Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
Communicating clearly through speech while listening carefully to understand others.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
News analysts, reporters, and journalists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Internship or work experience on a college newspaper, radio station, or television station also may be helpful. PayThe median annual wage for news analysts, reporters, and journalists was $62,200 in May 2025. Job Outlook Employment of news analysts, reporters, and journalists is projected to decline 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. Despite declining employment, about 3,400 openings for news analysts, reporters, and journalists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for news analysts, reporters, and journalists. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of news analysts, reporters, and journalists with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about news analysts, reporters, and journalists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
The median annual wage for news analysts, reporters, and journalists was $62,200 in May 2025. Job Outlook Employment of news analysts, reporters, and journalists is projected to decline 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. Despite declining employment, about 3,400 openings for news analysts, reporters, and journalists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for news analysts, reporters, and journalists. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of news analysts, reporters, and journalists with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about news analysts, reporters, and journalists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Job Outlook
Employment of news analysts, reporters, and journalists is projected to decline 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. Despite declining employment, about 3,400 openings for news analysts, reporters, and journalists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for news analysts, reporters, and journalists. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of news analysts, reporters, and journalists with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about news analysts, reporters, and journalists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
What They Do
News analysts, reporters, and journalists keep the public updated about current events and noteworthy information.
Work Environment
Most news analysts, reporters, and journalists work for newspaper, website, or magazine publishers or in television or radio broadcasting. Others are self-employed. Most work full time, and their schedules vary.
How to Become a News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist
News analysts, reporters, and journalists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Internship or work experience on a college newspaper, radio station, or television station also may be helpful.
Pay
The median annual wage for news analysts, reporters, and journalists was $62,200 in May 2025.
Job Outlook
Employment of news analysts, reporters, and journalists is projected to decline 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Despite declining employment, about 3,400 openings for news analysts, reporters, and journalists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for news analysts, reporters, and journalists.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of news analysts, reporters, and journalists with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about news analysts, reporters, and journalists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Work Environment
Most news analysts, reporters, and journalists work for newspaper, website, or magazine publishers or in television or radio broadcasting. Others are self-employed. Most work full time, and their schedules vary.
How to Become a News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist
News analysts, reporters, and journalists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Internship or work experience on a college newspaper, radio station, or television station also may be helpful.
Pay
The median annual wage for news analysts, reporters, and journalists was $62,200 in May 2025.
Job Outlook
Employment of news analysts, reporters, and journalists is projected to decline 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Despite declining employment, about 3,400 openings for news analysts, reporters, and journalists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for news analysts, reporters, and journalists.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of news analysts, reporters, and journalists with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about news analysts, reporters, and journalists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for news analysts, reporters, and journalists.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of news analysts, reporters, and journalists with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about news analysts, reporters, and journalists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
More Information
Learn more about news analysts, reporters, and journalists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Take the Next Step
Find Education Programs
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.