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5 Journalist Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

Journalist Resume

• Journalist Resumes by Role
• Write Your Journalist Resume

In the world of journalism, you’re the story-hunter who brings those hidden tales to light. With a curiosity that goes deep, you dig up facts, break down events, and spin narratives that shape how we see things.

Your knack for catching the heart of a moment keeps the info flowing smoothly to the public. Making a resume that shows off all your skills can be far more intricate than crafting a news piece—but don’t worry, because we’ve got you covered.

We’ve got the job application know-how to steer you toward victory. Just follow our tips and journalist resume examples to impress recruiters and land your next job.

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Why this resume works

• To make it count in your journalist resume, highlight your collaboration effort with the marketing team to bring in more ads and boost revenue margins.

Sports Journalist Resume

• You’re probably thinking about percentage increases and decreases now. However, naturally blending them with dollar amounts, time savings in hours, number of social media followers or subscribers, and video views brings a much-needed variety to your narration.

Broadcast Journalist Resume

• Can you recall when your piece of targeted content boosted YouTube subscribers, views, or web visitors? Or when you capitalized on your social media management prowess to spark lively conversations online? Spotlighting such moments could be the golden ticket to a job interview with your dream company.

Freelance Journalist Resume

• For instance, your freelance journalist resume can capitalize on how you created compelling content to increase monthly page views.

Multimedia Journalist Resume

• Including your three journalist awards for exceptional reporting in your multimedia journalist resume will give recruiters a reason to hire you.

Related resume examples

• Social Media Manager
• Virtual Assistant
• Digital Marketing

Craft a Journalist Resume That Fits the Job

Your journalist resume acts as a canvas where your skills paint vibrant stories. Think of it as your chance to shine! Pick out skills that sync up with your dream role and what you’re awesome at. 

Instead of vague or cliche resume skills , dive into specifics. If you’re going for a tech-oriented role, emphasize things like data analysis tools, multimedia software, and content management systems. Journalism’s all about talking the talk, so it’s good to toss in some soft skills too, like smooth interviewing, adaptability, and collaboration. 

Just remember to stay true to what the job wants and what you have experience in. If you’re going for an editor role, weave in some leadership and project management skills as well.

Need some inspiration?

15 popular journalist skills

• Google Analytics
• Final Cut Pro
• Interviewing Skills
• Photography 
• Research Methods 
• Proofreading
• Adaptability
• Microsoft Office
• Google Workspace

Your journalist work experience bullet points

As a journalist, your work experience should be more than just a list of everyday tasks. Sure, tracking down stories, doing interviews, and writing compelling articles is key, but what really shines are the big wins that showcase your impact. 

Sprinkle in some active verbs and plenty of quantifiable metrics to highlight your achievements in more detail. For example, maybe your investigative piece led to a policy change, or you boosted website hits by 50%. 

Being a journalist means shaping how people see the world and driving engagement for your company, so focus on the broader outcomes that prove you can inform, inspire, and connect with audiences effectively.

• Showcase the impact of your articles by mentioning metrics like social media shares, comments, and interactions.
• Highlight your ability to attract and retain readers with metrics related to audience growth. 
• Quantify the reach of your work by mentioning metrics like the number of publications, outlets, or websites your articles have been featured in.
• If you’ve worked on investigative pieces, mention metrics that show the tangible effects of your work, such as reporting a corporate scandal that led to regulatory actions.

See what we mean?

• Drove a 61% increase in website traffic through the use of visually interactive infographics and videos
• Received 3 journalism awards for exceptional reporting, representing a 14% increase in recognition compared to the previous year
• Managed and optimized the editorial budget, achieving an 8% cost reduction without compromising content quality
• Secured and conducted interviews with industry experts, with an acceptance rate of 88%

9 active verbs to start your journalist work experience bullet points

• Interviewed
• Collaborated
• Coordinated

3 Tips for Writing a Journalist Resume as a Beginner

• So, you’re new to the game—no biggie! Flaunt what you’ve learned by talking about projects from your coursework. For example, chat about teaming up with other students to create a captivating multimedia news package, demonstrating your storytelling abilities.
• Even if they were quick, internships can do wonders for your resume. Show off the real-world skills you developed during your journalism internships, whether you tackled local happenings or wrote up some fun listicles.
• Don’t underestimate the power of passion projects or hobbies . Got a blog, podcast, or community newsletter? Let the recruiters know! These projects prove your enthusiasm and passion and show that you’re willing to go the extra mile, giving recruiters a glimpse of your potential in a professional capacity.

3 Tips for Writing an Outstanding Journalist Resume if You’re Experienced

• Flaunt the skills you’ve picked up along the way. Whether you’re a pro at digging into investigations, crunching data for stories, or cooking up multimedia magic, let those talents shine. And if the job clicks with your specializations, the effect will be even more potent.
• If your articles boosted engagement or helped increase social media followers, put those digits on display. Numbers make your impact crystal clear and prove you’re not just any reporter—you’re the attention-grabbing kind.
• After a few years on the job, you might be ready to apply for an editor-in-chief position, or you may already have such experiences on your resume. Whether you want to level up to a senior journalist or run a whole department, use your resume to highlight past instances of leadership, such as when you took charge of an interesting story or oversaw a team of junior colleagues.

ATS can be a puzzle, but you’ve got this. Pepper your resume with relevant keywords from the job listing. Mirror the company’s language where you can. And remember, while keywords matter, your actual skills and experience are the stars.

Numbers that show impact are the way to go. Think social media shares, article engagement rates, or growth in readership. Highlight how your reporting caught eyes and sparked conversations.

Only if they’re really relevant. Certifications in data journalism or multimedia storytelling can be impressive, just as things like the NICAR certificate, but if they’re not directly tied to the role, they might not be essential.

• • Produced weekly articles covering AI advancements, cybersecurity threats, and technology's impact on society.
• • Published over 100 articles on emerging tech trends
• • Increased website traffic by 30% through SEO-optimized articles
• • Generated concise and engaging news articles on a daily basis, maintaining a high standard of accuracy and professionalism.
• • Monitored social media and tech forums for emerging stories and trends, ensuring timely coverage.
• • Increased social media engagement by 25% through interactive content.
• • Received 'Best Newcomer' award in 2016
• • Developed and maintained relationships with clients, delivering high-quality articles within tight deadlines.
• • Researched and reviewed the latest tech products, providing detailed insights and recommendations to readers.
• • Collaborated with editors and content managers to ensure accurate and consistent content delivery.

8 Journalist Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Customize this resume with ease using our seamless online resume builder.

All resume examples in this guide

Student Journalist

News Director

Multimedia Journalist

Broadcast Journalist

Sports Journalist

Fashion Journalist

Magazine Journalist

Journalist resume example

Resume Guide

Our in-depth guide will show you, looking for more related resumes, how to write a great journalist resume, how to write a great journalist resume header, how to write a journalist summary that will hook recruiters, how to tell a good story with your journalist work experience, what skills to include on a journalist resume, how to format the education section on your journalist resume, including certificates on your journalist resume, other sections to include in your journalist resume, key takeaways for writing a great journalist resume.

By Experience

You’ve done the hard work of finding your beat and perfecting your byline. Now it’s time to write a journalist resume that doesn’t bury the lede.

Recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds looking at a resume before moving on to the next one. How can you make yours stand out among the hundreds of other journalists?

A poorly written resume is the quickest way to get passed over by publications. Journalism is all about telling a story, and you want to show recruiters that you can hook readers, even with your resume.

After reading this guide, you’ll know how to tailor your resume to the job you want and show recruiters that you have the writing skills for a feature story.

• How to create a journalist resume that shows your storytelling ability
• What industry skills to highlight and how to present your soft skills
• How to tailor your resume to match a specific job description
• How to format the sections of your resume whether you are a seasoned journalist or new to the field.
• Freelance Reporter
• Freelance Journalist
• Data Reporting Analyst
• Public Relations Manager

When publications look for a new journalist, they want someone who can work a beat, develop sources, and break stories. Most of all they want someone who can write, and write well.

Grit and drive won’t get you very far if your writing doesn’t hold up.

Do you need to have an award-winning feature under your belt?

But you do need to show publications that your writing skills are good enough to publish.

Journalistic writing is different from academic writing. Your writing needs to hook readers and keep them entertained as well as informed.

Don’t rely on your BA in Journalism alone to get you the job. Plenty of people complete journalism programs and are still terrible writers.

Here's how to use your resume to show recruiters that you're a good writer.

• Link to portfolio in header
• Hook the reader in your summary
• Include important bullets in each job experience
• Tailor descriptions to the job you’re applying for
• Excellent grammar and no typos!

That last one may seem like a no-brainer, but an astounding number of grammatical errors make their way into final resume drafts. Good writing is the crux of journalism. You don’t want to make careless mistakes before you even make it to an interview.

Check, double-check, and then have someone else check your resume for errors.

In addition to writing, don’t lose focus on these resume sections.

Top journalist resume sections:

• Resume header with active portfolio links
• Career summary
• Experience highlighting important accolades

Every section of your resume is an opportunity to show recruiters that you can tell a captivating story. Your resume header is no different.

What to include:

• Current title
• Email and phone number
• Live link to portfolio
• Live link to website/LinkedIn

Let’s look at the examples below.

2 Journalist Resume Header Examples

Link to a portfolio is crucial in a header. Publications will want to see quality clips from their prospective journalists.

Full address is not necessary unless you are applying to cover a local beat. For most journalism jobs, city and state are sufficient.

In this header, the portfolio link is prominently featured.

For digital resumes in a media-driven industry, clickable links are a must. Recruiters don’t want to waste time with broken links or typing complicated URLs.

This example also shows a more specific job title that can be tailored for the role you are applying for.

Now that you know how to format your header, let’s dive into your summary.

Writing a strong summary is your best opportunity to showcase your writing skills on your resume.

If it doesn’t hook the reader in the first sentence, it will be overlooked. Just like any breaking story, don’t bury the lede!

A good journalist summary succinctly captures

• Years of experience
• Top skills tailored to fit job description
• Major professional accomplishments.

It is also important to avoid buzzwords and overused sayings. Stating that you have “a nose for the truth” or your “finger on the pulse” won’t do you any favors.

It also doesn’t really mean anything.

Avoid hyperbole and be very specific and concise. Give concrete examples that showcase your skills. Don’t expect recruiters to take your word for it.

2 Journalism Resume Summary Examples

Let’s take a look at what can be improved in the example above.

• Instead of “experienced journalist” try “journalist with 8 years of experience.”
• Instead of “excellent photography skills” try “shot the cover image for XYZ publication October 2019”
• There is no natural flow between sentences. It reads more like a bulleted list.
• Remove “I” language. Don’t write in first-person narrative.

Let’s look at what works in the example above.

• Experience is clear and presented immediately.
• ”Implemented new social media strategy and increased engagement by 47%” is intentionally tailored to fit one of the duties and responsibilities listed on an actual journalist job description, “Strategically engages in social media.”
• Sentence flow is original and tells a story.

Now that you’ve written a strong journalism career summary for your stellar resume, let’s move on to the experience section.

You might be sick of hearing this by now, but the experience section is yet another opportunity to illustrate your storytelling ability.

Include 3-5 of your most relevant job titles. Beneath each title, include 3-4 bullets that highlight your achievements in that role.

Use action verbs and real numbers that show off your unique accomplishments. Don’t make the mistake of including a generic job description.

Recruiters know that journalists “cover local stories and current events” but they don’t know that you “held exclusive interviews with healthcare workers treating the country’s first known case of Covid-19.”

Let’s take a look at a few examples.

Journalist resume experience examples.

• • Researched and evaluated local human interest stories.
• • Hard worker and writer for a weekly column.
• • Performed results-driven tasks to increase readership.
• • Conducted interviews with community leaders.

Terms like “hard worker” and “results-driven” are overused buzzwords and have no actionable meaning.

Fortunately, we have a guide for action verbs that you can use instead.

The example above also shows missed opportunities to showcase specific skills and instead uses generic terminology.

The idea that journalists need to be able to “do it all” is becoming outdated. Publications want to know that you can do the job they’re hiring you for.

If you’re applying for a journalist position at a public service radio station, highlight your interview and sound-editing skills. If you’re applying for a job as a photojournalist, focus on your production and copywriting skills.

Clearly demonstrate your ability to use audio/photo/video software like in the example below.

• • Implemented Plainsville Press companion podcast with interviews edited in Audacity.
• • Researched, analyzed, and reported on local economy on a weekly deadline cycle.
• • Conducted interviews with business owners on supply chain crisis.
• • Won annual Plainsville Hero award for breaking cover story on local elections.

The example above clearly communicates that the candidate

• is familiar with specific software and technical skills
• is capable of completing multiple projects in a high-pressure environment
• has made notable accomplishments
• has experience with a particular beat.

Those looking to enter journalism after finishing school or making a career change may not have much relevant experience for this section. Consider writing for your school paper or pitching to local publications. It will give you something to put in your portfolio and a byline to link to.

Entry-level journalist resume example

Now that your experience section has been expertly written, let’s move on to skills.

Hard skills and soft skills both hold importance in the world of journalism. A field reporter with incredible production skills won’t last long if they have terrible communication.

If you have experience in many different areas of journalism, choose those that are most aligned with the job you’re applying for.

Recruiters use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to filter out applicants with job-specific keywords. Don’t waste precious space with irrelevant competencies.

If you have data skills, be sure to add them. There is a growing demand for journalists with data/coding skills. Not only can you find a good story, but you can analyze it too.

Here is a list of technical skills commonly found on actual journalist resumes.

30 Journalist Technical Skills for Resumes:

• Digital Strategy
• Feature Articles
• Content Strategy
• Social Media
• Digital Video
• News Writing
• Storytelling
• Digital Media
• Copy Editing
• Research and Analysis
• AP Stylebook
• Photography
• Interviewing
• Web Content Writing
• Copywriting
• Investigative Reporting
• Narrative Journalism
• Event Coverage
• Video Production
• Live Tweeting
• Data Mapping

How to describe soft skills on your journalist resume

Soft skills are sometimes dismissed as being less important on a resume than hard skills, but that is not the case for journalism.

However, they do require a bit more explanation.

A good strategy is to choose the ones most relevant to the job you’re applying for and back them up with an example.

This is a list of qualifications from an actual job listing for a Multimedia Journalist position:

• Must have the ability to organize and manage multiple projects in a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Able to relate well with diverse populations and age groups.
• Ability to find and communicate solutions.

Let’s take a look at how to tailor your skill section for this job.

Soft skills in the above example appear on the candidate’s resume as strengths. They have taken keywords directly from the job description and backed them up with examples.

Below are a few more soft skills you might want to add to your journalist resume.

Journalist soft skills list for resumes:

• Communication
• Adaptability
• Time Management
• Ability to work under pressure
• Flexibility
• Critical Thinking
• Problem-Solving

The way your education appears on your resume depends on how many years of experience you have in journalism.

If you are a recent graduate and still cutting your teeth in the industry, you may want to include a few accomplishments and experiences during your time in school.

If you’re an experienced journalist looking for a senior position, just your school and degree are sufficient.

Let’s look at this education section for an entry-level journalist position.

• • Journalist for student newspaper for 3 consecutive years and wrote 2 cover stories.
• • Awarded academic scholarship for outstanding essay writing.
• • Introduced SEO to web-based student newspaper.

The candidate above doesn’t have a lot of work experience, but they have developed important skills while in school.

They have demonstrated SEO (search engine optimization) knowledge, long-term commitment, and feature-worthy writing.

Now let’s look at the education section for someone who has spent more than ten years in journalism.

This person has extensive industry experience so there is no need to list education accolades from a decade ago.

The need for a certification section on resumes is very industry specific. Journalism isn’t one where certificates are in high demand.

If you do have certificates that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, you should include them.

For example, if you are applying for a position as a sports journalist and have a certificate in sports management.

A certificate in journalism can also be helpful for those making a career change. If your formal education and career are in a different industry, a certificate in journalism will make a difference to recruiters.

Depending on the job you’re applying for, you may want to include other sections to your journalist resume.

Applying to be an international news correspondent? Add a section for languages. Worked on a ground-breaking reporting project in the past? Add a section for projects.

Daily life for a journalist varies greatly from person to person due to the dynamic nature of the job. One way to stand out to recruiters is by showing them a “Day in My Life” graphic, which can be created in our Resume Builder .

This adds creativity to your resume and gives you an opportunity to share a bit of your personality.

Here are a few more resume sections and how to include them:

• Language Skills
• Volunteer Work
• Internships
• Study Abroad
• Create a header with a clear link to your portfolio.
• Show your strong writing skills with a good summary.
• Tell a good story with your work experience.
• Be specific with your skills and accomplishments.
• Tailor each section to the job you’re applying for.

Journalist resume examples

Explore additional journalist resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

News Director roles come with a heavy background in Journalism. Therefore, journalistic trends significantly impact the success of your application for the News Director position.

Begin by highlighting experience with new tools and technology reshaping the media landscape. The digital shift in the newsroom is real and it pays to stay ahead with developments in social media, data journalism, mobile journalism, etc.

Don't just list skills in digital journalism. Show how using these tools boosted your past employers, for example,

Looking to build your own Journalist resume?

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6 Journalism Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

Journalists are essential to any society. we rely on them for all our credible news and information. this guide will show you how to craft a resume that will prove to recruiters that you should be part of their journalistic team..

A journalist investigates stories, gathers information, and presents credible stories to the public. Some journalists do not present their researched stories, and will instead leave that to reporters or anchors. You will find journalists in all forms of media including print, television, radio, and now also social media and other platforms online. While the presentation of the stories/news may slightly change for each medium, the tasks for journalists remain pretty much constant.

If you want to be a journalist, you will most likely be required to have a bachelor’s degree, at the least. Most employers would prefer it to be in a relevant field such as journalism or mass communication. Apart from a degree, recruiters will be looking for experience that will show your skill in investigating and presenting stories.

We will show you some strong sample resumes that highlight the above, and highlight some skills and action verbs that you can use to strengthen your resume.

Journalism Resume Templates

Jump to a template:

• Print Journalist
• Broadcast Journalist
• Broadcast News Analyst
• Entry-Level Journalist

Jump to a resource:

• Keywords for Journalism Resumes

Journalism Resume Tips

• Action Verbs to Use
• Related Other Resumes

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Template 1 of 6: Journalist Resume Example

You most probably will have experience in one medium of media or will have your eye on one medium of media. But that doesn’t stop you from creating a general journalist resume; especially if you are looking to transition from one medium of media to another. This resume is a strong general journalist resume. It concentrates on the applicant's extensive experience in researching stories and gathering information; a skill that applies to journalism in all media mediums. It also shows a strong educational background in journalism, which is a necessity in the journalism field.

We're just getting the template ready for you, just a second left.

Tips to help you write your Journalist resume in 2024

   create and maintain a portfolio..

In journalism, being able to showcase the stories you have researched and written is as important, if not more important, than your resume. So as you get experience, be sure to compile all your strongest stories into a portfolio for recruiters to have a look at alongside your resume.

   Include all previous roles in media.

Being able to show that you are experienced in the media industry, even if it’s not directly in journalism, can be a benefit to applicants. So don’t shy away from including any editor, reporter, writer, etc roles that you successfully played.

Skills you can include on your Journalist resume

Template 2 of 6: print journalist resume example.

As the name suggests, print journalism presents stories in the written word. That may be through newspapers, magazines, or any other print format both off or online. Print journalism is a fast-paced career where stories will need to be researched and ready for print in short time spans. This is especially true if your docket requires constant and consistent output. A print journalist, as well as all other journalists, also need to create large networks and maintain relationships in many industries to have a wealth of sources of information. Communication skills are therefore essential. This resume does a great job of quantifying how much work the applicant can achieve in a limited time period. It also highlights the applicant’s established network which is a journalist’s currency.

Tips to help you write your Print Journalist resume in 2024

   quantify your journalistic output..

Show how many articles you can write in a time period or how many stories you have developed in your previous position. It’s an easy way to impress recruiters and show your potential value addition to their team.

   Show career progression.

Being able to show that you started as an assistant and worked your way up shows that you are a committed professional. Include all journalism experience from your days in university as well.

Skills you can include on your Print Journalist resume

Template 3 of 6: broadcast journalist resume example.

Broadcast journalism is the investigation and presentation of stories by electronic methods. This might be by radio, television, or the internet. As a journalist, you may or may not be tasked with presenting your story to the public; these tasks may be given to the reporters in the organization. This form of media also requires a lot of collaborations with multiple people in a media house from the inception of a story idea to its presentation to the public. Because of this, strong communication and collaboration skills are very necessary. This resume does a good job of clearly stating what technology the applicant is experienced in. The applicant also quantifies their successes and output in their previous position. This is an effective way to impress recruiters and highlight your potential value addition to their organization.

Tips to help you write your Broadcast Journalist resume in 2024

   list technology you are experienced with..

Because of the electronic nature of this form of media, it is beneficial to extensively list all the technology you are experienced with. Try and find out what technology your desired media house uses to make sure you include that to your list (if you are indeed experienced with that technology).

   Include all experience in various steps of production.

Broadcast journalism requires more than just writing. For the story to be presented to the audience, it must be recorded and edited as well. If you have experience in any of the roles involved in the production, be sure to list them.

Skills you can include on your Broadcast Journalist resume

Template 4 of 6: broadcast news analyst resume example.

Broadcast news analysts, also known as anchors or newscasters, present the news to the public. Their responsibilities include reading the news, interviewing guests, facilitating panel discussions, doing lead-ins for reporters, etc. They are essentially the faces and voices of the news. Behind the scenes, they will still work on stories and scripts as well; just like other journalists. To make your broadcast news analyst resume stand out, you will want to show that you would be a good presenter of the news. So include any performance experience or news anchor experience. You will also have a heavy workload in this position so you want to be able to show that you can handle large workloads as this applicant has done in this sample resume.

Tips to help you write your Broadcast News Analyst resume in 2024

   quantify how many stories you have completed..

Show recruiters that you are a seasoned journalist, in front and behind the camera, by listing the number of stories you have done. Make sure to follow this with a portfolio with your best and most acclaimed stories.

   Show your on-screen experience.

To thrive in this position, you need to be a seasoned presenter who is calm under pressure and can communicate effectively with your audience. To highlight this skill in your resume, be sure to add any previous presenting experience or training. If you can include the size of your audience, it will look even more impressive to a recruiter.

Skills you can include on your Broadcast News Analyst resume

Template 5 of 6: entry-level journalist resume example.

As an entry-level journalist, your first resume is a crucial stepping stone in your career. It's not just a list of past experiences, it's a ticket to your dream job. In recent times, the journalism industry is hunting for fresh talent equipped with digital skills, multimedia content creation, and social media savviness. So, when crafting your resume, remember that it needs to transmit this modern outlook. Furthermore, journalism is all about storytelling. Instead of just mentioning your qualifications, make your resume a compelling narrative of your journey and potential.

Tips to help you write your Entry-Level Journalist resume in 2024

   highlight relevant coursework and academic projects.

Use your education section wisely; don't just list your qualifications. Highlight any coursework or academic projects relevant to journalism—like a college newspaper article you wrote or a podcast you produced. This will show your hands-on experience, even if you haven't had a formal job before.

   Showcase your digital skills

It's no longer enough to just be a great writer. You should highlight any digital skills you possess, such as blogging, video production, or social media management. These are the tools of the modern journalist, and companies are on the lookout for these skills.

Skills you can include on your Entry-Level Journalist resume

Template 6 of 6: entry-level journalist resume example.

An entry-level journalist will have many of the same responsibilities as all other journalists. You will most likely be assigned stories by your editor and will need to investigate and write the stories within a given deadline. You may also be tasked with assisting more seasoned journalists with their stories. This resume highlights the applicant's wide experience in media, from news anchor experience to adverts and radio host responsibilities. It also shows a very strong educational background in journalism. These would both be attractive to a recruiter.

   Include journalistic experience from college.

You might be applying for this position straight out of college. If you are, include all journalism-related experience you acquired while in college; from your time at the college tv or radio station to your work in the college newspaper or newsletter. After all, journalism is journalism whether you are in college or not.

   Include all journalism training you have completed.

Most journalists will have a bachelor’s degree in a journalism-related field. If you have a journalism-related degree, be sure to list it. If you have also completed any further training or received any certification, be sure to include that as well. Remember that you can always find online journalism courses that you can complete and add to your resume to bolster your chances of getting that dream job.

As a hiring manager who has recruited journalists at top media companies like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, I know what makes a journalism resume stand out. In this article, you'll find tips that will help you create a compelling resume that showcases your skills and experience as a journalist. These tips are based on real-world examples from successful journalism resumes.

   Highlight your writing and reporting skills

Employers want to see that you have strong writing and reporting skills. Make sure to:

• Include examples of your best articles or stories
• Mention any awards or recognition you've received for your writing
• Describe the types of stories you've covered and the sources you've interviewed

For example:

Wrote a series of investigative articles on corruption in local government, which led to the resignation of two officials and won a regional journalism award.

   Show your ability to work under pressure

Journalists often work under tight deadlines and in high-pressure situations. Employers want to see that you can handle this type of environment. Avoid generic statements like:

• Works well under pressure
• Can handle tight deadlines

Instead, give specific examples of how you've thrived in these situations:

• Covered a breaking news story on a major fire, filing updates every 30 minutes for a live blog while also gathering information for a longer article
• Produced a daily newsletter with a 6 pm deadline, consistently delivering engaging content on time

   Include your digital and multimedia skills

In today's media landscape, journalists need to have a range of digital skills. Highlight your experience with:

• Social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
• Content management systems (WordPress, Drupal)
• Multimedia tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro)
• Data journalism and visualization

Created engaging social media posts to promote articles, increasing traffic to the website by 25%.

   Tailor your resume to the job description

Each journalism job is different, so it's important to tailor your resume to the specific position. Carefully read the job description and emphasize the skills and experience that match what the employer is looking for.

For example, if the job description says:

• "Seeking a reporter to cover the local education beat"

You could highlight:

• Your experience covering education stories
• Your knowledge of local schools and education policy
• Any education-related awards or recognition you've received

   Showcase your industry knowledge and connections

Employers want to see that you have a deep understanding of the journalism industry and have built relationships with key sources and contacts. In your resume, mention:

• Professional organizations you belong to (Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association)
• Conferences or workshops you've attended
• Key sources or experts you've interviewed

Moderated a panel on the future of investigative journalism at the annual conference of the Society of Professional Journalists.

   Quantify your impact and reach

Whenever possible, use numbers to quantify the impact and reach of your work. This helps employers understand the scale and significance of your contributions. Avoid vague statements like:

• Wrote many articles that were widely read
• Increased website traffic significantly

Instead, use specific numbers:

• Wrote an average of 5 articles per week, with an average of 10,000 pageviews per article
• Increased website traffic by 30% over a 6-month period

Writing Your Journalism Resume: Section By Section

  header, 1. put your name front and center.

Your name should be the most prominent element in your header, typically centered at the top of the page. Use a larger font size than the rest of your resume text to make it stand out.

Here's an example of how to format your name:

Avoid adding labels or nicknames, like this:

Writer Jane 'Scoop' Doe

2. Include your primary contact information

Below your name, include your phone number, email address, and location. You can put this information all on one line to save space.

A good example would be:

• [email protected] | 555-123-4567 | New York, NY

Avoid including multiple phone numbers or email addresses, as it can be confusing for hiring managers. Stick to your primary contact methods.

3. Add relevant social media profiles

As a journalist, your online presence and portfolio are important. Consider adding links to your professional website, LinkedIn profile, or Twitter handle if you use it to share industry-related content.

Here's an example of how to include these details:

jane-doe.com | linkedin.com/in/janedoe | @janedoe_reports

Only include social media profiles that are relevant to your work and that you actively maintain. Avoid linking to personal accounts that may contain unprofessional content.

  Summary

A summary on your journalism resume is optional. Your resume itself is already a concise overview of your skills and experience, so you don't always need an additional summary. However, a well-written summary can be beneficial if you want to provide additional context or highlight details that may not be immediately apparent from the rest of your resume.

For example, if you're a career changer and your past experience doesn't directly align with journalism, a summary can help explain your transferable skills and passion for the field. Or, if you're an experienced journalist with an extensive career, a summary can help distill your most relevant qualifications.

Keep your summary concise - aim for a short paragraph, around 3-5 sentences max. Avoid generic soft skills or corporate buzzwords. Instead, focus on your unique value proposition and the specific skills and experience that make you a strong fit for journalism roles.

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Journalism resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Journalism Resume Summary Examples , or Journalism Resume Objective Examples .

1. Tailor your summary to the specific journalism role

When writing your journalism resume summary, it's important to customize it to the specific role and media outlet you're targeting. Different publications and beats may prioritize different skills and experience.

For example, a resume summary for a data journalist position could look like this:

Data-driven journalist with 5+ years of experience uncovering compelling stories through data analysis. Proficient in Python, R, and data visualization. Recognized with a Data Journalism Award for an investigative series on campaign finance. Seeking a data journalist role to combine my coding skills with my passion for watchdog reporting.

In contrast, here's an example of a overly generic, less effective journalism resume summary:

Experienced, hardworking journalist seeking a challenging new role in news media. Strong writing and communication abilities. Proven track record of meeting deadlines and working well both independently and as part of a team.

2. Quantify your achievements to make your summary more impactful

When possible, include concrete numbers and metrics in your journalism resume summary to make your accomplishments more specific and impactful. Vague descriptions of your skills aren't as convincing.

Compare these two examples:

• Skilled writer and reporter with 10+ years of journalism experience
• Deadline-driven journalist adept at breaking news coverage and enterprise reporting

Now see how quantifying your achievements makes them more powerful:

• Award-winning writer and reporter with 10+ years of experience at major metro dailies, filing 3-4 stories per week
• Deadline-driven journalist who has broken dozens of exclusive stories and produced 15+ enterprise pieces per year

Whenever you can, back up your claims with numbers. How many years of experience? How many stories published? Any major awards or benchmarks? Specificity makes your summary more authoritative and impressive.

  Experience

When writing the work experience section of your journalism resume, focus on showcasing your most relevant and impactful experiences. Highlight your skills and accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to excel in a journalism role.

Use strong action verbs to describe your responsibilities and achievements, and quantify your impact with metrics whenever possible. Tailor your work experience section to the specific requirements of the job you're applying for, emphasizing the experiences that are most relevant to that position.

1. Highlight your newsroom experience

Hiring managers want to see that you have hands-on experience working in a newsroom environment. Emphasize your roles and responsibilities in previous journalism positions, such as:

• Pitched and wrote 5-7 articles per week on local politics and community events
• Collaborated with a team of 12 journalists to produce a daily print newspaper with a circulation of 50,000
• Managed the newspaper's social media accounts, increasing follower engagement by 25% over 6 months

If you have experience with specific tools or software commonly used in newsrooms, such as Adobe InDesign or content management systems, be sure to mention those as well.

2. Showcase your reporting and research skills

Effective journalism requires strong reporting and research abilities. Highlight experiences that demonstrate your skills in these areas, such as:

• Conducted in-depth interviews with local business owners to uncover the impact of new city regulations
• Utilized public records and databases to investigate government spending, resulting in a front-page exposé
• Fact-checked and verified sources for a series of articles on controversial political topics

By showcasing your reporting and research skills, you demonstrate to hiring managers that you have the ability to dig deep and uncover compelling stories.

3. Demonstrate your versatility

Many journalism roles require a diverse skill set, from writing and editing to multimedia production. Showcase your versatility by highlighting experiences that demonstrate your range of abilities, such as:

• Wrote and edited articles for both print and online publications, adapting content to suit different formats and audiences
• Produced and edited video content for the newspaper's website, increasing video views by 40% year-over-year
• Collaborated with the graphics department to create engaging infographics and data visualizations to accompany articles

Responsible for writing articles, editing, and creating videos for the newspaper.

Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, provide specific examples that illustrate your versatility and adaptability as a journalist.

4. Highlight any specialized expertise

If you have experience covering specific beats or topics, such as healthcare, education, or technology, be sure to highlight that expertise in your work experience section. For example:

• Served as the lead education reporter, covering local school board meetings and analyzing district budgets
• Developed a network of sources in the healthcare industry, resulting in exclusive stories on hospital mergers and patient safety concerns
• Reported on the local tech startup scene, profiling founders and covering major funding rounds and acquisitions

Demonstrating specialized knowledge can help you stand out from other candidates and show hiring managers that you have the expertise to hit the ground running in a new role.

  Education

The education section of your journalism resume should be concise and highlight your most relevant qualifications. This section is especially important if you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience. Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling education section:

1. List your degrees in reverse chronological order

Start with your most recent degree and work backwards. Include the name of the institution, the degree earned, and the year of graduation.

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, XYZ University, 2022 Associate of Arts in Communication, ABC Community College, 2020

If you are a senior journalist with extensive experience, you can keep your education section brief:

Master of Science in Journalism, University of Excellence Bachelor of Arts in English, ABC University

2. Highlight relevant coursework and projects

If you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience, you can bolster your education section by listing relevant coursework, projects, or academic achievements.

For instance:

• Relevant Coursework: Investigative Reporting, Media Ethics, Data Journalism
• Senior Thesis: "The Impact of Social Media on Political Discourse"

However, avoid listing irrelevant or outdated coursework:

• Intro to Psychology (unless applying for a psychology-related journalism job)
• Basic Computer Skills (expected of all journalists today)

3. Include journalism-related certifications and training

If you have completed any journalism-specific certifications or training programs, include them in your education section to demonstrate your commitment to professional development.

• Certificate in Data Journalism, Online News Association
• Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Training

Avoid listing non-substantial or irrelevant certifications:

• CPR Certification (unless specifically required for the job)
• Online Social Media Marketing Course (unless directly related to the job)

Action Verbs For Journalism Resumes

A journalist’s resume should emphasize the applicant’s strengths in investigating stories and in engagingly presenting the stories. Using the right action verbs can ensure that recruiters take note of your ability to do both tasks effectively.

The following are some action verbs that would be particularly effective for a journalist’s resume. 

• Investigated
• Interviewed
• Communicated

For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs .

Action Verbs for Journalism Resumes

Skills for journalism resumes.

There are very specific skills needed to be a successful journalist. On one side you need to have incredibly strong communication skills You will need to be able to investigate a story and get the data you need from sources, effectively interview subjects, and engagingly present the stories to the public. 

On the other side, you need to have strong investigative skills. You need to be able to find relevant information, interview sources, and collate all information in a non-biased manner.

Add these relevant skills to your skills section to impress recruiters.

• Broadcast Journalism
• Broadcasting
• News Writing
• Radio Broadcasting
• Breaking News
• Storytelling
• Radio Production
• Online Journalism
• Current Affairs
• Video Production
• Broadcast Television
• Media Production
• Video Editing
• Digital Media
• Social Media

Skills Word Cloud For Journalism Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Journalism job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.

How to use these skills?

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