Career Research Summary

A broadcast journalist is responsible for unbiasedly researching, investigating, and presenting news and current affairs content for television, radio, and the Internet. Broadcast journalism includes various occupations such as reporters and news anchors.

Description of Duties

General Duties
- Gathering news leads and researching stories
- Shooting and editing video and audio files
- Setting the run-down for a newscast
- Maintaining contacts with local government, law enforcement, and community organizations (3)
Reporter's Duties
- Investigating stories, interviewing sources, and reporting on location for live broadcasts (3)
News Anchor's Duties
- Reading stories, conducting in-studio interviews, and mediating discussions on television and radio broadcasts (3)

Special Skill Requirements

Writing and Oral Communication Skills
- Broadcast journalists are required to consistently write stories and present information to the public.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Broadcast journalists are constantly in the presence of people; therefore, they must remain amiable at all times to maintain a positive image.
Self-Motivation
- Broadcast journalists must be proactive, because they are responsible for effectively relaying information to the public on a day-to-day basis.
Flexibility
- Broadcast journalists need to be adaptable, because they are often working under strict deadlines and face high pressure situations.
Creativity
- Broadcast journalists should remain open-minded to innovative ideas in order to present information from diverse perspectives.

Education Requirements

A bachelor's degree in journalism, mass communications, or communications is necessary to obtain an entry level job in the field. (2)

Salary

Broadcast journalists’ salaries vary depending on location and size of job market.
The US average broadcast journalist annual salary is $51,430. (1)
The average broadcast journalist annual salary in Georgia is $58,250. (1)

Outlook

As of December 2015, the employment of reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts are projected to decline 9 percent from 2014 to 2024 due to the decline of advertising revenue in radio, newspapers, and television. (1)

Sources

1. Bureau of Labor and Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes273022.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/reporters-correspondents-and-broadcast-news-analysts.htm

2. Learn.org

http://learn.org/articles/Broadcast_Journalist_Job_Duties_Career_Outlook_and_Education_Prerequisites.html

3. Study.com

http://study.com/careers_in_broadcast_journalism.html