Reporters and Correspondents

Career Description: Collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events by interview, investigation, or observation. Report and write stories for newspaper, news magazine, radio, or television.

Industry: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Other Job Titles for Reporters and Correspondents:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Report and write news stories for publication or broadcast, describing the background and details of events.
• Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a particular story.
• Review copy and correct errors in content, grammar, and punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines.
• Review and evaluate notes taken about event aspects in order to isolate pertinent facts and details.
• Determine a story's emphasis, length, and format, and organize material accordingly.
• Research and analyze background information related to stories in order to be able to provide complete and accurate information.
• Gather information about events through research, interviews, experience, and attendance at political, news, sports, artistic, social, and other functions.
• Investigate breaking news developments such as disasters, crimes, and human interest stories.
• Research and report on specialized fields such as medicine, science and technology, politics, foreign affairs, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education.
• Receive assignments or evaluate leads and tips in order to develop story ideas.
• Discuss issues with editors in order to establish priorities and positions.
• Check reference materials such as books, news files, and public records in order to obtain relevant facts.
• Revise work in order to meet editorial approval or to fit time or space requirements.
• Photograph or videotape news events, or request that a photographer be assigned to provide such coverage.
• Develop ideas and material for columns or commentaries by analyzing and interpreting news, current issues, and personal experiences.
• Transmit news stories or reporting information from remote locations, using equipment such as satellite phones, telephones, fax machines, or modems.
• Present live or recorded commentary via broadcast media.
• Conduct taped or filmed interviews or narratives.
• Edit or assist in editing videos for broadcast.
• Write columns, editorials, commentaries, or reviews that interpret events or offer opinions.
• Write reviews of literary, musical, and other artwork based on knowledge, judgment, and experience.
• Conduct interviews for broadcasts.
• Act as a liaison between talent and directors, providing information that performers or guests need to prepare for appearances and communicating relevant information from guests, performers, or staff to directors.
• Obtain rights to scripts or to such items as existing video footage.
• License the use of photographs through stock photo agencies.
• Mount, frame, laminate, or lacquer finished photographs.
• Photograph legal evidence at crime scenes, in hospitals, or in forensic laboratories.

Emerging Tasks

• Assign stories to other reporters and duties to production staff.
• Communicate with readers, viewers, advertisers, and the general public via mail, email, and telephone.
• Determine the emphasis, length, format, and layout of a story, publication, or broadcast and organize the material accordingly.
• Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.
• Participate in community events, make public appearances, and conduct community service.
• Review written, audio, and video copy and correct errors in content, grammar, and punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines.
• Take pictures and video and process them for inclusion in a story.
• Oversee the development and management of the sports program budget and fundraising activities.
• Perform activities that support a team or a specific sport, such as participating in community outreach activities, meeting with media representatives, and appearing at fundraising events.
• Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, and/or tours.
• Teach instructional courses and advise students.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• collect details for stories or articles
• communicate visually or verbally
• compile information through interviews
• convey moods or emotions through writing
• edit video film scenes
• edit written material
• ensure correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling
• identify interests of publication readers
• interpret information to formulate story ideas
• interpret technical information for written materials
• make presentations
• operate cameras
• operate video recorders
• organize journalistic or literary data
• organize story elements
• research broadcast copy
• research information for news programs
• review assembled film or video tape on monitor
• schedule work to meet deadlines
• use interviewing procedures
• use journalistic interviewing techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• verify investigative information
• verify sources or documentation for stories
• write headlines
• write news analysis commentary, column, or script
• write news stories for publication
• write story copy
• understand detailed electronic design specifications
• understand service or repair manuals
• understand technical information for electronic repair work
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use diagnostic software in electronics repair
• use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
• use government regulations
• use hand or power tools
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use oscilloscopes in electronics repair
• use precision tools in electronics repair
• use soldering equipment
• use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
• use creativity in graphics
• use graphic arts techniques
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use stage lighting controls or instruments

Overall Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education
Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$16.68
• Average annual wage (2007) - $34,690.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 1.20%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 709
• Employment (2006): 59,212

• Broadcast News Analysts
• Editors
• Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
• Public Address System and Other Announcers
• Radio and Television Announcers
• Technical Writers
• Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
• Reporters and Correspondents
• Singers
• Technical Writers