JOJournalist
JO
Career

Journalist

By the numbers
Typical pay
$62,200 / yr
Education to start
Bachelor's degree
Future demand
-3.9% by 2034
People in this job
39K
Figures shown for ·closest of 2 O*NET occupations
The work
A day, hour by hour

Breaking news can blow up any plan — here's a typical day:

08:30
Pitch meeting

Pitch story ideas to the editor. Some get a yes, some get cut.

09:15
Records dig

Comb through court files and budget documents for a hidden detail.

10:30
Source calls

Phone a city official and a resident. Weigh who has an agenda.

12:00
Anonymity call

A worried employee wants to talk. Decide whether to promise protection.

13:30
Council meeting

Take notes, grab quotes, and shoot video of a heated vote.

16:00
Write on deadline

Draft fast. Rewrite the top three times before the editor sees it.

17:30
Fact-check

Verify every name, number, and quote. Hold anything unconfirmed.

18:15
Publish & promote

Edit with the editor, hit publish, and post clips on social media.

Things you do
  • Interview sources in person and by phone to get the real story.
  • Hunt down story ideas and pitch them to your editor.
  • Dig through public records, court files, and documents for hidden facts.
  • Check every name, number, and claim before anything gets published.
  • Write and rewrite stories fast to beat a tight deadline.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Is this story solid enough to publish now, or do I hold it to confirm more?
  • Can I trust this source, or do they have an agenda?
  • Should I promise this person anonymity, or push them to go on the record?
  • Is this detail newsworthy, or would it just hurt someone for no good reason?
  • Is this tip a real story, or just noise worth ignoring?
Education Pathways · how you get there
100 in 100 went the college route · 0 in 100 found another way in Less than 5 years, typically
Education mapped from O*NET:Editors · 45% related
If you like this, also look at