Become a Broadcast Journalist: Education and Career Roadmap
Find out how to become a broadcast journalist. Research the education and training requirements and learn about the experience you need to advance your career in broadcast journalism.
Broadcast Journalist Requirements
Broadcast journalists may also be known as reporters, correspondents or news analysts. These journalists report the news, which may be on a specific subject or a variety of topics, on television and radio. They do research and conduct interviews. Often, broadcast journalists will be required to report during a live broadcast and then follow up with online journalism as well. Broadcast journalists usually earn a bachelor's degree in journalism or communications. However, some journalists may earn a degree on another subject and report specifically on that field. For example, a doctor may serve as a medical reporter on a weekend broadcast. The following table contains the core requirements for broadcast journalists based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| Common Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | Bachelor's degree required |
| Degree Field | Journalism, communications or related field |
| Experience | Entry-level experience required for by most employers |
| Key Skills | Communication and interpersonal skills, objectivity, tenacity and stamina |
| Computer Skills | Web maintenance or blogging software |
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree
Most broadcast journalists have a bachelor's degree in journalism or communications. Students may have an opportunity to choose a track or concentration in broadcast journalism. Students will take courses in reporting and writing, broadcast reporting and ethics. They will also have the opportunity to take courses in multimedia journalism, which includes online journalism.
Success Steps
- Begin to build a portfolio. Generally, employers prefer that broadcast journalists have experience. Students can begin to build a portfolio before graduating, which can include clips from coursework, internships or student broadcasts. Students can also include work from a school run television or radio station.
- Join a student organization. Students can join professional organizations that give them the opportunity to network with peers, find mentors and pursue job opportunities. Those organizations can help students prepare to enter the job market upon graduation.
Step 2: Gain Experience
To gain experience, graduates can begin by working for small or local broadcasts. In the age of the Internet, individuals can create and manage their own sites to prove their knowledge and technical skills. Students without experience can expect entry-level positions as production assistants or the equivalent.
Success Step
- Learn to use social media. Journalists can prove to be an asset to their organization by learning to promote themselves and outlet for which they work. Individuals that are knowledgeable of social media tools like Twitter and Facebook can use their skills to build a following and inform the community about news stories. In addition, journalists that already have a following may be preferred by employers.
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10 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- All programs require applicants to have graduated high school in 2008 or earlier
- Must be 22 years of age or older
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Florida (1 campus)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arkansas (1 campus)
- Arizona (4)
- California (17)
- Colorado (3)
- Columbia (D.C.) (1)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (2)
- Idaho (1)
- Indiana (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Michigan (2)
- Missouri (3)
- Mississippi (1)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Wisconsin (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Master
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- MA in Communication
- MA in Communication: New Media & Marketing
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- MA in English and Creative Writing
- MA in English and Creative Writing - Nonfiction
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- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Colorado (2 campuses)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must have some prior college credit.
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Bachelor
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- BS - Communication
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School locations:
- California (1 campus)
- Colorado (1 campus)
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (1)
- Ohio (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
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Associate
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- Associate of Science - Video Production
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