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Journalist Job Description

Our Journalist job description includes the Journalist responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Journalist Example


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If you need an example job description for a Journalist download the one below, alternatively we have many other Media job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does a Journalist do?

The key objective of a journalist is to gather information, write news pieces, and present the news in an honest and balanced manner. In addition to investigating and reporting on current events, they also work on articles and features that update and influence public opinion.

Journalist Role

We are recruiting a Journalist to join our team. We would like you to be hardworking, passionate and committed. You must be an excellent storyteller and the successful applicant must be able to demonstrate an ability to write investigative articles, feature storeys, and analytical pieces.

We expect you to be enthusiastic and focussed on digging out the real storeys and uncovering the truth.

To succeed in this role, you should be friendly, self-motivated, and have exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Journalist Duties

  • Minimum of 2 years’ working experience as a journalist or reporter.
  • Capable of maintaining an ethical and objective standard in reporting.
  • Ability to meet deadlines and accurately fact-cheque information.
  • Excellent observation and judgement skills.
  • Superb communication and networking skills, along with an aptitude to effectively extract information.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, English or relevant field.

Journalist Requirements

  • Assess leads and pitch captivating storey ideas to editors.
  • Ensure that you meet all regular and recurring deadlines.
  • Review and edit work for editorial approval.
  • Use all your findings to prepare clean, concise and factual articles.
  • Adhere to the ethical code of the profession.
  • Keep records off all notes, interviews, and audio files.
  • Create trustworthy relationships with contacts and sources for use in future research.
  • Keep up-to-date on the latest news developments by attending events, studying different papers, opinion pieces, and social media.
  • Collect, verify and decipher data.
  • Minimum of 2 years’ working experience as a journalist or reporter.
  • Capable of maintaining an ethical and objective standard in reporting.
  • Ability to meet deadlines and accurately fact-cheque information.
  • Excellent observation and judgement skills.
  • Superb communication and networking skills, along with an aptitude to effectively extract information.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, English or relevant field.

How to write a Journalist Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write a Journalist Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise a Journalist Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting a Journalist Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire a Journalist

Once you have selected your Job Description download it or convert it to a Job Advert. From here you can post/advertise your job across our network of job boards. If you wish to use the job description for a CV Template click through for advice and Convert to a CV

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