Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Anchor
- News Anchor
- News Reporter
- Reporter
Alternate Job Titles
- Anchor
- Anchorman
- Art Critic
- Basketball Commentator
- Blogger
- Book Critic
- Book Reviewer
- Breaking News Reporter
- Broadcast Journalist
- Broadcast Meteorologist
- Broadcast News Advisor
- Business Reporter
- Business Writer
- Columnist
- Commentator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Communications and Media
- Law and Government
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Listening
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
- Selective Attention
- Problem Sensitivity
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Social Orientation
- Adaptability
- Dependability
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Independence
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
Tools & Equipment
- Communication headphones
- Compact digital cameras
- Desktop computers
- Digital audio recorders
- Digital audio workstations
- Editing consoles
- Flash disks
- High definition HD video cameras
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Microphones
- Mobile broadcast units
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Satellite phones
Work Environment
- Time Pressure
- Contact With Others
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $34,590 |
| Median | $60,280 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $162,430 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 41,550
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If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.