Broadcast news analysts held about 6,900 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of broadcast news analysts were as follows:
| Radio and television broadcasting | 71% |
| Self-employed workers | 13 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 3 |
Reporters and correspondents held about 42,800 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of reporters and correspondents were as follows:
| Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers | 44% |
| Radio and television broadcasting | 28 |
| Self-employed workers | 14 |
| Other information services | 9 |
Reporters and correspondents spend a lot of time in the field, conducting interviews and investigating stories. Many reporters spend little to no time in an office. They travel to be on location for events or to meet contacts and file stories remotely.
Injuries and Illnesses
Working on stories about natural disasters or wars can put reporters in dangerous situations. In addition, reporters often face pressure or stress when trying to meet a deadline or cover breaking news.
Work Schedules
Most reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts work full time. Reporters may need to work additional hours or change their schedules in order to follow breaking news. Because news can happen at any time, journalists may need to work nights and weekends. Broadcast news analysts may also work nights and weekends to lead news programs or provide commentary.
Employers generally prefer to hire reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts who have a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications along with an internship or work experience from a college radio or television station or a newspaper.
Education
Most employers prefer workers who have a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications. However, some employers may hire applicants who have a degree in a related subject, such as English or political science, and relevant work experience.
Bachelor’s degree programs in journalism and communications include classes in journalistic ethics and techniques for researching stories and conducting interviews. Some programs may require students to take liberal arts classes, such as history, economics, and political science, so that students are prepared to cover stories on a wide range of subjects. Students may further specialize in the type of journalism they wish to pursue, such as print, broadcast, or multimedia.
Journalism students may benefit from classes in multimedia design, coding, and programming. Because content is increasingly being delivered on television, websites, and mobile devices, reporters need to know how to develop stories with video, audio, data, and graphics.
Some schools offer graduate programs in journalism and communications. These programs prepare students who have a bachelor’s degree in another field to become journalists.
Other Experience
Employers generally require workers to have experience gained through internships or by working on school newspapers, college radio stations, or college TV stations. While attending college, many students seek multiple internships with different news organizations. These internships allow students the opportunities to work on stories and to put together a portfolio of their best writing samples or on-air appearances.
News commentators who come from a field outside of journalism typically have expertise in areas on which they comment.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Broadcast news analysts sometimes need work experience as reporters and correspondents. For example, it might take a field reporter at a local news station a few years to become that station’s anchor.
Advancement
After gaining more work experience, reporters and correspondents may advance by moving from news organizations in small cities or towns to news organizations in large cities. Larger markets offer job opportunities with higher pay and more responsibility and challenges. Reporters and correspondents also may become editors or news directors.
Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts typically have an interest in the Thinking, Creating and Persuading interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Creating interest area indicates a focus on being original and imaginative, and working with artistic media. The Persuading interest area indicates a focus on influencing, motivating, and selling to other people.
If you are not sure whether you have a Thinking or Creating or Persuading interest which might fit with a career as a reporter, correspondent, and broadcast news analyst, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts should also possess the following specific qualities:
Communication skills. Journalists must be able to report the news both verbally and in writing. Strong writing skills are important for journalists in all kinds of media.
Computer skills. Journalists should be able to use editing equipment and other broadcast-related devices.
Interpersonal skills. To develop contacts and conduct interviews, reporters need to build good relationships with many people. They also need to work well with other journalists, editors, and news directors.
Objectivity. Journalists need to report the facts of the news without inserting their opinion or bias into the story.
Persistence. Sometimes, getting the facts of a story is difficult, particularly when those involved refuse to be interviewed or provide comment. Journalists need to be persistent in their pursuit of the story.
Stamina. The work of journalists is often fast paced, with long and exhausting hours. Reporters must be able to keep up with the long hours.
The median annual wage for broadcast news analysts was $66,880 in May 2018. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,370, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $200,180.
The median annual wage for reporters and correspondents was $41,260 in May 2018. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,490, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $100,930.
In May 2018, the median annual wages for broadcast news analysts in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Radio and television broadcasting | $64,600 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 41,210 |
In May 2018, the median annual wages for reporters and correspondents in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Other information services | $59,720 |
| Radio and television broadcasting | 48,220 |
| Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers | 35,860 |
Most reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts work full time. Reporters may need to work additional hours or change their schedules in order to follow breaking news. Because news can happen at any time, journalists may need to work nights and weekends. Broadcast news analysts may also work nights and weekends to lead news programs or provide commentary.
Overall employment of reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts is projected to decline 10 percent from 2018 to 2028. Employment of reporters and correspondents is projected to decline 12 percent, while employment of broadcast news analysts is projected to show little or no change from 2018 to 2028. Declining advertising revenue in radio, newspapers, and television will negatively affect the employment growth for these occupations.
Readership and circulation of newspapers are expected to continue to decline over the next decade. In addition, television and radio stations are increasingly publishing content online and on mobile devices. As a result, news organizations may have more difficulty selling traditional forms of advertising, which is often their primary source of revenue. Some organizations will likely continue to use new forms of advertising or offer paid subscriptions, but these innovations may not make up for lost print-ad revenues.
Declining revenue will force news organizations to downsize and employ fewer journalists. Increasing demand for online news may offset some of the downsizing. However, because online and mobile ad revenue is typically less than print revenue, the growth in digital advertising may not offset the decline in print advertising, circulation, and readership.
News organizations also continue to consolidate and increasingly are sharing resources, staff, and content with other media outlets. For example, reporters are able to gather and report on news for a media outlet that can be published in multiple newspapers owned by the same parent company. As consolidations, mergers, and news sharing continue, the demand for journalists may decrease. However, in some instances, consolidations may help limit the loss of jobs. Mergers may allow financially troubled newspapers, radio stations, and television stations to keep staff because of increased funding and resources from the larger organization.
Job Prospects
Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts are expected to face strong competition for jobs. Those with experience in the field—experience often gained through internships or by working for school newspapers, television stations, or radio stations—should have the best job prospects.
Multimedia journalism experience, including recording and editing video or audio pieces, should also improve job prospects. Because stations and media outlets are increasingly publishing content on multiple media platforms, particularly the web, employers may prefer applicants who have experience in website design and coding.
For more information about broadcast news analysts, visit
National Association of Broadcasters
Radio Television Digital News Association
For more information about careers in journalism and about internships, visit
Society of Professional Journalists