Publishing Journalist

Newspaper journalists, also known as reporters, investigate and write up stories for local, regional and national newspapers. 

They cover any event of interest to their specific audience, which can range from reporting on council meetings and school fetes for a local paper, to general elections and world events for the national press.

Magazine journalists write news articles and features for publications ranging from 'glossy' consumer magazines through to specialist trade journals.

As a freelance journalist you would normally write for both magazines and newspapers.

A newspaper journalist's work involves: investigating a story as soon as it breaks; following up potential leads; developing new contacts; interviewing people, both face-to-face and over the phone; attending press conferences; recording meetings and interviews using recording equipment or shorthand; coming up with ideas for new stories and features; and writing up articles in a style that will appeal to the intended audience.  

A magazine journalist's work would vary depending on the type of magazine, but would normally include: attending meetings to plan the content of the magazine; suggesting ideas for articles that will be of interest to the magazine’s readers; interviewing and researching to collect material for articles; writing articles in the magazine’s house style; keeping up to date with developments and trends in subject area of the magazine.

They usually have specialist knowledge in the subject area covered by their publication and, as most newspapers and magazines have an online equivalent, also write stories for the web.

Trainees earn around £15,000 a year on local newspapers. Experienced journalists can earn from £15,000 a year to over £40,000.

The highest paid journalists and national newspaper editors can earn up to £100,000.

Magazine journalists can earn between £18,000 and £25,000 a year and experienced journalists can earn over £35,000.

Freelance journalists negotiate a set fee for each piece of work they do. Fees can be negotiated individually or from guidance provided by the NUJ.

You can become a newspaper journalist by doing a relevant course or by learning on the job. Either way you will be at an advantage with previous experience - keep copies of your published work to show employers.

Training before work (pre-entry) is the most common way to enter journalism and involves doing a journalism course then finding work as a trainee - choose a course accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

With a degree, you could do a Fast Track course or the NCTJ self-study programme - see the NCTJ website for details. All journalism courses include the NCTJ preliminary exams, which you need to pass before being taken on as a trainee.

The alternative is on-the-job training (direct entry) - you need a minimum of five GCSEs (A-C), including English, or equivalent qualifications - see the NCTJ and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) websites for details.

There are no set qualifications for becoming a magazine journalist, although most have a degree. A common starting point is to work as an editorial assistant for a magazine publishing house to develop your skills and make contacts.

You could do pre-entry or a degree before looking for work to develop relevant skills. Qualifications recognised by the industry are accredited by the Periodicals Training Council, which is the training section of the Periodical Publishing Association (PPA), and the NCTJ - visit their websites for details.