Reporter & Journalist
News analysts, reporters, and journalists keep the public updated about current events and noteworthy information.
What the job is
- The work
- News analysts, reporters, and journalists keep the public updated about current events and noteworthy information.
BLS
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Most news analysts, reporters, and journalists work for newspaper, website, or magazine publishers or in television or radio broadcasting. Others are self-employed. Most work full time, and their schedules vary.
BLS
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Persistent, curious communicators who can work fast, irregular hours.
- Career cluster
- Arts, Entertainment, & Design
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (news analysts, reporters, and journalists).
- Median pay
- $62,200 a year ($29.91 an hour)
BLS
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 47,100
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- Training after hire
- None
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- −6%, which BLS calls "decline"
BLS
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- −2,800 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- News analysts, reporters, and journalists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Internship or work experience on a college newspaper, radio station, or television station also may be helpful.
BLS
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- In short
- News analysts, reporters and journalists typically need a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or a related field such as English. Employers generally prefer candidates who have had internships or worked on school newspapers, radio stations or TV stations.
- License
- Not required
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
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Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Journalist: bachelor's in journalism or communications, with internships and student media work
See the roadmap
Route 1: Bachelor's in journalism + internships
More careers in Arts, Entertainment, & Design
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 21 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.