Journalist
Investigate events, get the facts and communicate these to the public.
Also known as: staff writer, reporter, news reporter, news journalist, multimedia journalist, feature writer, digital journalist, broadcast journalist
About the job
What it's like
Journalists investigate and gather information to report to the public. You'd need to get the facts and present them clearly, in a way that’s informative and interesting to your audience.
You might be working to in a fast-paced environment, to tight deadlines. You’d need to make sure your reports are truthful and fair. You'd need to follow editorial standards, regulatory rules and the law. These could vary depending on where you work.
As a journalist, you'd:
investigate stories as they happen
follow up potential sources of information
make contacts with people who have information for stories
interview people
attend events such as press conferences, court hearings or council meetings
take notes or record meetings and interviews
use audio or video equipment when capturing stories
come up with ideas for new stories and features
communicate information to the public
There are many routes journalists can follow and specialise in. You could be writing articles in a newspaper or broadcasting video reports on TV. You could also script and deliver news bulletins on the radio or create social media content.
Some examples of the types of specialism you could follow include:
broadcast journalism
newspaper journalism
magazine journalism
digital journalism
Regardless of the type of journalism, it's useful to have a variety of multimedia and digital skills.
You could choose to specialise in a specific subject such as sport, politics or entertainment. Or you might work as a critic, for example, producing restaurant or theatre reviews.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
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Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Journalist'
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Creative
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- time management
- taking initiative
- attention to detail
- researching
- observation
- creative
- written communication
- verbal communication
- listening
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Modern Languages
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English
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Gaelic (Learners)
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Gàidhlig
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History
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Media
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Modern Studies
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Politics
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Skills for Work: Creative Digital Media
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Skills for Work: Creative Industries
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Creative and Digital Media
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
For some jobs, you'll be able to apply if you can show you have journalism experience. Many will ask for you to have a degree in journalism, or another qualification.
You could do a Modern Apprenticeship in Creative Media. You could then choose to start applying for jobs, or you could study towards a degree.
Read more about this apprenticeship on apprenticeships.scot.
Employers value courses accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). You can find approved courses in Scotland on the NCTJ site.
To apply for a degree course, you'll likely need either:
four Highers at BBBC or above
a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) in a related subject
To apply for an HNC or HND course, you'd likely need either:
a C in Higher English
a National Qualification in Media
Another route into journalism is a postgraduate qualification. If you have a degree in a different subject, you could apply for a Master's or other postgraduate course.
If you already know what you want to do, you could apply for a specialism course. For example, you could do one that focuses on broadcast or digital journalism. You could also do one which focuses on a specific topic, such as sport or politics.
Having a portfolio of work to show is useful when applying for jobs and courses. This could be a selection of articles you've written or a show reel demonstrating your skills with examples of work.
Volunteering experinece in a news room or similar environment might help you get paid shifts or a permanent role. Try contacting local papers, radio or TV stations to ask for work experience. You could also use Volunteer.scot to find opportunities.
Qualifications and experience that show understanding of the industry, research and writing skills will also be helpful, such as:
Skills for Work: Creative Digital Media
Skills for Work: Creative Industries
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