News analysts, reporters, and journalists

SOC Code: 27-3023
Also known as:
Anchor, Anchorman, Art Critic, Basketball Commentator, Blogger
Median Annual Salary
$60,280
-3.9% growth (2024-2034)
4K
Openings/Year
49K
Current Jobs

What News analysts, reporters, and journalists Do

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.

💰 Salary

$60,280
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

-3.9%
Decline

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

4K
Projected average per year

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

49,300

Projected Employment (2034)

47,400

Related Careers

Producers and directors

$83,480 • +4.9% growth

Editors

$75,260 • +0.6% growth

Writers and authors

$72,270 • +3.6% growth

Top Skills Required

Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Active Listening
Social Perceptiveness

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Gather information and develop perspectives about news subjects through research, interviews, observation, and experience.
  • Select material most pertinent to presentation, and organize this material into appropriate formats.
  • Present news stories, and introduce in-depth videotaped segments or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters.

Technology & Tools

Adobe After Effects Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Facebook Hypertext markup language HTML IBM SPSS Statistics Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook

📚 Entry-Level Education

Bachelor's degree
Most common requirement

Degree Programs for News analysts, reporters, and journalists

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a news analysts, reporters, and journalists:

Communication, General

11,299 degrees awarded • 366 colleges offer this program

Journalism

9,378 degrees awarded • 361 colleges offer this program

Mass Communication/Media Studies

8,694 degrees awarded • 314 colleges offer this program

Radio and Television

5,653 degrees awarded • 167 colleges offer this program

Sports Communication

1,202 degrees awarded • 80 colleges offer this program

Journalism, Other

1,098 degrees awarded • 39 colleges offer this program

Broadcast Journalism

757 degrees awarded • 54 colleges offer this program

Agricultural Communication/Journalism

537 degrees awarded • 25 colleges offer this program

Political Communication

211 degrees awarded • 8 colleges offer this program

International and Intercultural Communication

183 degrees awarded • 24 colleges offer this program

Best Colleges for Becoming a News analysts, reporters, and journalists

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become news analysts, reporters, and journalists.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 270 A+
2 University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 649 A
3 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 641 A
4 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 500 A
5 University of Georgia Athens, GA 380 A
6 Boston University Boston, MA 371 A
7 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 363 A
8 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 258 A
9 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 252 A
10 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 239 A
11 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 197 A
12 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA 142 A
13 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 715 B+
14 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 426 B+
15 University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA 390 B+
16 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA 322 B+
17 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL 318 B+
18 University of California-Davis Davis, CA 301 B+
19 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN 234 B+
20 San Diego State University San Diego, CA 223 B+

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do news analysts, reporters, and journalists make?
The median annual salary for news analysts, reporters, and journalists is $60,280.
What education do news analysts, reporters, and journalists need?
Most news analysts, reporters, and journalists positions require a bachelor's degree. Common degree programs include Communication, General, Journalism, Mass Communication/Media Studies.
Is becoming news analysts, reporters, and journalists a good career choice?
News analysts, reporters, and journalists is projected to see -3.9% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which reflects some decline in the field. With approximately 4,100 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for news analysts, reporters, and journalists?
Top colleges for aspiring news analysts, reporters, and journalists include University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Florida, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Georgia. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to news analysts, reporters, and journalists?
News analysts, reporters, and journalists may also be known as: 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, Correspondent, Courtroom Reporter, Critic, Cub Reporter, Data Journalist. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.