What is a News Reporter?
Reporters or correspondents relay the news for television, radio, or online audiences. They may report on local stories and events and/or occurrences at the national or global levels. Typically, this requires reporters to conduct a range of research, complete interviews, gather and check facts, and deliver the information in a way that is easy for their audience to understand. As the name implies, TV reporters work for a particular television station and may be responsible for writing stories, conducting interviews on TV, utilizing social media, editing stories, and more.
How to Become a Reporter on TV
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Field | Journalism or Communications |
| Annual Mean Salary (2018)* | $64,820 (Reporters and correspondents in radio and television broadcasting) |
| Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026)* | -10% (Decline for reporters and correspondents) |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
TV reporters generally need to meet certain education and experience requirements to enter and advance in the field. Here we break down the process to becoming a news reporter on TV.
Step 1: News Reporter Degree
News reporters and correspondents in any form of media usually need to hold at least a bachelor's degree. Typically, these degrees are in the field of journalism or communications and are available as Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees. The majority of these programs are traditional, on-campus, 4-year programs, but some programs are available in online formats.
Some of these programs may even offer a specific concentration in broadcasting for students interested in working in television. For example, the state of Florida offers at least 10 colleges with broadcast journalism degree programs.
Although it is not usually required, some students may pursue a graduate degree in journalism or communications. Earning a graduate degree in one of these fields is also a way for students with an undergraduate degree in a different field to become journalists. There are several different states that are home to broadcast journalism graduate schools for students interested in pursuing an advanced degree.
Step 2: Experience
The other key component to becoming a TV reporter is to gain valuable, hands-on experience in the field. Most students obtain this experience during college while pursuing their 4-year degree. Students may learn through internships, working for a college TV station, writing for a school newspaper, or other opportunities. These experiences may also allow students to begin specializing and/or working towards their future career goals. Below, we explore some of the experiences needed for specific positions in the field of television reporting.
- How to Become a News Correspondent
News correspondent or TV reporter spots are generally entry-level positions that require a bachelor's degree and experience in the field. Correspondents may begin their careers as field reporters with written pieces and/or on-air appearances.
- How to Become a News Commentator
News commentators help audiences interpret news stories and may offer their opinions in areas of expertise. Some news commentators may actually have educational backgrounds outside of journalism and discuss subjects like medicine, business, or politics. These positions are usually at the broadcast news analyst level and may require prior experience as a reporter or correspondent.
- How to Become an Anchor
Broadcast news analysts, or anchors, must generally work as reporters or correspondents for a number of years before advancing to an anchor position. This position requires them to lead the news for their given television station.
Step 3: Advancement
TV reporters generally will begin their careers for smaller broadcasting systems in towns or small cities. As they gain experience, they may pursue careers in larger cities with wider viewing markets. Typically, this kind of advancement comes with more job responsibilities and higher pay.
Reporters who may be tired of being on-screen may pursue other advanced positions in the news industry. Some of these jobs include news director or editor.
