Journalist
Write, edit and present new stories, articles and commentaries for a range of media.
What's it like to be a Journalist?
Journalists write, edit and present news stories, feature articles and commentaries for magazines, newspapers, online publications, websites radio and television.
Tasks and duties
- Investigate and report on events, issues and trends by gathering information, drawing on research and interviewing case studies and experts.
- Produce content for a particular platform, news outlet or publication, which may include photographs, video and social media.
- Adhere to a strict code of ethics, which maintains that honesty, fairness, independence and respect for the rights of others are the core commitments of journalism.
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Journalists are employed by a variety of organisations including newspapers, magazines, websites, radio stations, content agencies and television companies. Due to the shifting nature of the industry many journalists also work on a freelance basis.
Often journalists begin working as generalist reporters, however with experience often specialise.
Salary lookup
What can I earn as a Journalist?
Find out the average salary for a Journalist across Australia
Latest Journalist jobs on SEEK
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How to become a Journalist
To become a Journalist in Australia the most common pathway is to complete a degree in journalism or in a related field with a major in journalism. This is often followed by a cadetship.
- Undertake a degree in journalism. This could be a Bachelor of Journalism or a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism). These are typically three-year full time courses, for people over 17 years of age or who have completed year 12 with an appropriate Universities Admission Index and relevant prerequisites.
- There are numerous career pathways for journalists, including working in media law, editing, advertising, marketing, communications, policy or politics.
Explore related qualifications
SEEK users who have worked as a Journalist have studied these qualifications.
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Bachelor of Journalism
This qualification will introduce you to different media forms, preparing you for a career as a Journalist.
Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)
This degree develops journalism and communication skills to prepare for a career in the news media industry.
Bachelor of Arts
This qualification gives you broad skills and knowledge in your chosen area of specialisation to get you started in your career.
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Skills and experience employers are looking for
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EditorialJournalismStory TellingPhotographyGrammarSEOTime ManagementLearning AptitudeResilienceJudgement and Decision MakingSkills listed in your SEEK Profile
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Is Journalist the right role for me?
Job market trends for Journalists
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Latest Journalist reviews
Latest reviews from 35 Journalists surveyed on SEEK
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The one-person show; video journalism is the ultimate path for the independent story teller.
Reviewer's Qualification
Bachelor of Agricultural Science
Experience
5 – 9 years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
Video Journalism
The good things
Depending on the role, you'll be constantly learning about new topics, and the challenge of having to get across complex ideas quickly and explain them clearly can be very rewarding. The independence ...
The challenges
Being self-starting and self-motivated is extremely important, spending even just a few days sitting around and not creating/producing can be very draining and demoralising so keeping yourself busy is...
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Journalism is hard work, and you feel like a hack
Reviewer's Qualification
Master of Communication
Experience
1 – 4 years
Organisation size
Small (1-19 employees)
Specialisation
Academia
The good things
There is a lot of pride in being a journalist. You hold a certain amount of power being able to shape narratives and so have status in the communities you work in. You also feel that you are a force o...
The challenges
It's difficult to get into the cities, so you start in regional towns which is isolating. You will find yourself in small towns with no friends or connections and it takes serious work to build networ...
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Source: SEEK Role Reviews
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