Profession crime journalist
Crime journalists research and write articles about criminal events for newspapers, magazines, television and other media. They conduct interviews and attend court hearings.
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Personality Type
- Artistic / Enterprising
Knowledge
- Copyright legislation
Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.
- Criminal law
Th legal rules, constitutions and regulations applicable for the punishement of offenders.
- Grammar
The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.
- Writing techniques
The different techniques to write a story such as the descriptive, persuasive, first person and other techniques.
- 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.
- Court procedures
The regulations which are in place during the investigation of a court case and during a court hearing, and of how these events occur.
- Spelling
The rules concerning the way words are spelled.
- Editorial standards
The guidelines on how to deal with and report on privacy, children, and death according to impartiality, and other standards.
Skills
- Evaluate writings in response to feedback
Edit and adapt work in response to comments from peers and publishers.
- Follow the news
Follow current events in politics, economics, social communities, cultural sectors, internationally, and in sports.
- Use specific writing techniques
Use writing techniques depending on the type of media, the genre, and the story.
- Stay up to date with social media
Keep up with the trends and people on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- 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 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.
- Interview people
Interview people in a range of different circumstances.
- Apply grammar and spelling rules
Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.
- 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.
- Participate in editorial meetings
Participate in meetings with fellow editors and journalists to discuss possible topics and to divide the tasks and workload.
- Record court procedures
Record all the information necessary for proper record maintenance during court hearings, such as the people present, the case, the evidence presented, the sentence made, and other important matters which were brought up during the hearing.
- Consult information sources
Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
- 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.
- Write to a deadline
Schedule and respect tight deadlines, especially for theatre, screen and radio projects.