Reporters gather information and write news stories. These stories appear in newspapers and magazines. Some reporters appear on television and radio. To get information, reporters look at documents. They observe the scene. They interview people.

Reporters write about events. These include things such as an accident, a rally, or a company going out of business.

Radio and television reporters often report "live" from the scene.

News correspondents work in large U.S. cities. Some report from foreign cities. They write about events in the city in which they work.

Reporters must meet deadlines. Some work in private offices. Others work in large rooms with other reporters. Television and radio reporters encounter curious onlookers, police, or other emergency workers.

Reporters work long hours. They might work odd schedules. They may have to travel. At morning newspapers, reporters might work from late afternoon until midnight. At evening or afternoon papers, they may work from early morning until afternoon. Radio and television reporters work day or evening shifts. Magazine reporters generally work during the day. Reporters may have to work extra hours to meet deadlines. They may have to change their work hours to follow a story.

A bachelor's degree in journalism is preferred. Some employers hire graduates with other majors. Working at school newspapers or broadcasting stations is good experience. Internships with news organizations also help when seeking a job as a reporter.

Reporters must write clearly and effectively. They need word processing, computer graphics, and desktop publishing skills. Speaking a Second language is necessary for some jobs.

In high school, good courses include English, journalism, and social studies. Valuable courses in college include speech, computer science, and English, with an emphasis on writing.

The middle half of all news analysts, reporters, and correspondents earned between $22,350 and $47,170 a year in 2002. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $17,620. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $69,450 a year.

News analysts, reporters, and correspondents held about 66,000 jobs in 2002. About 60 percent worked for newspaper, magazine, book, and directory publishers. Another 25 percent worked in radio and television broadcasting.

Employment of news analysts, reporters, and correspondents is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through 2012. Some job openings will result from the need to replace those who leave the occupation. It is difficult to get a job at newspapers and broadcast stations in large cities. The best chances for a first job are on small town and suburban newspapers.

• Disc Jockeys
• Editors
• Interpreters and translators
• Public relations specialists
• Writers

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook -- U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

For more comprehensive information on careers see the Careers Database.