Reporters and Correspondents
Nature of the Work
Reporters and correspondents play an important role in society. They gather
information and prepare stories that inform us about local, State, national, and international
events; present differing points of view on current issues; and monitor the actions of public
officials and others who exercise power. In covering a story, they may do background
research, review public records, and interview a variety of people.
As a rule, reporters take
notes or use a tape recorder while collecting facts and write their stories upon returning to
the office. In order to meet deadlines, however, many now use small, easy-to-carry,
lightweight computers to enter the story, which is then sent by phone modem to rewriters,
who write or transcribe the stories for them.
Reporters in radio and television broadcasting often report "live" from the scene of
a newsworthy event, where they have to compose their story on the spot. Later, they may
do commentary for a film report in the studio and appear on camera to introduce the story.
Large newspaper and radio and television stations frequently assign reporters to
investigate specific locations or "beats," such as police stations or the courts, on a regular
basis to gather news originating in these places. General assignment reporters write up
local news as assigned, such as a story about a school board meeting or an obituary of a
community leader. Many newspaper, magazine, and wire service reporters with a
background or interest in a particular subject analyze and interpret the news in specialized
fields such as medicine, politics, foreign affairs, sports, fashion, art, theater, consumer
affairs, travel, finance, social events, science, education, business, labor, and religion.
Critics review restaurants and movies as well as literary, artistic, and musical works and live
performances, while editorial writers present viewpoints on topics of public interest.
Newspapers, magazines, wire services, and radio and television networks frequently
station reporters, known as correspondents, in large cities as well as in other countries to
prepare stories on major news events occurring in these locations. Reporters on small
newspapers cover all aspects of local news, and also may take photographs, write
headlines, lay out pages, edit wire service copy, and write editorials. On some small
weeklies, they also may solicit advertisements, sell subscriptions, and perform general
office work.
Working Conditions
The work of reporters and correspondents is usually hectic. They are under
pressure to meet deadlines and many work under trying conditions. In the office, for
example, they often must content with loud conversation and the confusion of people
constantly on the go. When reporting from the scene, radio and television reporters may
be distracted by curious onlookers, police, or other emergency workers. Some
assignments covering wars, political uprisings, fires, floods, and other events may be
dangerous.
Working hours vary by type of employer. Reporters working for morning papers
usually work from late afternoon until midnight. Those on afternoon or evening papers
generally work from early morning until early or midafternoon. Radio and television
reporters generally are assigned to a day or evening shift so that the news can be covered
whenever it happens. Although magazine reporters often can schedule their work during
the day, all reporters may have to change their work hours to meet a deadline or to update
an earlier report because of late-breaking developments. Their work may demand long
hours, irregular schedules, and some travel. Foreign correspondents often work late at
night to send news to their papers in time for printing deadlines.
Employment
Reporters and correspondents held about 72,000 jobs in 1990. Nearly 7 of every 10
worked for newspapers, either large city daily papers or daily or weekly papers in suburban
communities and small towns. Almost 2 in 10 worked in radio and television broadcasting
and for magazines and wire services.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Most editors prefer college graduates who have a degree in journalism, which
includes training in the liberal arts along with professional training in journalism. A few
prefer applicants who have a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and a master's degree in
journalism. High school courses in English, journalism, social studies, and typing provide
a good foundation. But some large city newspapers prefer a subject-matter specialty
helpful to specific beats such as economics, political science, finance, or business. That
subject-matter specialty may be one degree with a second degree in journalism.
In 1990, the vast majority of journalism graduates who landed jobs on newspapers,
magazines, or with news wire services prepared specifically for news work by majoring in
news-editorial journalism.
Bachelor's degree programs in journalism are available in over 300 colleges. About
three-fourths of the courses in a typical undergraduate journalism curriculum are in liberal
arts, with the remainder required journalism courses. These journalism courses include
introductory mass media, basic reporting and copy editing, history of journalism, and press
law and ethics. In addition, students planning a career in broadcasting take courses in
radio and television newscasting and production. Other journalism courses are selected
in the student's specific area of interest.
Over 350 community and junior colleges offer journalism courses or programs.
Credit earned at some of these schools may be transferable to 4-year college programs in
journalism. Some junior colleges also offer programs especially designed to prepare the
student directly for employment as a general assignment reporter. However, such
graduates find it increasingly difficult to compete with graduates of 4-year programs. The
Armed Forces also provide some training in journalism.
A master's degree in journalism was offered by over 100 schools in 1990; about 20
schools offered the Ph.D. degree. Some graduate programs are intended primarily as
preparation for news careers, while others concentrate on preparing journalism teachers,
researchers and theorists, and advertising and public relations workers.
Liberal arts courses useful to persons preparing for a reporting career include
English courses with an emphasis on writing, sociology, political science, economics,
history, psychology, computer science, business, and speech. The ability to read and
speak a foreign language also is desirable. Those who aspire to reporting in a specialized
field--science or finance, for example--should concentrate on coursework in those subject
areas.
Typing skill is essential because reporters type their own news stories. Virtually all
reporters now use computerized word processing equipment to write and edit stories, so
jobseekers should be familiar with this type of equipment. The ability to take shorthand also
is useful. Often, a knowledge of news photography is valuable.
The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund and individual newspapers and magazines as well
as many radio and TV news organizations offer summer internships that provide college
students with an opportunity to perform a variety of basic reporting or editing duties.
Experience acquired through such internships helps immeasurably in job placement after
graduation. In addition, more than 3,000 journalism scholarships, fellowships, and
assistantships were awarded to college journalism students by universities, newspapers,
foundations, and professional organizations in 1990.
News reporting involves a great deal of responsibility, because what a reporter writes
frequently influences the opinion of the reading public. Reporters should be dedicated to
serving the public's need for accurate and impartial news. Although reporters work as part
of a team, they have an opportunity for self-expression. The ability to present facts and
opinions clearly and succinctly is essential for success in this field. Accuracy and objectivity
are equally important, because, among other reasons, untrue or libelous statements can
lead to costly lawsuits.
Important personal characteristics include a "nose for news," curiosity, persistence,
initiative, poise, resourcefulness, an accurate memory, and the physical stamina and
emotional stability to deal with pressing deadlines, irregular hours, and sometimes
dangerous assignments. Being at ease on camera or in front of a microphone is essential
for broadcast reporters. Because some assignments lead reporters to unfamiliar places,
they must be able to adapt to strange surroundings and feel at ease with a variety of
people.
Some who compete for full-time reporter jobs find it is helpful to have had experience
as a "stringer"--a part-time reporter who covers the news in a particular area of the
community and is paid on the basis of the stories printed. High school and college
newspapers and church or community newsletters also provide writing and editing
experience that may be helpful in getting a job.
Most beginners start with small publications as general assignment reporters or copy
editors. A few outstanding journalism graduates are hired by large city papers and national
magazines, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Large employers generally require
several years of reporting experience.
Beginning reporters are assigned duties such as reporting on civic and club
meetings, summarizing speeches, writing obituaries, interviewing important visitors to the
community, and covering police court proceedings. As they gain experience, they may
report more important events, cover an assigned "beat," or specialize in a particular field.
Reporters may advance to reporting for larger papers or press services. However,
competition for such positions is keen, and news executives receive many applications from
highly qualified reporters every year. Some experienced reporters become columnists,
correspondents, editorial writers, editors, or top executives; these positions represent the
top of the field, and competition for them is extremely keen. Other reporters transfer to
related fields such as public relations or preparing copy for radio and television news
programs.
Job Outlook
Employment of reporters and correspondents is expected to grow about as fast as
the average for all occupations through the year 2000. This growth will come about
primarily because of an anticipated increase in the number of smalltown and suburban daily
and weekly newspapers. For the most part, little or no increase is expected in the number
of big city dailies, although some of them may increase the size of their reporting staffs.
Magazines and radio and television broadcasting should continue to provide a significant
number of jobs, but major news magazines and large radio and television stations primarily
seek only experienced reporters.
The need to replace experienced reporters and
correspondents who leave the occupation each year will account for the vast majority of all
job openings. Compared to other professional workers, a somewhat larger proportion of
reporters and correspondents transfer to other occupations--reflecting the somewhat
stressful and hectic nature of the job. Some people decide they don't like the lifestyle and
transfer to other occupations where their skills are valuable, especially public relations and
advertising work.
Overall, graduates who have majored in news-editorial journalism and completed an
internship while in school should have the best prospects for reporting jobs. Most editors
prefer to hire the top graduates of accredited programs. Talented writers who can handle
highly specialized scientific or technical subjects will be at an advantage in the job market.
Small newspapers often look for beginning reporters who are acquainted with the
community and who can help with photography and other aspects of newspaper production.
Persons without at least a bachelor's degree in journalism will face increasingly stiff
competition for entry level positions.
Newspapers and magazines located in small towns and suburban areas are
expected to continue to offer the most opportunities for beginning reporters. Journalism
graduates who are willing to relocate and start at relatively low salaries are likely to find
reporting jobs on these newspapers. Openings arise on small publications as reporters
gain experience and move up to editorial positions, or transfer to reporting jobs on larger
newspapers and magazines.
Competition for reporting jobs on large metropolitan newspapers and national
magazines will be keen. Most of these employers require experience and do not ordinarily
hire new graduates. Sometimes, however, new graduates find jobs on major publications
because they have credentials in an area for which the paper has a pressing need.
Occasionally, the experience and contacts gained through an internship program or
summer job lead to a reporting job directly after graduation.
Because enrollments in journalism education programs are expected to continue
rising moderately through the mid-1990's, college teaching opportunities are expected to
be good for qualified applicants--generally, Ph.D.'s with practical reporting experience.
Some highly qualified reporters with a master's degree will find teaching positions in
journalism departments of colleges and junior colleges. The favorable outlook for
journalism educators contrasts with the generally bleak prospect for college faculty in many
other academic disciplines, because the student-teacher ratio in journalism courses is much
lower than for many other college courses.
Employment of reporters and correspondents generally is not cut back sharply during
slack economic periods, but when business conditions force publishers and broadcasters
to reduce spending, new hiring may be temporarily slowed or even halted.
College graduates who have majored in journalism also have the background for
work in such closely related fields as advertising and public relations. Every year, a
substantial number of journalism graduates take media jobs in these fields. Other
graduates accept sales, managerial, and other nonmedia positions, while still others
continue their training and then find jobs in fields such as law, business, public
administration, and political science.
Earnings
Reporters working for daily newspapers having contracts negotiated by the
Newspaper Guild had starting salaries ranging, with a few exceptions, from about $13,500
to about $27,000 a year in 1990. For experienced reporters, the minimums ranged, with
a few exceptions, from about $21,600 to about $43,200.
Annual salaries of radio reporters ranged from about $12,500 in the smallest stations
to about $31,800 in the largest stations in 1990, according to a survey conducted by the
National Association of Broadcasters. For all stations, they averaged about $18,000.
Salaries of TV reporters ranged from about $15,900 in the smallest stations to about
$71,400 in the largest ones. For all satins, they averaged about $27,600.
Most reporters generally work a 5-day, 35- or 40-hour week and receive extra pay
for overtime work. Benefits may vary widely according to length of service and the size and
location of the employer. Most reporters, however, receive benefits such as paid vacations,
group insurance, and pension plans.
Related Occupations
Reporters and correspondents must write clearly and effectively to succeed in their
profession. Others for whom writing ability is essential include technical writers, advertising
copy writers, public relations workers, educational writers, fiction writers, biographers,
screen writers, and editors.
Sources of Additional Information
Career information, including pamphlets entitled Your Future in Newspapers and
Facts about Newspapers, is available from:
American Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation, The Newspaper
Center, Box 17407, Dulles International Airport, Washington, D.C. 20041.
Information on careers in journalism, colleges and universities that offer degree
programs in journalism or communications, and journalism scholarships and internships
may be obtained without charge from:
The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 300, Princeton, N.J. 08540.
For a list of junior and community colleges offering programs in journalism, contact:
National Community College Journalism Association, Midland College,
Midland, Tex. 79701.
Information on union wages rates for newspaper and magazine reporters is available
from:
The Newspaper Guild, Research and Information Department, 1125 15th St.
NW., Washington, D.C. 20005.
For a list of schools with accredited programs in their journalism departments, send a
stamped, self-addressed envelope to:
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications,
University of Missouri, P.O. Box 838, Columbia, Mo. 65205.
For general information about careers in journalism, contact:
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, 1621
College St., University of South Carolina College of Journalism, Columbia,
S.C. 29208.
Careers in Communications, a booklet providing information on opportunities for
women in newspaper reporting and other communications fields, is available from:
Women in Communications, Inc., P.O. Box 9561, Austin, Tex. 78766.
A pamphlet titled A Career in Newspapers can be obtained from:
National Newspaper Association, 1627 K St. NW., Suite 400 Washington,
D.C. 20006.
Names and locations of newspapers and a list of schools and departments of
journalism are published in the Editor and Publisher International Year Book, available in
most public libraries and newspaper offices.
|
|
