Journalist Job Description Template

Journalist Job Description

[Intro Paragraph] Your job post introduction should show why your company is a great place to work. In a few sentences, explain what makes your company culture and values attractive. Mention the professional development resources you offer like mentorship programs, trainings, and career development plans. By highlighting the benefits of working for your company, you will get candidates interested in the opportunity.

Journalist Job Responsibilities: After your introduction, list the main responsibilities of the job. This will help right-fit candidates decide if they’re a good fit for the position and want to apply.

Each company will have different hiring needs, but typical responsibilities include the following:

• Research and pitch timely story ideas.
• Interview witnesses and subject-matter experts to gather useful quotes and data.
• Write, edit, and fact check copy to ensure it’s accurate and meets readers’ expectations.
• Ensure content is unbiased and ethical according to industry standards.
• Collaborate with other journalists, writers, editors, and photographers to create high-quality, engaging content while adhering to tight deadlines.
• Stay up to date with current privacy and defamation laws.

[Work Hours and Benefits] After listing the job requirements, include information about which hours the journalist will work. This is where you note if the journalist will need to work full- or part-time, weekends, or overnight hours. Be sure to acknowledge in your journalist job description if hours are flexible or fixed; if they’re fixed, include which specific shifts.

Also mention the position’s benefits and perks, such as health insurance, vision or dental coverage, and paid time off. List additional company perks that benefit employees’ physical, mental, and financial health. These might include tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, free snacks, meals, and merchandise.

Journalist Qualifications and Skills: Use your skills section to help candidates understand which qualifications are required versus preferred. If you want candidates to apply even if they don’t meet every single qualification, say so. Some people will feel not apply if they don’t meet everything listed.

To make sure this section is a well-rounded representation of your needs, list both the hard and soft skills you look for in a journalist, such as:

• Strong researching, interviewing, writing, and editing skills.
• Comfortable asking difficult questions and digging further when needed.
• Able to work quickly and accurately within tight timeframes.
• Excellent at communication and relationship-building.
• Strong team player who can work alone and collaborate easily with others.
• Familiar with Chicago Manual or AP Style.

Education and Experience Requirements: Do your journalists need to hold at least a high school diploma or GED? Do you require more advanced degrees and experience?

While you might have additional requirements for you journalist job description, such as experience with specific subject matter or a valid driver’s license, most journalist positions list a combination of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a relevant field.
• Minor in relevant field, if specializing in print or broadcast.
• Deep understanding of interviewing best practices.
• Experience turning in clean copy within tight timeframes.
• Extensive portfolio of related published articles or newscasts.
• Specific qualifications accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

[Call to Action] Every great job posting ends with an effective call to action. This is where you specify what you want candidates to do next. This might be “apply now”; or “learn more.” You never want to leave the candidate without a clear next step, or they might leave your site or the job board without applying, so know where you want the candidate to go next and help them get there quickly.