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Career Details
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Career Details

27-3023.00 - News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists


Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
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Forecasted Employment
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Change in Employment
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Change in Employment %
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Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.
  • Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.
  • Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.
  • Analyze and interpret news and information received from various sources to broadcast the information.
  • Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.
  • Research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information.
  • Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a story.
  • Gather information and develop perspectives about news subjects through research, interviews, observation, and experience.
  • Select material most pertinent to presentation, and organize this material into appropriate formats.
  • Present news stories, and introduce in-depth videotaped segments or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.
  • Report news stories for publication or broadcast, describing the background and details of events.
  • Revise work to meet editorial approval or to fit time or space requirements.
  • Review and evaluate notes taken about news events to isolate pertinent facts and details.
  • Investigate breaking news developments, such as disasters, crimes, or human-interest stories.
  • Review written, audio, or video copy, and correct errors in content, grammar, or punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines.
  • Report on specialized fields such as medicine, green technology, environmental issues, science, politics, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education.
  • Determine a published or broadcasted story's emphasis, length, and format, organizing material accordingly.
  • Transmit news stories or reporting information from remote locations, using equipment such as satellite phones, telephones, fax machines, or modems.
  • Check reference materials, such as books, news files, or public records, to obtain relevant facts.
  • Discuss issues with editors to establish priorities or positions.
  • Photograph or videotape news events.
  • Present live or recorded commentary via broadcast media.
  • Take pictures or video, and process them for inclusion in a story.
  • Conduct taped or filmed interviews or narratives.
  • Develop ideas or material for columns or commentaries by analyzing and interpreting news, current issues, or personal experiences.
  • Communicate with readers, viewers, advertisers, or the general public via mail, email, or telephone.
  • Write online blog entries that address news developments or offer additional information, opinions, or commentary on news events.
  • Assign stories to other reporters or duties to production staff.
  • Write columns, editorials, commentaries, or reviews that interpret events or offer opinions.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 English Language
  • 97%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Communications and Media
  • 94%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Law and Government
  • 74%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 68%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Telecommunications
  • 68%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 63%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Geography
  • 61%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 59%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 History and Archeology
  • 59%
    Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
 Administration and Management
  • 56%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Sociology and Anthropology
  • 56%
    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
 Psychology
  • 52%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Clerical
  • 52%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Education and Training
  • 51%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Communication headphones
  • Digital audio recorders
  • Microphones
 Cameras
  • Compact digital cameras
  • High definition HD video cameras
  • Television cameras
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Duplicating machines
  • Laser facsimile machines
 Personal communication devices
  • Multi-line telephone systems
  • Satellite phones
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffectsHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesignHOT
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • FacebookHOT
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Quark Xpress
  • Social media sitesHOT
  • Social media software
  • Video editing software
  • YouTubeHOT
 Computer game or entertainment software
  • Audion Laboratories VoxPro
  • Avid Technology Pro Tools
 Business function specific software
  • Desktop Technologies NewsBoss
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Information exchange software
  • ESRI ArcView
  • Mapping software
  • Twitter
 Data management and query software
  • FileMaker Pro
  • LexisNexis
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro
  • Online databases
  • Statistics databases
 Development software
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
 Industry specific software
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • Nielsen Arianna
  • Nielsen Marketbreaks
  • RCS NexGen Digital
  • Statistical analysis software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Laurel Ridge Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Wytheville Community College