• Develop professional network

  Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.

• Evaluate writings in response to feedback

  Edit and adapt work in response to comments from peers and publishers.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB